Formation Damage in Geothermal Wells (Salamander field case)

Abstract

Abstract A new mathematical model for flow towards the well during water production from geothermal reservoirs accounting for fines mobilization, migration and clogging of production well is developed. Treatment of the well discharge data from geothermal reservoir A (Australia) exhibits good agreement with the results of mathematical modeling, which validates the model. The sensitivity analysis based on published laboratory data and theoretical model prediction shows that geothermal reservoirs are particularly vulnerable to fines migration due to reduced electrostatic particle-grain attraction at high temperatures. The modeling shows that large flow rates result in the increased formation damage and productivity impairment.