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A Simple Productivity Equation for Horizontal Wells Based on Drainage

Area Concept

Article · May 1996

DOI: 10.2118/35713-MS

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Shedid A. Shedid Samuel Osisanya

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SPE 35713
A Simple Productivity Equation for Horizontal Wells Based on Drainage Area
Concept
Shedid A. Elgaghah, Samuel O. Osisanya, and Djebbar Tiab, The University of Oklahoma,
SPE Members
Copwght 1ws SacIety C4Petroleum Eowmem
Thm paper was prepared for presenbn at the Western Regional Meetin@ held m
Anchorage, Alaska, 22-24 Map’ 1S$6
This paper was salwted for Pmwt8tmn by the S- Pmgmm Commttee fullcwmg rewew ol
mfcmnation emntaked in an alwtncl wbmdted by the author(s) Contents d the paper as
prmmntad, have nc+ been rem- by the Societyd Petrc4eum Engineers ●nd are subject to
correction by tlw ●uthor(s) Th. material, as pfwent.d, do.s not !wcossmily fdect ● ny
posrbon of tho Sacmly 01 Pat.oleum Engi.ows or * rwmbers pap+m presented at SPS
meetings we wbject to publicatmn r- by Edfiwial Cwnmntee of the SccIety of Petroleum
Engm~m Pemmsmon to copy is mstriclud to an alwtracl ol IW4 more than WO wwds
Illustrations may not be copied The abstracl should contwn rnnsphwws acknowledgment cd
where and by v,410m the paper -s Presmted Wnta Librarian, SPE, P O Sax S333S36,
RIchafdwn, TX 7WSXX?4 USA, fax 01-214952.943S
Abstract
Many flow equations have been developed for horizontal
wells but they are complicated in derivation and time
consuming in application. A simple productivity equation that
incorporates the mechanics of fluid flow in porous media is
developed. The equation is based on the drainage area
concept. The new equation is validated by using it to study
the effect of reservoir height and horizontal well length on
the ratio of horizontal well productivity to vertical well
productivity when both have the same draimge area. This
paper presents the derivation of the equation and its
application with several simulated results. Comparisons
between the simulated results and results using the more
complex equations are provided. Results obtained using the
new equation are in agreement with those obtained using
Joshi and Bonsov equations. The results confirmed the theory
that thin reservoirs are good candidates for horizontal wells
while thick reservoirs are not. It also showed that an
increase in the lateral gives higher ratio of horizontal well
productivity to vertical well productivity for the same
drainage area. The most advantage of this new equation is
that it is ve~ easy to use. The new equation can be used to
optimize horizontal well length with respect to horizontal
well productivity to vertical well productivity. It is a very
usefid tool for making decision about application of
horizontal well in thin and moderately thick formations.
Introduction
Many equations have been developed to estimate flow rate in
horizontal wells. Researchers”5 used a symmetrical geometric
shape to describe the horizontal drainage area to simplifj the
617
.
Ii!!!!
w
Sodety of Petroksn Engineers
solution. The resultant equations were based on steady-state
solutions, but they were complex, The steady-state solution
assumes that pressure at any point in the resemoir does not
change with time, dP/dt = O. Table 1 shows the steady-state
flow rate equations for horizontal wells developed by various
researchers. Because of their complexities, simpli@ing
assumptions are made in application which may lead to some
errors in calculations. These in effect may tiect decision or
judgment concerning the performance of a horizontal well.
The equations in Table 1 can be classified into two groups
according to the geometry of the horizontal well. The first
group by Borisov’ and Joshi2 assumed an elliptical shape,
and the second group Gige< and Giger et a14used a rectangle
with two semi-circles on both its sides for the same purpose,
Fig.1. The reason for using symmetrical geometries is to
simpl~ the solution, but these geometries do not represent
the horizontal drainage areas accurately.
The first equation introduced by Borisov] was used to
calculate steady-state oil flow rate for a horizontal well, but
his paper did not show the derivation of that equation.
Giger34 derived his equation and augment the term of
replacement ratio to show how many vertical wells can be
replaced by horizontal well with the assumption of equal
drawdown for horizontal and vertical wells. Joshi2 introduced
an equation with its derivation in his augmentation of well
productivity with slant and horizontal wells. The most
common feature of all of these equations is that all of them
were derived for steady-state and single-phase flow.
Development of The Simplified Productivity
Equation For Horizontal Wells
In order to more realistically represent the drainage area of
the horizontal well, this study assumes that the flow to the
horizontal well from the toe-end side is not the same that
from the heel-end side. Therefore, the drainage area is
divided into three parts: (1) a rectangle of length (L) and
width 2r, for the horizontal section of the well at the center,
(2) a semi-circle of radius r, at the toe-end and (3 ) a small
rectangle of length rL/C, and width 2r, at the heel-side, Fig.
2.
2 A SIMPLE PRODUCTIVITY EQUATION FOR HORIZONTAL WELLS BASED ON DRAINAGE AREA CONCEPT SPE 35713

