PETROLEUM EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT

Volume 38, Issue 5, October 2011

Online English edition of the Chinese language journal

Cite this article as: PETROL. EXPLOR. DEVELOP., 2011, 38(5): 594–599. RESEARCH PAPER

Development techniques of horizontal wells in low perme-

ability reservoirs, Jilin Oilfield
Zhao Jing
Exploration & Development Research Institute, PetroChina Jilin Oilfield Company, Songyuan 138000, China

Abstract: Aimed at the development situation for horizontal wells in low permeability reservoirs in the Jilin Oilfield, evaluation stan-
dards are established for the geological parameters of horizontal well adaptability in low permeability reservoirs. According to different
permeability grade, eight blocks of two kinds, suitable for the development with horizontal wells, were selected. Take M block, N block,
and E block as examples of reservoir development with horizontal wells. Five aspects, including fine geological description, parameter
optimization of reservoir engineering, optimization of production and injection program, horizontal well trajectory control, and energy
supplement are researched on horizontal well reservoir engineering optimization design. Reservoir engineering design parameters adapt-
ing to geologic characteristics of the Jilin Oilfield are given and a series of horizontal well development techniques is formed. Different
energy supplement programs in N block are researched by Eclipse numerical simulation software. The cumulative production of horizon-
tal well reaches the peak when water injection in vertical well is in the toe of horizontal well. The horizontal well application result in M
block shows that the cumulative production of horizontal well is 2.5 times that of vertical Well 130-6 of the same period.

Key words: horizontal well; reservoir engineering; parameter optimization; energy supplement; trajectory control; numerical simulation

Introduction According to the development conditions of horizontal wells

In recent years, a growing number of low permeability res-
ervoirs in the Jilin Oilfield are produced by horizontal wells,
and the reservoir development performances are improved
significantly, but there are problems such as suitable block
screening, reservoir engineering optimization design, water
cut increasing in oil producers and so on. Technology research
in horizontal well development is the basis and key of adjust-
ment and potential tapping, enhancing oil recovery, and im-
proving development performance in low permeability reser-
voirs[15].
This paper describes the suitable geology conditions, res-
ervoir engineering design technologies, on-site implementa-
tion and production performance of the horizontal wells that
have been implemented in the Jilin Oilfield, aiming to provide
references for the further promotion and application of hori-
zontal wells in low permeability reservoirs.
1 Evaluation technology of horizontal well
adaptability
Screening the blocks suitable for horizontal well develop-
ment according to the actual conditions of the oilfield is not
only related to the final economic profit of horizontal well,
but also related to the success of horizontal well drilling[6].
in the Jilin Oilfield, the statistics of corresponding geology
conditions is collected, and the screening standards for hori-
zontal well adaptability in the low permeability reservoirs in
the Jilin Oilfield are established: (1) reservoir permeability
cannot be less than 3×103 ȝm2; (2) effective thickness of oil
(gas) layer cannot be less than 3 m; (3) formation parameter is
less than 100 m; (4) remaining recoverable reserves of single
well satisfy the requirement of economic limit recoverable
reserves; (5) ratio of formation pressure to original pressure is
not less than 0.5; (6) formation coefficient is not less than
20×103 ȝm2·m; (7) oil layer mobility cannot be less than
0.5×103 ȝm2/(mPa·s); (8) vertical well has certain productiv-
ity after fracturing, and oil layers have better distribution con-
tinuity. According to the above screening standards, horizontal
well adaptability evaluations are carried out for other low
permeability reservoirs in the Jilin Oilfield and eight blocks of
two types suitable for horizontal well development are
screened out (Table 1).
2 Reservoir engineering optimization design
technology
Horizontal well reservoir engineering optimization design
technologies mainly include fine description technology for

Received date: 28 Sep. 2010; Revised date: 12 Jun. 2011.

* Corresponding author. E-mail: zhaoy0621@126.com
Foundation item: Supported by the Doctoral Project Subsidized by the Heilongjiang Province Government (LBH-Z09294).
Copyright © 2011, Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration and Development, PetroChina. Published by Elsevier BV. All rights reserved.
 Zhao Jing et al. / Petroleum Exploration and Development, 2011, 38(5): 594–599

