Fluid Phase Simulation and Evolution of a Condensate Gas Reservoir in the Tazhong Uplift, Tarim Basin

Abstract

The fluid phase and the evolution of the condensate gas reservoir in the Lianglitage Formation (O3), Well ZG7-5, Tazhong Uplift, were studied by integrating the PVTsim and the PetroMod software. The fluid phase was successfully simulated, and the burial, temperature, pressure, and pressure coefficient histories were reconstructed. The evolution of the fluid phase and its properties (density, viscosity, and gas-oil ratio) under the ideal and gas washing conditions was also explored. The simulated pressure-temperature (P‐T) phase diagram confirms that the reservoir fluid is in the condensate gas phase at present, with an order of critical point-cricondenbar-cricondentherm (CP‐Pm‐Tm). The temperature and pressure show an overall increasing trend considering the entirety of geological evolution. Under ideal conditions, fluid transition from coexisting gas and liquid phases to a single condensate gas phase occurred during the Late Cretaceous (80 Ma, T=135.7°C, and P=58.19 MPa). The density and viscosity of the liquid phase decreased gradually while the density and viscosity of the gas phase and the solution gas-oil ratio increased during geological processes. With the consideration of gas washing, the critical phase transition time points for 100% and 50% gas washing fluid are 394 Ma, 383 Ma, 331 Ma, and 23 Ma, as well as 266 Ma and 23 Ma, respectively. The average liquid phase density, gas phase density, and liquid phase viscosity under 100% gas washing are larger than those under 50% gas washing before 23 Ma (Miocene), while the gas phase viscosity values are similar for both cases. This study visually suggests that the temperature and pressure histories, which are controlled by the burial history and heat flow evolution, and gas washing have significant impacts on the formation of the condensate gas reservoirs and evolution of the fluid phase and its features in the Tazhong Uplift.