New Method for Interpreting Gas and Water Production in Horizontal Gas Wells Based on Array Flow Imaging Logging

Array flow imaging logging is a pivotal technology for monitoring the development dynamics of horizontal wells in unconventional gas reservoirs. Accurately monitoring and evaluating the gas and water production from each producing layer is crucial for guiding the optimization and adjustment of the next phase of gas reservoir development. However, due to the combined effects of factors such as horizontal wellbore size, well structure, fluid properties, and gravity segregation, the gas-water two-phase flow behavior in horizontal wells is extremely complex. Traditional multiple-measurement intersection analysis methods often struggle to accurately reflect the gas and water production from individual layers when determining the average fluid velocity in the wellbore, leading to significant errors. This paper focuses on the MAPS(Multiple Array Production Suite) array imaging logging tool from SONDEX. Through laboratory physical simulation experiments of gas-liquid two-phase flow in horizontal wells, the distribution characteristics of gas-water two-phase flow media under different conditions are clarified. By integrating the responses from the Spinner Array Tool (SAT) and the Capacitance Array Tool (CAT), interpretation charts for array turbine flow and array water holdup are established. Using an interpolation iteration algorithm, the accurate quantitative calculation of gas and water phase flow rates in horizontal wells is achieved, effectively eliminating the impact of changes in probe spatial positions during different measurement runs on the calculated apparent fluid velocity and water holdup. The results show that the average errors of the apparent fluid velocity and water cut calculated using the established interpretation charts and the iterative algorithm are 3.6% and 7.3%, respectively. These results demonstrate that the proposed method has good adaptability and high accuracy, providing robust technical support for the development dynamic monitoring of horizontal wells in unconventional gas reservoirs.