Analysis of flow behavior in a horizontal wellbore with well data of the Yurihara SK-15

Abstract

A case study was performed on the interaction between the flow behavior in a horizontal wellbore and the fluid influx from a heterogeneous reservoir. This has been recognized as one of the most important, yet unsolved problems in pertoleum engineering.
Field data such as fluid influx distribution from the reservoir as well as pressure and fluid density distributions were acquired along a horizontal wellbore named “Yurihara SK-15” at the Yurihara Oil and Gas Field in Akita Prefecture, Japan.
A mechanistic model POPHOZN was used as a tool to discuss key parameters affecting the steady-state production behavior of the horizontal well.
The analysis of the production logging data demonstrated that POPHOZN could be applied for field application.
The followings have been conducted as part of the present study on the analysis of flow behavior due to confluent fluid flux along a horizontal wellbore:
(1) Field data such as fluid influx from the reservoir, pressure and fluid density distributions along a horizontal wellbore was successfully acquired by running a spinner flow meter and a densitometer with coiled tubings at the Yurihara Oil and Gas Field.
(2) It was found that the gas-oil two-phase flow occurred in the horizontal section due to saturated reservoir conditions. The characteristics of the two-phase flow could be reasonably accounted for calculating pressure drop and fluid density distribution in the horizontal wellbore by the model POPHOZN.
(3) The analysis of the production logging data demonstrated that the overall performance of the proposed model POPHOZN successfully simulated the interaction between the heterogeneous reservoir and the horizontal well configuration, and the flow hydrodynamics along horizontal wellbore could be physically expressed.