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Integrated Approach to Control Water Coning in Bottom-water Drive Reservoirs View project
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Received: January 30, 2018; Accepted: February 11, 2018; Published: March 14, 2018
Abstract: Oil production from bottom-water drive reservoirs is characterized by water production related problem - water
coning. Most times, horizontal wells are used to attenuate this production challenge. That notwithstanding, overtime,
depending on the production rate, water coning is also experienced with horizontal wells. Therefore, several correlations have
been developed to predict the critical rate, breakthrough time and water-cut performance after breakthrough in horizontal
wells. However, limited studies have evaluated the predictions of these developed water coning correlations. Therefore, an
evaluation has been made to predict the various water coning correlations in horizontal wells. The obtained results show that
the critical rate directly depends on the stand-off to drainage width and horizontal well length to drainage width ratios. Also, it
is shown that the breakthrough time directly depends on the horizontal well length to drainage width ratio. Furthermore, the
correlations developed from water-cut data for the prediction of post-water behaviour (i.e., water-cut performance) after
breakthrough indicate more proficient water-cut profile than the correlations developed from water-oil ratio. Therefore, to
prolong the occurrence of water coning in horizontal wells, the ratios of stand-off to drainage width and horizontal well length
to drainage width should be considered to achieve maximum critical oil rate and breakthrough time in bottom-water reservoirs.
Keywords: Bottom-Water Reservoir, Water Coning Prediction, Critical Rate, Breakthrough Time, Water-Cut Performance,
Horizontal Wells
work of Khalili [22] and Kumar et al. [25]. These extracted water coning correlations presented in Tables A1through A3.
data as presented in Table 1 were used to evaluate the various
Table 1. Basic Reservoir and Fluid Properties.
Figure 2. Critical Rate vs. Stand-off – Drainage Width Ratio. On the other hand, Figures 4 and 5 present the critical rate
24 Anietie Ndarake Okon and Dulu Appah: Water Coning Prediction: An Evaluation of Horizontal Well Correlations
against horizontal well length to drainage width (L/Xe) performance. That is, Yang and Wattenbarger [12] and Souza
prediction of the various correlations. From the results, it is et al. [18] correlations predicted water-cut of about 33% and
noted that the critical rate is directly dependent on the well 95% respectively after 10.5 years. For Permadi and Jayadi
length - drainage width ratio. However, the results further [19] correlation, its prediction was not of a typical water-cut
indicate that these correlations: Efros [7], Kracher et al. [8], profile; as the obtained water-cut profile was exponential in
Giger [9], Permadi [26], Joshi [11] and Ozkan and Raghavan nature. Meaning, a near steady water-cut profile was not
[15] resulted in low critical rate prediction when compared to established as the evaluated water-cut performance
the predictions of Chaperon [10], modified Chaperon by approaches 1 (100%); as observed in the case of Souza et al.
Joshi [27], Yang and Wattenbarger [12] as well as Recham et [18] correlation prediction profile.
al. [13]. Interestingly, almost all the correlations have the
same trend of predicting the critical rate against well length
to drainage width in horizontal wells. Just like stand-off to
drainage width ratio (d/Xe), the obtained results indicate that
well length to drainage width (L/Xe) is another factor to be
considered in horizontal well placement to suppress early
water cone in bottom-water drive reservoirs.
4.2. Breakthrough Time
5. Conclusion
The use of horizontal well technology as water coning
(cresting) suppression approach does not completely
eliminate this production rate-sensitive phenomenon in
bottom-water drive reservoirs. Therefore, the proper
prediction of this phenomenon in horizontal wells is of
essence. Hence, several authors have developed correlations
to predict water coning in horizontal wells based on
numerous approaches and assumptions. However, limited
works have evaluated the consistency of these correlations to
Figure 6. Breakthrough Time vs. Well Length - Drainage Width Ratio.
