Screen and slotted liner horizontal completion: : correcting for wellbore pressure drop in the inflow performance relationships (IPR)

Abstract

This thesis presents the development of a correlation that will correct for error in a horizontal well's productivity calculations made by neglecting frictional pressure drop in the wellbore. The advantage of this method is the ease of application compared to other methods that have been developed to correct for wellbore pressure drop. It also significantly improves the accuracy of the productivity estimates. The specific tasks achieved in this work include the following: The development of the productivity error correlation to correct for wellbore (frictional) pressure drop along the horizontal productive well length. A non-parametric regression program, GRACE, was used to analyse several simulated productivity data and to develop a Productivity Error (P.E.) correlation. The correlation, which was simplified using the Table Curve program, is a function of horizontal well length, viscosity, well diameter, wellbore roughness, and production rate. The validation of two commonly used productivity relationships that were derived by assuming either a constant wellbore pressure or a uniform flux. The validation was done with simulated data to support the use of these relationships with the productivity error correlation that was developed. The aim was to ensure that these relationships are valid over the range of values that were used in this study. Due to the significant effect of wellbore roughness on horizontal well productivity, an extensive literature search was also conducted for materials that will help to determine the true roughness of screen and slotted liner horizontal well completions. The productivity correlation that was developed had R² = 0.998 and it was validated using several simulated cases. The correlation is applicable to pseudosteady-state flow and it can be used to correct for error in a horizontal well's productivity calculations made by neglecting frictional pressure drop. It can also be used to optimize horizontal well length and diameter.