Overview

The gas-production and -processing industry continues to apply new technologies, as well as improve old technologies, to produce gas and bring it to market. For many years, gas in remote locations had virtually no value because markets were not within economic reach by pipeline. In recent years, with the increase in the value of oil and the products derived from oil, technologies to convert natural gas chemically to liquid hydrocarbons are being applied to monetize remote gas. This increase in gas-liquefaction capacity is in addition to the older technology that physically changes phases of natural gas from gaseous to liquid by deep cooling for transportation to market.

Natural gas often is produced from tight geological formations. To produce gas from low-permeability reservoirs economically, it is necessary to hydraulically fracture the rock. This process requires pumping a large amount of water or a suitable hydrocarbon liquid at high pressure as carrier fluid for the proppant. Minimizing the leakoff of the fluid being pumped enhances the effectiveness of such stimulation treatments. New approaches to the selection of specific fluid additives, designed to reduce surface tension and leakoff, can extend the fracture length and increase the well’s productivity.

A common hindrance to gas production in low-productivity gas wells is the ever-present problem of coproduction of water. While this problem has been studied extensively in the past, new technology can be combined with existing technology to extend the productive life of low-rate gas wells. For high-pressure gas production, a reduction of the water vapor contained in the produced gas can be achieved through the application of supersonic nozzles, in place of traditional dehydration methods.

The above-mentioned topics and other innovations regarding gas production technology were examined in papers presented during the past year at various SPE technical meetings worldwide.

Feed-Gas Treatment Design for the Pearl GTL Project

Leakoff Control and Fracturing-Fluid Cleanup in Appalachian Gas Reservoirs

Combining Plunger Lift and Gas Injection in Low-Rate Gas Wells

Edward Wichert, SPE, is an independent consultant in Calgary. He has experience at the technical level as well as in management in drilling, oil and gas production and processing, reservoir engineering, and economic analysis. Wichert holds a BS degree in petroleum engineering from the Univerity of Alberta and an ME degree in chemical engineering from the University of Calgary. His research interests are related mainly to sour gas, and he has authored or coauthored several articles dealing with sour-gas technology. Wichert serves on the JPT Editorial Committee.

Overview

Additional Reading