ABSTRACT
This paper presents a technique to forecast the production from horizontal wells in rectangular drainage areas. The technique is useful for wells located either centrally or off-centrally in the areal drainage plane.
Analytical pressure transient solutions were used to calculate the shape factor, СA, and the corresponding equivalent skin factor, sCa. Moreover, dimensionless time at which the pseudo-steady state begins is reported for centered and off-centered horizontal wells and fully penetrating infinite-conductivity vertical fractures. These results are presented in the form of easy to use correlations. Furthermore, these correlations were tested by analyzing the relevant pressure transient data reported in the literature.
The pseudo-steady state shape factor, СA, and skin term, sCA, for a horizontal well approaches fully penetrating infinite-conductivity vertical fracture for very large values of dimensionless horizontal well length, LD. Knowledge of shape factor, СA, and of corresponding beginning of pseudo-steady state time, tDA, pss would facilitate computation of the horizontal well production forecast from a corresponding infinite-conductivity, fully penetrating vertical fracture forecast.
The methods for prediction of the inflow performance relationship for horizontal wells is also outlined, using example problems representative of horizontal well applications in on-shore and off-shore areas.
