Well Configurations in Anisotropic Reservoirs

Abstract

Summary Horizontal wells have emerged as a new means for well-productivity enhancement. Simultaneously, they have brought forward the need to recognize and account for permeability anisotropies, including vertical-to-horizontal and horizontal-to-horizontal directions. In addition, there is the possibility of multiple horizontal drainholes emanating from the same vertical well. Performance relationships for the most interesting well configurations are presented, including both early-time and late-time differences rather than only bounded flow regimes. Solutions for arbitrarily oriented single or multiple horizontal wells are introduced, along with a discussion of well-known existing relationships.