Abstract
The use of a vertical well pattern results in productivity deficiency and poor development effect when developing buried hill reservoirs with complex properties. In this work, experiments are conducted to determine the best pattern for complex structure wells in buried hill reservoirs. Discretization is employed in an experimental method that uses unit cubic rocks with a size of 5 cm × 5 cm × 5 cm. The rocks are bonded in a spotty or reticular design to form a macroscopic model. Based on water flooding similarity criteria of fractured reservoir, an experimental model similar to a quarter of a five-spot unit in an actual reservoir is designed and manufactured. By selectively plugging wells in the model, various well patterns are established. Simulation results indicate that the vertical–vertical well pattern exhibits the fastest water breakthrough, fastest increase in water cut, and lowest recovery under the same pressure difference and well spacing. The horizontal–horizontal well pattern has the slowest water cut increase and the highest final oil recovery. For fishbone wells, this pattern facilitates an ideal development effect when the percolation direction is perpendicular to the plane determined by the mother bore and branch. When liquid rate, water cut, and recovery are considered, the horizontal–horizontal well pattern is recommended when conditions allow.
![](http://media.springernature.com/full/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs13369-014-1391-1/MediaObjects/13369_2014_1391_Figa_HTML.gif)
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Delamaide, E.; Renard, G.; Kalaydjian, F.; Lobey, O.; Duquerroix, J.P.: How to choose the best tool in the new toolbox of reservoir engineers: complex structure well architectures. In: SPE international conference on horizontal well technology held in Calgary, Canada, SPE 37083, 18–20 Nov 1996
Xing, G.Y.; Guo, F.X.; Song, C.; Sun, Y.C.; Yu, J.; Wang, G.: Fishbone well drilling and completion technology in ultra-thin reservoir. In: IADC/SPE Asia Pacific drilling technology conference and exhibition held in Tianjin, China, IADC/SPE 155958, 9–11 July 2012
Cuadros, J.; Ossa, N.; Cuadros, G.; Rojas, E.: Horizontal well placement optimization for heavy oil production in girasol field. In: The Trinidad and Tobago energy resources conference held in Port of Spain, Trinidad, SPE 132884, 27–30 June 2010
John, L.S.; Gregory, D.Y.; Robert, J.K.; Carl, M.; Tony, L.; Petrozuata, C.A., Jeffery H.: Multilateral-horizontal wells increase rate and lower cost per barrel in the Zuata field; Faja; Venezuela. In: SPE international thermal operations and heavy oil symposium held in Porlamar, Margarita Island, Venezuela, SPE 69700, 12–14 March 2001
Raghavan, R.; Joshi, S.D.: Productivity of multiple drainholes or fractured horizontal wells. In: SPE Eastern regional meeting held in Columbus, OH, SPE 21263, Oct 31–Nov 2 1990
Larsen, L.: Productivity computations for multilateral; branched; and other generalized and extended well concepts. In: SPE annual technical conferences and exhibition held in Denver, USA, SPE 36754, 6–9 Oct 1996
Fan Y.P., Han G.Q., Yang C.C.: Production forecast for herringbone well and optimum configuration of lateral holes. Acta Pet. Sin. 27(4), 101–104 (2006)
Guo B., Sun K., Ghalambor A.: Well Productivity Hand Book, pp. 226–230. Gulf Publishing Company, Houston, TX (2008)
Yang X.S., Liu C.X., Yan J., Wang W.H, Shi Z.L., Jia Y.: Research on productivity law of herringbone multilateral gas well. Acta Pet. Sin. 29(5), 727–733 (2008)
Jamil, A.T.; Shamsuddin, S.; Bevan, Y.: Simulation optimization of wells with complex architecture. In: Offshore technology conference held in Houston, Texas, USA, OTC 20131, 4–7 May 2009
Crumpton, P.I.; Habiballah, W.A.; Wardell-Yerburgh, P.G.; Nasser, K.A.; Faleh, A.A.: Multilateral-complex structure well optimization. In: SPE reservoir simulation symposium held in The Woodlands, Texas, USA, SPE 140882, 21–23 Feb 2011
Zhang S.M., Zhou Y.J., Song Y., Wan H.Y., An Y.S., Xu Q., Dong Z.G.: Design optimization for the horizontal well pattern with herringbone-like laterals. Pet. Explor. Dev. 38(5), 606–612 (2011)
Jiang H.F., Sui J., Pang Y.M., Zhang G.L., Liu Y.T.: Technique of exceptionally low abundance oil reservoir development by horizontal wells and its application. Pet. Explor. Dev. 33(3), 364–368 (2006)
Al-Muntasheri G.A.: Conformance control with polymer gels: what it takes to be successful. Arab. J. Sci. Eng. 37(4), 1131–1141 (2012)
Kader A.K.A., Kordik P., Khalil A., Mekkawi M., El-Bohoty M., Rabeh T., Refai M.K., El-Mahdy A.: Interpretation of geophysical data at EL Fayoum—Dahshour Area, Egypt using three dimensional models. Arab. J. Sci. Eng. 38(7), 1769–1784 (2013)
