Numerical Simulation of Well Characteristics Coupled with Steady Radial Flow in a Geothermal Reservoir

Abstract

Output curves of flowrate versus wellhead pressure, referring to well characteristics, provide information on well productivity. The well characteristics are affected by reservoir parameters such as reservoir pressure, fluid temperature, and permeability-thickness product(kh). Geothermal wells drilled in a water-dominated reservoir discharge a steam-water mixture. Therefore, a tlilo-phase flow wellbore simulator is a useful tool to evaluate the effects of these parameters on the well characteristics. Flowing conditions of fluid at a feed zone can be a single-or a two-phase. This difference is attributed to a degree of pressure decrease in the reservoir. Thus, a fluid flow in the reservoir should be included into a wellbore model in order to obtain conditions at the feed zone for simulation. We have carried out numerical simulations of well characteristics using the wellbore model when the fluid starts flashing in the well as well as in the reservoir.