Research on Wellhead Uplift Prediction for Underground Gas Storage Wells

The issue of wellhead uplift in underground gas storage wells not only affects production efficiency but also poses a significant risk of wellhead seal failure, potentially leading to natural gas leakage accidents. This study proposes a systematic analytical framework for predicting wellhead uplift in gas storage wells. Initially, based on heat transfer theory and considering the coupled effects of temperature and pressure, a wellbore temperature prediction model was established. This model was tailored to the injection and production operations of gas storage wells, incorporating their specific operational characteristics. Subsequently, a predictive model for wellhead uplift distance was developed, accounting for various cementing conditions under fully cemented well scenarios. The proposed methodology was validated using data from injection and production wells in a gas storage reservoir. Furthermore, an analysis of the impact of injection and production parameters, along with predictions of wellhead uplift heights under different operating conditions, was conducted. The results indicate that the prediction errors relative to measured data are −0.8% and 4.3%, respectively. Gas production volume was identified as the most critical dynamic factor influencing wellhead uplift height. Predictions of wellhead uplift heights under both normal and extreme operating conditions can provide guidance for optimizing operational parameters. The proposed method holds theoretical and practical significance for the integrity management of gas storage wells.