Methodology and system for producing fluids from a condensate gas reservoir

Abstract

A method of producing reservoir fluids from a condensate gas reservoir traversed by a production well includes the formation of a protrusion into natural gas bearing rock along a producing interval of the reservoir. A heater element is placed into the protrusion and configured for operation. Reservoir fluids are produced from the producing interval while the heater element heats the natural gas bearing rock proximate the heater element. The heat supplied by the heater element reduces condensate build up in the natural gas bearing rock adjacent the production well during production. The heater element is configured to heat the natural gas bearing rock that is proximate the heater element to a temperature that is sufficient to vaporize and/or reduce the viscosity of condensate that is proximate the heater element. A related system is also described.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of producing reservoir fluids from a condensate gas reservoir traversed by a production well, comprising:
 forming at least one protrusion in or adjacent to a producing interval of the gas reservoir, wherein the protrusion is configured to receive a heater element;   placing the heater element into the protrusion and configuring the heater element for operation; and   producing reservoir fluids from the producing interval while operating the heater element.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the heater element is configured to raise the temperature of reservoir adjacent to the protrusion to vaporize the condensate that is proximate the heater element.   
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the protrusion configured to receive the heater element is formed by a device selected from the group consisting of a perforation gun, a high power laser, a casing drilling instrument, and a direction drilling tool.   
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 forming a production protrusion in the producing interval of the gas reservoir, wherein the production protrusion is located proximate to an associated protrusion for the heater element.   
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 the production protrusion is formed by a device selected from the group consisting of a perforation gun, a high power laser, a casing drilling instrument, and a direction drilling tool.   
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 said forming a production protrusion comprises hydraulic fracturing.   
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the heater element comprises a resistive heater element.   
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the heater element comprises an antenna that directs electromagnetic radiation.   
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein:
 said electromagnetic radiation is generated by a downhole source of electromagnetic radiation together with conductors or a waveguide that supplies electromagnetic energy generated by the source to the antenna.   
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the heater element is supplied with heat from an external heat source.   
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 injecting metal particles into the reservoir adjacent to the protrusion.   
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein:
 said metal particles are metal nanoparticles.   
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 monitoring the flow rate of produced reservoir fluids.   
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 monitoring at least one temperature and pressure of the condensate reservoir as a function of location along the producing interval.   
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 monitoring at least one temperature and pressure of the condensate reservoir in the vicinity of the heater element as a function of radial offset away from the borehole wall.   
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 measuring a rate at which the reservoir fluids are produced and controlling the heating element in order to control said rate.   
     
     
         17 . A system for producing reservoir fluids from a condensate gas reservoir traversed by a production well, the system comprising:
 at least one heater element that is configured for disposition inside a protrusion in or adjacent to a producing interval of a gas reservoir;   equipment coupled to and configured to operate the at least one heater element; and   wherein the heater element is configured to heat the reservoir proximate the heater element, reducing condensate build up.   
     
     
         18 . A system according to  claim 17 , wherein:
 the heater element is configured to heat the natural gas bearing rock that is proximate the heater element to a temperature that is sufficient to vaporize the condensate that is proximate the heater element.   
     
     
         19 . A system according to  claim 17  further comprising:
 a perforated casing, wherein the protrusion for the at least one heater element is located below and proximate to at least one perforation in the casing located along the producing interval of the production well, the perforation providing fluid communication between the natural gas bearing rock and the producing interval of the production well. 
 
     
     
         20 . A method of producing reservoir fluids from a condensate gas reservoir traversed by a production well, comprising:
 forming at least one protrusion into a rock bearing natural gas along or adjacent a producing interval of the gas reservoir, the protrusion extending in a substantially radial direction away from the central axis of the production well into the rock, wherein the protrusion is configured to receive a heater element;   placing the heater element into the protrusion and configuring the heater element for operation by surface located equipment; and   producing reservoir fluids from the producing interval of the gas reservoir while operating the heater element to heat the natural gas that is proximate the heater element, whereby heat supplied by the heater element reduces condensate build up in the rock during the production of reservoir fluids from the producing interval.   
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 20 , further comprising:
 forming a production protrusion in the producing interval, wherein the production protrusion is located proximate to an associated protrusion for the heater element.   
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 21 , further comprising:
 perforating a casing to form at least one perforation along the producing interval, the perforation providing fluid communication between the production protrusion and the production well, wherein the perforation is located above and proximate to an associated protrusion for a respective heater element.