Table 1 Basic conditions of blocks suitable for horizontal well development in the Jilin Oilfield
Resource Permeability Permeabil- Effective Oil viscosity/ Reservoir fluidity/ Formation coef- Formation Oilfield
Block
classification level ity/103 ȝm2 thickness/m (mPa·s) (103 ȝm2·(mPa·s) 1) ficient/(ȝm2·m) parameter/m or region
I Low permeability 35.9 3.4 3.50 10.26 122.1 10.8 Y1 Y
I 4.3 5.0 2.63 1.64 21.6 15.8 H1 D
I 4.5 10.0 7.61 0.59 45.0 31.6 Q1 Q
I 3.6 8.0 7.60 0.47 28.8 25.3 Q2 Q
Super-low per-
I 4.3 8.0 7.60 0.57 34.4 25.3 Q3 Q
meability
I 4.0 8.0 7.61 0.53 32.0 25.3 Q4 Q
I 3.0 8.0 7.61 0.50 24.0 25.3 Q5 Q
II 3.8 6.0 7.61 0.50 22.8 19.0 Q6 Q

geologic body, reservoir engineering parameter optimization
technology, production & injection optimization technology,
horizontal well trajectory control technology and energy sup-
plement technology.
2.1 Fine description technology for geologic body
Accurately describing the distribution of remaining oil in
oil layer is critical to tapping oil potential and enhancing re-
covery with horizontal wells in low permeability reser-
voirs[79]. Take the M block as an example, in horizontal well
deployment region the fine description technology for geo-
logic body in low permeability reservoirs is developed: (1)
combining drilling data and seismic data, the structure of
horizontal well deployment region is interpreted precisely; (2)
through sedimentary microfacies studies and the fine descrip-
tion of reservoir development, the horizontal well design is
optimized; (3) using the logging data of surrounding drilled
vertical wells, the sand body extension rules in the horizontal
well deployment region is depicted to ensure that horizontal
wells are deployed in the effective sand body extension re-
gions; (4) through the accurate description of sand thickness
of each sub layer, the thickness and location of target layer are
ascertained, which provides a basis for horizontal well track
design (Fig. 1); (5) using seismic inversion data and well-tie
reservoir profile map, effective reservoirs are predicted to
fully recognize the potential of each layer and guarantee that
horizontal wells are located in the major pay zones; (6) ac-
cording to the block 3D porosity, oil saturation, permeability
and net gross ratio models, the reservoir properties in the
horizontal well deployment regions are understood, so as to
provide a technical basis for horizontal well track design.
2.2 Reservoir engineering parameter optimization
technology
2.2.1 Optimization design of horizontal length
Horizontal length is an important factor affecting horizontal
well production. Horizontal length design must consider res-
ervoir sand body development scale, the deployment of drilled
vertical well pattern and surface environment. Under the spe-
cific geology conditions and surface environment of reser-
voirs, the design length of horizontal section is not the longer
the better. Theoretical studies show that, with the increase of
horizontal length, cumulative oil production (horizontal well
was put into production for 15 years continuously) increase
gradually, but the increment amplitude is less and less (Fig. 2).
The statistics of average single well production for horizontal

Fig. 1 Sand thickness distribution of the 4th, 5th sub layers in the M block
 Zhao Jing et al. / Petroleum Exploration and Development, 2011, 38(5): 594–599

direction and maximum earth stress direction is small, hori-

zontal section should be perpendicular to the direction of
maximum earth stress, thus, it can produce fractures parallel
to maximum earth stress during fracturing for horizontal wells.
At the same time, the fracture network is formed together with
natural fracture system, which is favorable for EOR of hori-
zontal wells. In addition, horizontal well deployment should
also consider sand body extension direction, well pattern, struc-
ture contour extension, fracture development, and so on[11].

