A NOVEL APPROACH TO FORECASTING PRODUCTION RATE OF DRY GAS WELLS

Abstract

Forecasting production rate from gas wells is done mainly by using the standard gas deliverability equations. These equations give the relationship between gas production rate, reservoir pressure and bottom hole flowing pressure. The bottomhole flowing pressure used in the deliverability equations is usually measured at a great cost and with operational challenges. Thus, the need to eliminate the use of bottomhole flowing pressure to make production forecast. Using the mechanical energy balance equation and the general Forcheimer equation, an approximate mathematical model was developed with which production forecast can be made using wellhead pressure. This new model performed reasonably well when compared with actual field production rate.Finally, the need to measure the bottom hole flowing pressure before production forecast can be made is no longer compulsory as the model developed in this work can forecast production using wellhead pressure with a high degree of accuracy.The use of wellhead pressure to make production forecast of gas wells will be of great benefit to the oil and gas industry as it allows both technical and economic decisions to be made on time.