A novel method for predicting breakthrough time of horizontal wells in bottom water reservoirs

• Published in: Journal of Central South University Vol. 20; no. 12; pp. 3612 - 3619
• Main Authors: Li, Li-feng, Yue, Xiang-an, Zhao, Hai-long, Yang, Zhi-guo, Zhang, Li-juan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01-12-2013
• Subjects: Engineering; Metallic Materials; reservoirs with bottom water; breakthrough time of horizontal well; dimensional analysis; numerical simulation; prediction method
• ISSN: 2095-2899; 2227-5223
• DOI: 10.1007/s11771-013-1887-y

Dimensional analysis and numerical simulations were carried out to research prediction method of breakthrough time of horizontal wells in bottom water reservoir. Four dimensionless independent variables and dimensionless time were derived from 10 influencing factors of the problem by using dimensional analysis. Simulations of horizontal well in reservoir with bottom water were run to find the prediction correlation. A general and concise functional relationship for predicting breakthrough time was established based on simulation results and theoretical analysis. The breakthrough time of one conceptual model predicted by the correlation is very close to the result by Eclipse with less than 2% error. The practical breakthrough time of one well in Helder oilfield is 10 d, and the predicted results by the method is 11.2 d, which is more accurate than the analytical result. Case study indicates that the method could predict breakthrough time of horizontal well under different reservoir conditions accurately. For its university and ease of use, the method is suitable for quick prediction of breakthrough time.