Predicting Horizontal Well Performance: A Review of Current Technology

Abstract

This paper presents a comprehensive review of current petroleum literature focusing on the reservoir engineering aspects of horizontal well technology. The objective of the paper was to provide the engineer/scientist with an overview, discussion, and where appropriate, recommendations for the following areas: (1) analytical solutions for one-phase flow;(2) water or gas cresting; (3) numerical simulation; (4) hydraUlic fracturing; and (5) well test analysis. Some' of the more simple equations are given in the paper, while complex solutions are thoroughly referenced for detailed study.

Natural Gas Production

“…There are quite a few important publications related to horizontal well performance (Celier et al, 1989;Dikken, 1990;Joshi, 1991;Norris et al, 1991;Ozkan et al, 1999;Economides et al, 1994;Cho and Shah, 2001), but few have addressed turbulence effects on well performance. Of those that discussed turbulence, most assumed that turbulence is small and can be neglected.…”

Parameters Optimization of Fractures with One for Injection and Two Others for Production of Horizontal Wells Fracturing on Offshore Oilfields

“…Adopting the strategy of "a well is multi-purpose"and" high deliverability with rare wells" have gradually become basic method for effective exploitation of offshore oilfields on account of their relatively high exploitation cost, the utilization of horizontal well is one of the important production methods. However, the presented analytical model [1][2][3][4][5] based on single phase seepage and numerical simulation model [6][7] based on two-phase fluid flow for production forecast are all aimed at the situation that the hydraulic fractures of horizontal well either all applied to injection or production, which is not appropriate to oceanic peculiar circumstance. What's more, the dynamic simulation and relevant fracture parameters optimization of this special exploitation mode haven't been investigated before, this paper studied the effect of fracture parameters on production aiming at the same staged fractured horizontal wells with the fractures one for injection and two others for production, which offers theoretical criteria to optimize and choose best fracture parameters before hydraulic fracturing treatment design.…”

Redevelopment of a Matured Multilayered Carbonate Offshore Field Through High Technology Horizontal and Multilateral Wells

“…By 1990's, the technology has matured and its acceptance in the industry has increased significantly. Performance of horizontal/ multilateral wells, risk assessment of horizontal well productivity and comparison of horizontal and vertical well performance in different fields is available in the literature [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] . A significant number of horizontal/ multilateral development wells were drilled as a part of redevelopment of Mumbai High, a matured multi-layered carbonate offshore field in Western India.…”