A new approach for predicting critical gas rate in condensate gas wells

We established a new model for predicting the critical liquidcarrying flow rate of a condensate gas well. The variations of the two parameters (critical Weber number and drag coefficient) were added as improvements to previous models, and the calculation methods of the above parameters were also added. Calculations were analysed in 30 condensate gas wells of the Xinjiang field. The correct prediction rate of the new model is 90%, with the status of 27 wells correctly predicted (loading/unloading), and the calculation accuracy of the new model is 6%~70% higher than that of previous models (Wan, Zhao, and Li). The research in this paper is of vital significance in guiding well stimulation (e.g., coiled tubing velocity string) to avoid liquid loading and increase gas recovery rate. [Received: June 14, 2017; Accepted: February 1, 2018]