Water/Oil Cresting Optimization in Horizontal Wells: Experimental Study

Abstract

In recent years, the application of horizontal wells has been predominant and successful in minimizing cresting scenarios due to significant reservoir exposure of its laterals. Cresting is a natural phenomenon known to occur when an imbalance of viscous and gravitational forces exists in a reservoir. This study experimentally investigates the effect of varying the inclined section of the horizontal well using a simple, practical and inexpensive cresting optimization technique. The inclined sections were varied at between 15 and 30 degree and at different simulation time steps to ascertain the impact on oil recovery, cumulative water cut, cumulative liquid produced and the cumulative water produced from a homogeneous thick oil-rim reservoir. From the results obtained, short radii wells at 30 degree inclination angle are recommended for higher oil recovery at shorter and longer simulation times. Using this procedure of varying the inclined section of a horizontal well, an increment of 8.92% in oil recovery and 15.91% reduction in incremental cumulative water produced were obtained. Hence, the performance of a deviated well is affected by the angle of inclination and dimensions of the vertical and horizontal displacements of the inclined section.