PERFORMANCE COMPARISON OF FRACTURED AND UN-FRACTURED VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL WELLS IN RESERVOIRS WITH BOTTOM-WATER DRIVE

Abstract

ABSTRACT An experimental investigation, using a scaled three- dimensional rectangular model, has been conducted to study the production performance of un-fractured and fractured vertical wells under bottom water drive. The results are compared against those for un-fractured horizontal wells and horizontal wells with orthogonal and longitudinal fractures. The model represented a section of the drainage volume for a single horizontal well in one of the Middle East reservoirs. Kerosene and distilled water were used to represent the reservoir fluids, while glass beads were used to represent the porous medium. All experiments were conducted at the same production rate, which was chosen so that the oil–water interface would remain stable until it approaches the producing well. As expected, fracturing vertical wells greatly improves their performance by increasing oil recovery at breakthrough and ultimate recovery, delaying water breakthrough and reducing pressure drop. While horizontal wells have, in general, better performance than vertical wells, fractured vertical wells perform better than horizontal wells with regard to recovery, water breakthrough and pressure drop. Horizontal wells with orthogonal or longitudinal fractures are found to be superior to fractured vertical wells. In general, increasing the fracture penetration improved the production performance of both vertical and horizontal wells. Interestingly, it was found that extending the fracture penetration towards the original oil–water contact did not, as might have been expected, result in earlier water breakthrough.