This work investigates the effect of fluid ingress through perforations on flow in a horizontal wellbore and correlates this effect in the form of an apparent friction factor. The investigation uses theoretical and experimental models. It is shown that when there is no influx, the perforations or slots on the well surface cause a reduction in the pressure gradients proportional to their area. The wellbore pressure gradients increase with influx from perforations but unless the ratio of the influx rate to the wellbore flow rate is sufficiently large, pressure gradients are lower than those of an unperforated well. The results of this study are combined to develop a generalized friction factor correlation that is a function of the Reynolds number and the ratios of the influx to wellbore flow rate and the perforation to wellbore diameters.

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