This new equation also assumes: steady-state, single- ~ = 2d?KhAP/(poBo)

phase flow, isotropic reservoir, and ideal liquid of constant 3
. .. .. . .. .. .. ..... .. ..... .... . .. (6)
viscosity and compressibility. By calculating each area of C12
these three parts and using Darcy’s equation the following T () ;-5
equations are obtained as follows.
For the horizontal seetion of the well, with drainage area
where C is a constant (ft) which is determined by simulation
(Al), the flow rate is given by:
matching of the results of using this equation with the results
of Borisovl’Gand Joshi2’bequations for the same data.
qpq(PoBo) The resistance to flow in horizontal direction for drainage
Q, = ............................................. (1)
Ln(h/2rJ area (A3) is given by:

where Q1 is the flow rate to a horizontal well of length (L)

and its corresponding flow resistance (RI) in the vertical AP L (rw h)
direction is given by, (7)
‘“Q, = 2nhK~/(AoBo) ““”’””””””””’””””””’”’””””””
AP Ln(h/2rw)
R,=— ..................... (2) Addition of equations (2), (5) and (7) produces total flow
Q, = 27tK#(Ao~O) ................ resistance which is converted to the total horizontal flow rate
(W which is given by the following equation:
For the toe-end of the well with drainage area (A2), the flow
rate per unit height of the reservoir is given by:
Q,=[,4::~o::;/;_i1] (8)
(3)

Expressing equation (8) in field units provides the following

equation:

‘h=[’”g+
where qz is the flow rate per unit reservoir height.
Multiplying equation (3) by the resemoir thickness (h)
provides total oil production
horizontal wells, one above the
top of the reservoir:
from a sacked number of
other from the bottom to the
”.””
~,. dK,A1/(poBo)
................................................. (4) The value of the constant C in equation (9) is simulated to
z ~_~ provide good matching with Borisovl’6and Joshiz)s. A linear
equation of the form C = 470 - 0.20*L provides good
()rW h
matching for horizontal well length L>1OOOfl while the
value of 270 showed good matching for L <1000 ft
The resistance to flow in horizontal direction (R2) also is Appendix A shows the value of constant (C) for different
given by, horizontal well lengths.

‘“z
AF ()
2 ~-~
~h
= 7fhK:/(poBo)
........................................... (5)
Application of The New Equation
The important advantages of this new equation are easy of
application and that the equation does not include r~h,the
effective horizontal well drainage radius. Using this equation
For the heel-end of the well with drainage area (A3), the for calculating flow rate for horizontal well requires only
flow rate is given by, getting the vahre of the constant (C). After obtaining the