Fig. 2 Relationship between cumulative oil production and 2.3 Production and injection plan optimization design
horizontal length
The sensitive factors affecting horizontal well production
Table 2 Comparison of average single well production in hori- mainly include horizontal length, reservoir permeability, and
zontal wells with various horizontal lengths in the Jilin Oilfield reservoir effective thickness. For low permeability reservoirs,
Daily oil produc- Stable daily Cumulative oil produc- fracturing is effective to enhance productivity of single hori-
Horizontal zontal well. Fracture length, fracture numbers and fracture
tion at early pe- oil produc- tion for every one
length/m
riod/t tion/t hundred meters/ 104 t conductivity are the important factors affecting horizontal
<300 4.5 3.0 0.013 well production. Therefore, during production and injection
300600 5.6 4.3 0.093 plan optimization design, we should consider the EOR ability
of hydraulic fractures, as well as the effect of well pattern
>600 7.0 5.0 0.039
limit, water injection and other reservoir factors.
It can be seen from Table 3 that, for E block, the reasonable
wells with various horizontal length in the Jilin Oilfield are
fracture length is 90140 m, fractured interval should be 2-3
made. It can be seen from the data in Table 2 that, the average
intervals, proppant quantity should be 2045 m3.
single well stable daily oil production and average single well
cumulative oil production for each one hundred meters are 2.4 Horizontal well track control technology
higher when horizontal length is 300600 m, therefore, the
Horizontal well track control technology means bit guide
reasonable design length of horizontal section is 300600 m.
technology. Geologic guide technology for horizontal well is
2.2.2 Optimization design of horizontal section location established based on reservoir prediction. It is a new technol-
ogy to realize real-time monitoring of horizontal well track
The design location of horizontal section in reservoir de-
according to comprehensive knowledge on structure, forma-
pends on the driving type and reservoir homogeneity. It re-
tion, drilling, logging and well log data and diverse data su-
quires ascertaining the location of horizontal section in reser-
perimposition. Geologic guide drilling with LWD technology
voir according to the distribution and stability of shale and
can effectively enhance the reservoir identification accuracy
interbeds in reservoirs[10]. The theoretical studies show that, as
and track control precision, so as to guarantee good result.
for reservoirs with bottom water, with the increase of hori-
The shape and variation regularity of LWD curves are con-
zontal well dimensionless location (ratio of distance between
sistent with conventional logging curves, but LWD adopts the
horizontal section and reservoir bottom surface to reservoir
manner of continuous tracing in the horizontal direction,
thickness), the dimensionless productivity decreases gradually;
which enables to predict target formation structure, oil bearing
as for reservoirs with gas cap, with the increase of horizontal
ability and the variation of formation thickness more accu-
well dimensionless location, the dimensionless productivity
rately.
increases gradually (Fig. 3); As for reservoirs without bottom
water and gas cap, horizontal well production reaches the
highest when horizontal section is located at the middle of
reservoir. Considering the influences of oil/water gravity dif-
ference and secondary water such as injected water, the opti-
mal vertical position of horizontal section in low permeability
reservoirs in the Jilin Oilfield is: bottom water reservoir about
0.8, reservoir with gas cap about 0.2; for reservoirs with edge
water, horizontal section is located in the middle of reservoir.
The optimal plane position of horizontal section is: on the
facture development belt, horizontal section orientation
should be as far as possible perpendicular to the main fracture
direction in the fracture system; on the non-fracture develop- Fig. 3 Relationship between horizontal well dimensionless loca-
ment belt, if the included angel between fracture extension tion and dimensionless production
 Zhao Jing et al. / Petroleum Exploration and Development, 2011, 38(5): 594–599

Table 3 Comparison of horizontal well fracturing and production performance in the E block
Designed Initial production Stable production
Date to put into Number of frac- Proppant
Well fracture Liquid/ Oil/ Water Liquid/ Oil/ Water
production tured intervals quantity/m3
length/m (t·d1) (t·d1) cut/% (t·d1) (t·d1) cut/%
Ping 7 2008-02-04 3 intervals fractured 20, 20, 20 90, 90, 90 46.30 2.90 93.30 48.70 3.80 92.20
Ping 8 2007-09-12 3 intervals fractured 45, 45, 45 140, 140, 140 35.20 15.00 57.40 23.20 10.40 55.10
Ping 9 2008-04-17 2 intervals fractured 25, 25 100, 100 37.10 11.20 69.80 7.10 4.10 43.70
Ping 10 2008-04-21 3 intervals fractured 25, 25, 25 110, 110, 110 46.60 14.90 68.00 6.10 3.60 41.00
Ping 11 2008-05-12 3 intervals fractured 20, 20, 20 90, 90, 90 33.80 15.50 54.14 12.70 7.70 39.37
Ping 13 2008-05-12 3 intervals fractured 20, 20, 20 90, 90, 90 62.80 5.10 91.88 15.10 6.20 58.94
Average 43.60 10.77 74.20 18.80 5.97 55.00

Eclipse numerical simulation software is used to simulate

the development performance of various energy supplement
plans for the N block. The daily oil production of the well
group is shown in Fig. 6. It can be seen that, when vertical
well injector-horizontal well producer is applied, the produc-
tion is the highest when vertical well is located at the toe of
horizontal well; horizontal well injector-horizontal well pro-
ducer also has better development performance.

