Analysis of Different Times Period for Achieving Thermal Recovery in Wells

Abstract

Thermal properties of rock formation are a useful technical tool that allows the heat flow in the reservoir, whose result is the influence in fluid flow from the reservoir to the wellbore. However, the distribution of rock formation type varies according to geologic characteristics in which the reservoir is nested. In the majority of geothermal reservoirs, the volcanic system type of rock formation influences its heterogeneity. This distribution is related to underground fluid flow which is the main vehicle for heat transport in the reservoir. Studies of this work analyze temperature distribution along well profile, after thermal disturbance activated by drilling fluid, occurred in a geothermal reservoir nested in a volcanic system. Because the fluid circulation during drilling is the main reason for thermal instability in the rock formation, different numerical methods for estimating the temperature to which the system would reach the steady state conditions had been developed. However, in this work, mainly is analyzed the behavior observed in different wells with respect to the time period at which each one achieves stable temperature conditions i.e. its static temperature. Analyzes carried out under this work are focused on the temperature behaviors of different wells over time until to achieve thermal stable conditions, taking into account their geological environment. It was found that the type of rock formation and its characteristics play an influential role in thermal behavior, for achieving pseudo-stable conditions.