618
SPE 35713 SHEDID A. ELGAGHAH, SAMUEL O. OSISANYA AND DJEBBAR TIAB 3

value of the constant (C), it is then plugged into equation (9) equation is independent of the equivalent horizontal well
with the given reservoir characteristics to get the horizontal drainage radius r.h, which appears in all the equations.
flow rate (Q). Appendix B shows an example calculation 2. Results obtained using the new equation has good
provided to illustrate the application of this new equation, agreement with resuJts of Joshi and Borisov equations.
From this example it is clear that the three equations give 3, Application of the equation shows that increase in the
reasonably close productivity values. In all the calculations formation thickness decreases the productivity ratio of
using Borisovt’s and Joshi2’b equations, the horizontal the horizontal well to vertical well. Therefore, thin
drainage area is calculated using the vertical drainage area as reservoirs are very good candidates for horizontal well
a base. This new equation was validated by using it for application.
sensitivity analysis of the effect of resetvoir height and 4, Borisov equation produces higher values than Joshi
horizontal well length on productivity ratio (J#J.). The (JtiJ,) equation and the new equation, especially for formation
approach is used for easy comparison with results in the thickness h >100 ft.
literature. 5. Higher (J~/Jv)values are obtained with increase length of
the horizontal well. This is more effective in thin
Effect of Reservoir Height on (J#Jv) formations than in thick ones. Therefore, for thick
This new equation is used to study the effect of reservoir formations, long horizontal well length is not
height on the productivity ratio of the horizontal well to the recommended.
vertical well. The results show that thin reservoirs have
higher (J#J,) than thick reservoirs. The reason is that in thin Acknowledgments
reservoir the contact area (or the area open to flow) in The authors would like to express our sincere thanks to the
comparison to the volume of the pay zone is much bigger School of Petroleum and Geological Engineering, the
than that in the case of thick reservoir for horizontal wells, University of Oklahoma for encouragement to publish this
Figures 3 to 8 show the results of the effect of six paper.
reservoir heights studied. These heights cover all of the most
reservoir thickness in oil fields. F@ 9 shows comparison of Nomenclature
(J~J,) for different reservoir heights. When L=IOOOtl, C = constant,ft
(J#J,) for h = 25 ft is almost three times of that for h = 450 ft. B = formation factor, bblktb
With increasing length of the horizontal well this ratio h = reservoir height, ft
increases for thin formations. J = productivity index, bblMay/psi
K = permeability, md
Effect of Horizontal Well Length L = horizontal well length, il
Also the new equation is used to study the effect of the R = flow resistance, psihblklay
horizontal well length on the ratio of the productivity of the Q = flow rate, stbkiay
horizontal well to that of the vertical well (JdJ,). Fig. 10 r = radius, R
summaries the results of the effect of the horizontal well r~ = horizontal well equivalent drainage radius
length showing that the longer the horizontal well, the
higher the (JIJJV)vaJues. Figure 10 also cortfWns the Subscripts
previous results of better performance of the horizontal well h = horizontal
in thin formations than in thick formations. o = oil
v = vertical
Comparison With Other Equations w = water
Figures 3 to 8 show the results of using the new equation
compared with results of Borisov and Joshi equations. The References
results show good match with the results using these complex 1, Borisov, Ju.P.: “Oil ProductionUsingHorizontaland Multiple
equations for different reservoir heights, h= 25 ft to h = 450 Deviation Wells,” Nedra, Moscowfl 964). Translated by
J.Strauss, S. D. Joshi(ed.) Phillips Petroleum Co., the R&D
ft. The new equation almost provides the same results as that
library translation, Bartlesville, OK( 1984).
of Joshi equation, but Borisov equation provides higher values
2. Joshi, SD.: (Augmentation of Well Productivity with Slant and
for formation thickness h >100 t?. Horizontal Wells,) Journal of Petroleum Technology, (June
1988) 729-739.
Conclusions 3. Giger, F.: “Reduction du nombre de puits pm I’tilisation de
1. A new simplified productivity equation for horizontal forages horizontals,” Reveue de L’institute Gancais du Petrole,
wells based on drainage area concept is developed. The VOI.38(May 1983).
advantages of this equation are its simplicity to derive 4. Giger, FM., Reiss, L.H. and Jourdan, A.P,: (The Reservoir
and to apply, and it is a time saver in comparison to Engineering Aspects of Horizontal Drilling,) SPE Paper
other equations for horizontal wells, Furthermore, this

619
4 A SIMPLE PRODUCTIVITY EQUATION FOR HORIZONTAL WELLS BASED ON DRAINAGE AREA CONCEPT SPE3S713

#13024, presented at the 1984 meeting SPE Annual Technical of the three solutions is determined as 80 acresG. That is, if a
Conference and Exhibition, Houston, Sept. 16-19. vertical spacing is 40 acres, then a 1,000-ft long horizontal
5. Renard, G.L., and Dupuy, J. M.: (Intluence of Formation well would drain about 80 acres. Henee.
Damage on the Flow Etliciency of Horizontal Wells,) SPE
Ah = ~r,h2 =80 X43,560 ftz
Paper #194 14, presented at the Formation Damage Control
r.h = J(8O x 43,560/r) ft’= 1053 ft.
Symposium, Lafayette, Louisiana, (Feb. 1990).
6, Joshi, S.D.: Horizontal Well Technology, PennWell Publishing
Company, Tulsa, OK, (Sept. 6, 1990).
1. Borisov Method@q,A)
Metric Conversion Factors 0.007078k#
lcp x 1.000 E+OO = mpa.s
“ = “/4= poBo[/n(4re/L) +(W4W4)1
1 darcy x 1.000 E-12 = 10’2 mz(l pmz)
1 psi x 6,8948 E+OO = kpa 0.007078 X75X 160
lft x 0.3048 E+OO = m
1 bbl x 1.58987 E411 = m3

