Predicting subsidence in the south pars gas field, iran

Abstract

The focus of this study is to predict the subsidence of the South Pars gas field at the end of production period. With respect to the notable reservoir thickness, significant pressure drop due to extraction and high areal extent of the South Pars gas field there is a high potential for subsidence to occur in this field. In order to determinate the maximum land subsidence and subsidence profile of the South Pars gas field, at first, the reservoir compaction was estimated based on the thickness of the reservoir, the pressure drop in the reservoir, and the uniaxial compaction coefficient of the reservoir rock and then the effect of the reservoir compaction on the field surface was modelled with use of semi-numerical methods. The compaction of the reservoir at the end of production period was estimated to be about 0.48 m. The subsidence modelling methods predicted that the maximum subsidence will reach about 0.6 m at the end of production period. © 2013, EJGE.