predict coning parameters in horizontal wells. Therefore, this
study evaluates the various water coning correlations in
4.3. Water-cut After Performance Breakthrough horizontal wells, and the following conclusions are drawn:
i. all the correlations predicted different values for the
Figure 7 presents the different correlations prediction of water coning parameters: critical rate, breakthrough
post-water behaviour (i.e., water-cut performance) after and water-cut performance after breakthrough in
breakthrough in horizontal wells. From the Figure, Yang and horizontal wells;
Wattenbarger [12] and Souza et al. [18] correlations have the ii. in horizontal wells, critical production rate directly
same profile but different predictions of the water-cut depends on stand-off to drainage width and
Engineering and Applied Sciences 2018; 3(1): 21-28 25
horizontal well length to drainage width ratios, while Bo = oil formation volume factor, rb/stb
breakthrough time directly depends on horizontal
Bw = water formation volume factor, rb/stb
well length to drainage width ratio; and
iii. also, correlations to evaluate post-water behaviour or M = mobility ratio
g
water-cut performance after breakthrough developed = gravity constant, ft/hr2
from water-cut data predict more realistic water-cut ϕ = formation porosity, fraction
profile than correlations from water-oil ratio data. α = mobility ratio exponent
Therefore, in bottom-water reservoirs with active aquifer, hap = height above perforation, ft
placement of horizontal well should consider stand-off to
drainage width as well as horizontal well length to drainage hbp = height below perforation, ft
width to achieve optimum critical production rate and hwb = breakthrough height (cone height), ft
breakthrough time.
hw = water zone thickness, ft
Appendix
Appendix A
Table A1. Correlations for Water Coning Critical Rate in Horizontal Wells.
qc = 2.46 × 10−5 ;
reh
µo Bo ln
rwe
1
L 2r
2
where: a = 0.5 + 0.25 + eh L
2
The bottom water drive reservoir
∆ρ kv hbp L kv h can be represented as a constant
2
Ozkan and h
6. Analytical qc = 1.0194 − 0.1021 bp − 0.2807 bp pressure boundary (i.e., pressure at
Raghavan [15] 651.4µo Bo kh h h
the oil and water interface is
constant).
L ∆ρ kh h − ( h − Db ) *
2
D kv Based on Chaperon (1986) work to
Empirical & qc = 7.827 × 10 −6 qic ; X D = handle the expression for
7. Joshi [27] Regression D µ o Bo h kh
dimensionless flow rate (q*) in
Analysis
where: qic* = 3.9624955 + 0.0616438 ( X D ) − 0.000504 ( X D )
2
Chaperon’s equation.
7.08 × 10−3 kh L∆ρ hwoc Slightly compressible fluids flow;
qc =
bottom-water moves horizontally at
8. Permadi [26] Analytical h k Y h 1
µo Bo X e − Ye + h v ln e − residual oil saturation and pressure
L k h 2rw L 2 at WOC is constant.
∆ρ hLkro kv kh
qc = qcD Based on the work of Addington
Yang and µo Bo
(1981) with the assumption that
9. Wattenbarger Analytical 0.65
1 hbp2 water is displacing oil in a piston-
[12] 1
where: qcD = 4.7921 × 10−4 D 0.32 1 + M 0.4 like manner.
( h − hap ) − hbp
2 2
XD
∆ρ hL kv kh
qc = qc
325.86 µo Bo D For the modelled reservoir, 3D
Numerical
where: radial model for water coning
Recham et al. Simulation &
10.
2.77 vertical well and 3D irregular
[13] Regression
( hbp − 1)
2
Cartesian model for water cresting
Analysis 0.61 1 1
qcD = 1.17 × 10 ( X D )
−3
(coning) in horizontal well.
1 + M 1 − hap ( h − h ) 2 − ( h − 1) 2
4.45
h ap ap
Table A2. Correlations for Water Coning Breakthrough Time in Horizontal Wells.
tbt =
kv ( ∆Pv − ∆γ hwoc ) Slightly compressible fluids flow;
bottom-water moves horizontally at
4. Permadi [26] Analytical h k Ye h
µo qBo X e − Ye +h h ln residual oil saturation and pressure at
L kv 2rw L WOC is constant.
where; ∆Pv = 141.24
kh hL
0.54 5.86
1
0.78
1
0.62
hbp 2 hap 2 For the modelled reservoir, 3D radial
tbt = 12657 (1 + M ) 1 − 1 −
0.37
Numerical model for water coning vertical well
Recham et al. Simulation & XD qD h h
5. and 3D irregular Cartesian model for
[13] Regression
325.86µo Bo qo X kv µo krw water cresting (coning) in horizontal
analysis where; qD = ; XD = e ; M =
∆ρ Lh kv kh h kh µ w kro well.
Engineering and Applied Sciences 2018; 3(1): 21-28 27
Table A3. Correlations for Water-cut Performance after Breakthrough in Horizontal Wells.
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