Appendix A: Simulation values of the Constant (C)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------- = 48.3 w 48 STB/(@ - psi)
Horizontal well Value of(C) or equation to
be used to calculate the 2. Joshi Method (Eq.E)
Length (L). ft constant (C), ft
---------------------------------------------------------- ----------------
>0-1000
>1000-3000
270
C=470-O.20*L
a= (L/+5+~~’r
-----------------------
---------------------------------------------------- ~ 05
To calculate C, for example, for horizontal well length= 500,
1500, and 2000 R
For L = 500 h C=270ft
= (1000/2)[0,5+

=ll14ji
~ 0.25 +(2 X 1053/1000)
1
For L= 1500 fi c =470 -0.20* 1500 = 170 ft
For L = 2000 ft c = 470-0.20 * 2000 =70 ft

““”[a+F!~”
Appendix B: An ExampIe6 Calculation Using Borisov,
Joshi, and tbe New Equations

A 1,000 ft long horizontal well is drilled in a resemoir with

the following characteristics:
0.007078 X75X 160/(0.62 X 134)
=,_ .
k,=k=75md ~ = 0.62 ep h=160ft

1
/n H14+~11142 -(10W/2)2
B.= 1.34 res.bbUstb ($= 3.8% rW= 0.365 fi + (160/1000)t~160/(2 X 0.365)]
(lore/2)
I
Calculate the steady-state horizontal well productivity using
Borisov, Joshi and the new equations if a typical vertical well = 44.4 STB/(day-psi)
drain 40 acres.
3. The New Equation (Eq. 9)
Solution: Red that this new equation is independent of the drainage
The first step in using the Borisov and Joshi equations is radius r,h, of the horizontal well. Thus several calculation
to determine the horizontal well drainage area. The seeond steps are eliminated.
step is to determine the drainage radius reh for the horizontal
well assuming the determined drainage area is circular,
Unfortunately, this is another lengthy calculation because the
horizontal well drainage area can be represented in three
different ways and all given different solutions. The average

620
SPE 35713 SHEDID A. ELGAGHAH, SAMUEL 0, OSISANYA AND DJEBBAR TIAB 5

From Appendix A, C = 470-0.20 x 1000ft = 270ft

(0.007078)(160~75)/(0.62 x 1.34)
.“Jh=
.
!.n(160/2 X0.365)
,(0.25+21!)(A-2J]
[ (1000/160)

102.2340
= (0,8624)+(0.52)(2.7397 - 0.0125) ‘m’(&y-pS’)

= 44.82 STB/(day-psi)

From Ibis example i{ is clear that the three equations give

reasonably close productivity values.

621
6 A SIMPLE PRODUCTIVllY EQUATION FOR HORIZONTAL WELLS BASED ON DRAINAGE AREA CONCEPT SPE 35713

Table 1- Steady-State Flow Rate Equations for

Horizontal Wells

Borisov
2mk,hAp&Bo)

)
‘~= In[(Arc,/L)] + (h/L)~n[h/(2mw)] ...................(A)

qh=(Lh)il+m
Giger

Giger, Reiss & Jourdan

Renard and Dupuy

2zkhh& 1
qh =
poBo cosh-’(X) + (h/L)tn h/(2zrw) “’”m)
[ II
X= 2a/L for ellipsoidal drainage area
a= half the major axis of drainage ellipse (see Eq. 3-11)

Joshi

‘h=
’n[a+@F~)’~h’(2
a=(L/2
[
0.5+~-
105

‘h=
’n[a+FF~:h’@Jl
622
SPE35713 SHEDIDA. ELGAGHAH, SAMUEL O. OSISANYA AND DJEBBARTIAB

Figure 1- Two difIerent geometries used by previous authors’~ to derive horizontal well flow equations.

+ Turining Radius + Horizonml Well

side of Horizonr.all End Side
Well

I
Ir
+++++ +-++++++++++++++-+++++
I I
i/

t---[ rL/C )-x---------- ( L ) . . . . ------ —-----+

Figure 2- Assumed geomeUyused to derive the new simplified horizontal well productivity equation

623
8 A SIMPLE PRODUCTIVITY EQUATION FOR HORIZONTAL WELLS BASED ON DRAINAGE AREA CONCEPT
SPE 35713

F~:
------
------
------
------
------
..
.- -----
--------
----.
--------
-------
----
-------
------
---------
------
------
1“ --d----------- "----- "--------------------------------------

IO 203 400 600 800 Im 1200 “400 II 00

HorizontalWell lengfh(L), fl

I FIG. 3 Results of different 3, methcds for h= 25 ft. !

