Erosion Characteristics of Shale Gas Wellbore Tubing Column in Yuxi block

Abstract When shale gas is exploited with sand, the wellbore will be eroded by sand containing gas. The safe operation of shale gas extraction is seriously affected. This study focuses on the Huang 202H3-1 shale gas well in Yuxi block of Chongqing Gas Mine. The erosion patterns in shale gas wellbore are investigated by using experimental and numerical simulation techniques. The research results indicate that the erosion rate of the inclined section of shale gas wellbore is the highest, followed by the outlet elbow, and then the horizontal and vertical section. The maximum erosion rate of each section decreases with the increase of particle size and inner diameter of the pipe column, and increases with the increase of particle concentration and fluid flow velocity. The maximum erosion rate at the inclined section and outlet elbow diminishes as the curvature radius increases. Based on numerical simulation results, prediction models for the maximum erosion rate in the inclined section, outlet elbow, horizontal section, and vertical section have been established, with a prediction deviation of 3%.