Zhou H.M., Chang X.J., Hao J.M., Zheng J.M.: Horizontal well development technique and its practice for complex fault-block reservoirs in Jidong oilfield. Pet. Explor. Dev. 33(5), 622–629 (2006)
Zhou Y.J.: Advances on special structure drilling development techniques in Shengli oilfield. Pet. Explor. Dev. 35(3), 318–329 (2008)
Hao, M.Q.; Hu, Y.L.; Liu, X.; Wei, C.J.; Zhuang, Y.T.: Predicting and optimizing the productivity of multiple transverse fractured horizontal wells in ultra-low permeability reservoirs. IPTC; 16891 (2013)
Yu, X.C.; Guo, B.Y.; Ai, C.; Bu, Z.D.: A comparison between multi-fractured horizontal and fishbone wells for development of low-permeability fields. In: SPE Asia Pacific oil and gas conference and exhibition held in Jakarta, Indonesia, SPE 120579, 4–6 Aug 2009
Bigno, Y.; Al-Bahry, A.; Melanson, D.D.; Al-Hasani, S.; Senger, J.C.; Henning, R.: Multilateral waterflood development of a low-permeability carbonate reservoir. In: SPE annual technical conference and exhibition held in New Orleans, Louisiana, SPE 71609, 30 Sept–3 Oct 2001
Zhou D.; Jiang T.; Feng J.; Bian W.; Liu Y.: Research of water flooded performance and pattern in horizontal well with bottom-water drive reservoir. In: The petroleum society’s 5th Canadian international petroleum conference (55th annual technical meeting), Calgary, Alberta, Canada, PETSOC 2004-093, 8–10 June 2004
Fipke, S.; Celli, A.: The use of multilateral well designs for improved recovery in heavy-oil reservoirs. In: IADC/SPE drilling conference held in Orlando, Florida, USA, SPE 112638, 4–6 March 2008
Liu X.P., Zhang Z.S., Cui G.X., Wang J.L., Yi F.X.: Inflow performance relationship of a herringbone multilateral well. Acta Pet. Sin. 21(6), 57–60 (2000)
Yan, P.; Medhat, M.K.; Jitendra, K.: Applications of a semianalytical model of multilateral wells in multilayer reservoirs. In: SPE western regional meeting held in San Jose, California, USA, SPE 121335, 24–26 March 2009
Maricic, N.; Mohaghegh, S.D.; Artun, E.: A parametric study on the benefits of drilling horizontal and multilateral wells in coalbed methane reservoirs. In: SPE annual technical conference and exhibition held in Dallas, Texas, SPE 96018, 9–12 Oct 2005
Nestor, R.; Amit, K.; Arun, K.; Younes, J.: Application of multilateral wells in solution gas-drive reservoirs. In: SPE international petroleum conference and exhibition in Mexico held in Villahermosa, Mexico, SPE 74377, 10-12 Feb 2002
Zimmerle W.: Petroleum Sedimentology. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht (1995)
Lei, Y.; Chen, Y.; Shang, X.F.; Chen, Z.G.; Wu, S.; Zhao, Y.; Liu, Y.Q.: Application of multilateral wells in burial-hill migmatitic granite formation. In: IADC/SPE Asia Pacific drilling technology conference and exhibition held in Tianjin, China, IADC/SPE 155700, 9–11 July 2012
Xie W.Y., Meng W.G., Zhang Z.W., Li X.G., Chen Z.Y.: Formation model of multi-stage fracture reservoirs inside the buried hills in Liaohe depression. Pet. Explor. Dev. 33(6), 649–652 (2006)
Ding Z.P., Liu Y.T., Zhang Y., Ao K.: A quantitative 3D physical simulation method of waterflooding in fractured reservoirs. Pet. Sci. Technol. 30(12), 1250–1261 (2012)
Ding Z.P., Liu Y.T., Gong Y.J., Xu N.: A new technique: fishbone well injection. Pet. Sci. Technol. 30(23), 2488–2493 (2012)
Ren F.X.: Discussions on tridimensional reservoir development models. Pet. Explor. Dev. 39(3), 320–325 (2012)
Ding Z.P., Liu Y.T., Luo Y.Y., Ao K.: Optimization design of horizontal well stereo injection and production in buried hill reservoirs. Well Test. 20(2), 49–51 (2011)
Zhao L.X., Jiang M.H., Zhao X.F. et al.: Research on deliverability relationship of complicated horizontal well. J. Univ. Pet. China (Edition of Natural Science) 30(3), 77–80 (2006)
Wang X.D., Yu G.D., Li Z.P.: Productivity of horizontal wells with complex branches. Pet. Explor. Dev. 33(6), 729–733 (2006)
Liu, Y.T.; Ding, Z.P.; Ao, K.; Zhang, Y.; Wei, J.: Manufacturing method of large-scale fractured porous media for experimental reservoir simulation. SPE J., 163108-PA (2013)
Liu Y.T., Ding Z.P., Qu Y.G., Zhao C.J.: The characterization of fracture orientation and the calculation of anisotropic permeability parameters of reservoirs. Acta Pet. Sin. 32(5), 842–846 (2011)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
Open Access This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits any use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author(s) and the source are credited.
About this article
Cite this article
Liu, J., Liu, Y., Zhang, J. et al. Experimental and Simulation Study of Complex Structure Well Pattern Optimization for Buried Hill Fractured Reservoirs. Arab J Sci Eng 39, 8347–8358 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-014-1391-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-014-1391-1