— Borisov, t?=25 ft ~ Joshi, 25 ft — New Eq., h= 25 ff

I

~
c1 5-“
.=
(2~.. ------ ------ . . . . . . ------ .. ... .-
,2
>
“g 3“ - ------- . .. ---- ------- . . . . . . . . ------- ....

%
c 2- ‘

lJ -
--y---- -. -.. . ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ --- J

Ot 1 1 1 1 1 r 1 1
0 200 400 1200 1400 1600

FIG ‘4 ResulB of 3, different methods for h =50 ft

[ I

I— Bonwv, h=SO ft — Joshi, 50 ff — New Eq., h= 50 h I

624
 SHEDIDA, ELGAGHAH, SAMUEL O. OSISANYA AND DJEBBARTIAB

Steady - State , rev = 745 ft

Reservdr Height (h) =100 ft

Kh=Kv
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ------ ---
l----ZZ??E

----------------75$==
'----7T-------------------------------
-.&” -----------------------------------------------------
/

-0 200 400 600 800 1coo 1203 1400 1600

Horizontal Well length(L), h

I FIG 5 %suks of 3, different methods for h = 100 ft. 1

— EkJrisov. h= 100 ft — Joshi, h = 100 ft — New Eq., h= 100 fl

1

6, 1

-----
------
---------
----------
---
-.

.-
c

1~
.—

z ------------ ----- ---- --

:$
------------. ----- --------------------------------------.
3
L
L---- /-FX ------------------------------ ------------------- -.
I #k/

1FIG 6 Resutt.s of 3,ciifferent methcds for h = 150 ft-

1

— Bmkov, h= 150 ft —Joshi, h=150fl — New Eq., h= 150 fI

I
10 A SIMPLE PRODUCTIVIW EQUATION FOR HORIZONTAL. WELLS BASED ON DRAINAGE AREA CONCEPT

4.5

---------
---------
---------
Sg;;;-’.‘“E:
.....
4

0
“% 2.5
a
‘-
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . --------- . ... -------- -------- --------

--------- . . . . . . ..- . . . .. . . ----- ------- ............. ......

--------- .... . ------- ------- ------- ------- ------ -.--.--

##+-
------- ------- ----------- -------- ------- ------- ------- -

0.5 .- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- ------

/
d
o 200 4CKI (XXI 1200 1403 It
Horizontal W% len~~ ft

I FIG 7 i+xults of 3, different methods forh = 250 k \

I— Bonsov, h= 250 ft — Joshi, 250 ft — New Eq., h= 250 ff

I Steady - State, rev = 745 ft

------ -. .-. . ------ ------ ----- ------ .--.-

0.5 ------ ------ .------ ------ ------- ------ ------ ------ ----- --

0 1 1 1 I I 1 1

200 403 @lo 800 1CQo 1200 1409 1 03

Hmizontii Well length(L), fi

FIG 8 Results of 3, ddferent methods for h= 450 fl

[ 1

— 60tiSOV, h= 450 fl — Joshi, 450 ti — New Eq., h= 450 f! 1

SPE 35713 SHEDID A, ELGAGHAH, SAMUEL O. OSISANYA AND DJEBBAR TIAB 11

8
Steady - State , rev = 745 ft
I
7- -------- ------- -------- -------- -------- ----
Kh=Kv
T& . -------- . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -------- --------- . ------ -------- -
2
~ -.
.-05- ‘-------------------------------

2 4. . .- ..-. . . . . . . . . . . . . . ---- ------ ---- ... . ------ .. —-

~--
.&’
>
.x= ------- .-..--
/‘-
........------
L
3 ------- .
2 79

.-.
1
: L
)0

] FIG 9* Effect of Horizontal Well Length on (Jb/Jv) Using New Equation. I

—tk25ft ~h=50ft ~h=100ft
‘h=150ft* h=250ft-h=4.50ft

18-
Steady-State, rev = 745 ft
16- ---”- ------- -------- . . . . . . . . . . . ---

. . . ---- . ------- -------- -------- --------- -------- -

y 14- “
2 ------ ------ ------- . . . . . . . . . . . . . ------ ------- -
~ 12- “----
0
% 10” --
m

.~
-------- ....

------ ------
Q 4- -

------ ------- .. ---.---- ------- ------ -

2- -

o+ I 1 r 1 1 I 1 I I

050 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 : )0

Resewoir Height (h), ft

I FIG 10Effect of Reservoir Height ( h ) on (JtdJv) Using New Equation .

— L=500ft ‘L=1000ft — L=1500ft

‘L=2000!t+ L=2500ft*L=3000ft

627

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