3 Application of horizontal well development

Fig. 4 Comparison of designed well track and actual track for
well Ping 66
Take well Ping 66 as an example, LWD technology can ac-
curately judge target bed, calibrate micro structure, discrimi-
nate the location of horizontal section in thin layer in time and
adjust horizontal section trajectory, enabling actual drilling
track to coincide with design (Fig. 4), so as to increase the
horizontal well drilling success ratio.
2.5 Energy supplement technology
Because formation energy is not enough in the middle and
late period of development, the production of horizontal well
declines quickly. Generally water injection is adopted to sup-
plement energy. The common two types of well pattern in-
clude vertical well injection-horizontal well production and
horizontal well injection-horizontal well production [1214].
Take the N block as an example. This reservoir was pro-
duced since 1996 and the target reservoir is the Fuyu Forma-
tion. The reservoir porosity is 23%; air permeability is
41.4×103 ȝm2; surface oil viscosity is 87.6 mPa·s. As of De-
cember 2006, the recovery ratio of the block is 21%, and res-
ervoir pressure is 5.5 MPa. Since 2007, it began to adopt
horizontal well development, to effectively produce the
hard-to-recover resources, alleviate the development contra-
diction to some degree, enhance recovery ratio, and realize the
efficient development of the block. However, because forma-
tion energy is not enough, production decreases quickly. In
view of the development status of no energy supplement and
production’s quick decline of the horizontal wells in the north
of N block, 4 kinds of water injection plans, including Mu+4
injector-Muping 4 producer (end, toe, middle) and Muping+4
injector-Muping 4 producer (Fig. 5) were designed.
technologies
The above horizontal well development technologies, that
is, horizontal well adaptability evaluation technology, hori-
zontal well reservoir engineering optimization design tech-
nology (including fine description technology for geologic
body, reservoir engineering parameter optimization design
technology, production and injection plan optimization tech-
nology and energy supplement technology), are applied in the
horizontal well design of the M block.
In the M block, the Fuyu Formation is mainly developed,
which is fault-lithology reservoir. Reservoir burial depth is
1 1861 314 m, belonging to delta front sand under shore-
shallow lake background; reservoir thickness is small, and it is
superimposed and linked together on plane. Oil layers mainly
concentrate in sand set I and II, where the 4th, 5th and 7th sub
layers are the major oil layers. The average reservoir porosity
is 14% and average permeability is 7.46×103 ȝm2.
In 2006, 4 horizontal wells were drilled in the M block (Fig.
7). In order to supplement the formation energy, well Ping 2
was transformed to injector in 2007. The average daily oil
production of horizontal well in the initial period is 14.4 t,
with water cut 42%; the daily oil production in the 6th month
is 5.1 t, with water cut 37.7%. As for the surrounding vertical
wells, the average daily oil production is 5.1 t, with water cut
39.9%; the daily oil production in the 6th month is 4.1 t, with
water cut 38.6% (Fig. 8). As of December of 2010, the cumu-
lative oil production of well Ping 3 is 2.45 times that of sur-
rounding vertical well 130-6 in the same period (49 months),
the cumulative oil production of horizontal well Ping 1 is 2.5
times that of surrounding vertical well 130-6 in the same pe-
riod (50 months). The application result in the M block shows
that, horizontal well development technologies get better re-
 Zhao Jing et al. / Petroleum Exploration and Development, 2011, 38(5): 594–599

Fig. 5 Sketch showing well patterns of different water injection plans in the N block

sults in the low permeability reservoirs in the Jilin Oilfield, so standards of horizontal well adaptability geologic parameters
the application prospect is bright. for low permeability reservoirs in the Jilin Oilfield are estab-
lished and blocks suitable for horizontal well development are
4 Conclusions
Through the researches on suitable geologic conditions for
horizontal well technology in the Jilin Oilfield, the evaluation

Fig. 6 Variation of daily oil production in the well group with

different injection plans Fig. 7 Horizontal well location deployment in the M block
 Zhao Jing et al. / Petroleum Exploration and Development, 2011, 38(5): 594–599
Fig. 8 Development performance comparison of horizontal well
and vertical well in the M block
screened out, which lays foundation for the successful imple-
mentation of horizontal wells in the Jilin Oilfield.
Based on the researches on fine description technology for
geologic body, reservoir engineering parameter optimization
design technology, production and injection plan optimization
design technology, horizontal well track control technology
and energy supplement technology, the horizontal well devel-
opment technologies are developed in the Jilin Oilfield, and
the horizontal well reservoir engineering design parameters
suitable for the geology features of the Jilin Oilfield are given.
Eclipse software is applied to carry out numerical simulation
studies for the various energy supplement plans for the N
block. The results show that, horizontal well gets the highest
production when vertical injection well is located at the toe of
horizontal well. The horizontal well development technologies
provide scientific basis for the effective development of hori-
zontal well in the Jilin Oilfield.
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