Abstract
The scaling criteria of physical modeling of a horizontal well production are discussed. A scaled experimental model was designed and realized. The experiments of a sidetrack horizontal well production have been carried out in the system, and the production curve variation is analyzed. The oil recovery of a sidetrack horizontal well production is compared with that of a vertical well, and the effect of factors such as sidetrack drilling time, water driving rate and the length of horizontal section on oil recovery are discussed. The production of a horizontal well changed both the fluid flow direction and pressure distribution in the reservoir; as a result the remaining oil in the dead oil region is recovered, and the ultimate oil output is raised.
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Abbreviations
- B :
-
distribution factor of interfacial force (dimensionless)
- D :
-
horizontal well bore diameter (m)
- G :
-
gravity acceleration (m/s2)
- K :
-
absolute permeability (m2)
- K 1 :
-
relative permeability (dimensionless)
- L :
-
oil formation length (m)
- l :
-
horizontal section length of horizontal well (m)
- H :
-
oil formation thickness (m)
- P :
-
pressure (Pa)
- ΔP :
-
pressure difference between injecting well and producing (Pa)
- r :
-
horizontal well bore radius (m)
- q :
-
injected volume (m3/s)
- S :
-
saturation (dimensionless)
- t :
-
time (s)
- T :
-
formation temperature (°C)
- V :
-
flow velocity in reservoir (m/s)
- W :
-
flow velocity inside horizontal well bore (m/s)
- γ:
-
scale reduction factor
- μ:
-
viscosity (pa·s)
- θ:
-
interface immersing angle (dimensionless)
- σ:
-
interfacial tension (N/m)
- ρ:
-
density (kg/m3)
- τ:
-
characteristic time \(\tau = {L \over V}(s)\)
- ϕ:
-
porosity (dimensionless)
- o:
-
oil phase
- w:
-
water phase
- i:
-
initial
- x :
-
coordinate in L direction
- y :
-
coordinate in H direction
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Wang, J., Jiang, R. Physical modeling of a sidetrack horizontal well production to improve oil recovery. Sci. China Ser. E-Technol. Sci. 45, 353–364 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1360/02ye9042
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1360/02ye9042