Optimizing the branch number and branch length of radial drilling in high water cut low permeability reservoirs

Abstract

Radial drilling, also called ultra-short horizontal well, is a new kind stimulation technology, which can be used both in new and old wells to improve the productivity and oil recovery effectively. For the low permeability reservoirs, it had been widely used in practice to effectively solve the unbalanced displacement problems for the waterflooded reservoirs. Applying the multi-layer equilibrium displacement principle, the model of optimizing the radial drilling branch number and length for the high water cut low permeability reservoirs is established, and the corresponding programs are also compiled. Using the reservoir numerical simulation technology, this model is proved to be valid and accurate. This optimization method has been applied in Bonan fifth reservoir of Shengli oilfield, which exhibits quite positive results: higher average production rate and lower average water cut of the radial drilled wells.