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EFFECT OF DISCRETIZATION ON CALCULATION OF SLANT WELL

PRODUCTIVITY INDEX IN NUMERICAL RESERVOIR SIMULATION

Article · October 2017

DOI: 10.5419/bjpg2017-0012

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 BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM AND GAS | v. 11 n. 3 | p. 141-148 | 2017 | ISSN 1982-0593

EFFECT OF DISCRETIZATION ON CALCULATION OF SLANT WELL

PRODUCTIVITY INDEX IN NUMERICAL RESERVOIR SIMULATION

a
Fayyaz, K.; b Hekmatzadeh, M. 1; b Gerami, S.

a
Department of Petroleum Engineering, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
b
IOR Research Institute, Tehran, Iran
Received: 20.06.2017 / Revised: 04.09.2017 / Accepted: 04.09.2017 / Published on line: 16.10.2017

ABSTRACT
Slant well is a non-vertical form of wells used typically for extracting oil and gas resources that cannot be
accessed through traditional vertical well drilling. Deviation in these wells results in the geometric skin
factor, which has a negative value and increases the productivity index. Various analytical/semi-analytical
equations estimate the geometric skin factor for the slant well for slightly compressible fluids. This study
attempts to show that the productivity calculated by numerical simulation for the slant well in a single-
phase (oil/gas) reservoir is sensitive to grid resolution. For this purpose, first, a slant well is defined within
a local grid refinement (“LGR”) system. Afterwards, the slant skin factor is calculated for cases having
different LGR resolution for a constant degree of inclination to find a reasonable LGR system. Then, the
applicability of this optimum LGR for all deviation angles with comparison with analytical model is
evaluated. This evaluation shows that optimum LGR is particular for each well deviation angle. Although
some of the analytical/semi analytical models are developed for slightly compressible fluids, these models
also are applicable for compressible fluids (i.e. dry gas). Furthermore, the calculated skin for the slant well
in numerical simulation for optimum LGR is not sensitive to production rate or oil viscosity.

KEYWORDS
slant well; numerical simulation; local grid refinement; geometric skin

1
To whom all correspondence should be addressed.
Address: Department of Petroleum Engineering, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, P. O. Box 14515/775,
Tehran, Iran
e-mail: [email protected]
doi:10.5419/bjpg2017-0012

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1. INTRODUCTION graphed the increase in well productivity in

comparison to the angle of the slant well.
It is very common for wells to have a certain
angle between their axis and the normal formation Cinco et al. (1975) conducted one of the most
plane. In such wells, the trajectory is not parallel to remarkable studies of the unsteady-state
gridlines of a Cartesian reservoir model called performance of slant wells. They assumed a slant
"slant well''. Figure 1 shows the schematic of well in an infinite slab. The effects of top and
vertical and slant wells. Slant wells are used for bottom with no flow boundaries were modeled by
protecting environment sensitive areas or drilling image method. They took the point source solution
into the reservoir where vertical access is difficult to solve the ensuing diffusivity equation. They
or not possible (Chen et al., 1995). This directional calculated the pseudo-skin factor due to well
drilling also helps to increase well productivity by deviation from vertical direction by subtracting the
increasing the contact length and decreasing the dimensionless wellbore pressure of a vertical well
pressure drop in comparison to vertical wells. from the one obtained for a slant one. After
computing several data for geometric skin for slant
Although such wells are usual, a limited number wells, they introduced a correlation to compute
of studies address the performance of such pseudo-skin as a function of the deviation angle
completions. Roemershauser and Hawkins (1955) and dimensionless formation thickness as is shown
studied steady-state flow in a reservoir producing in Equations (1) to (3).
through a fully penetrating slant well using an
electrical model. They considered a circular
reservoir with finite extent and concluded that the (1)
deviation of a fully penetrating well causes an
increase in the well productivity. The increase in
well productivity results from the decrease in the
resistance to flow around the wellbore and an
increase in the producing area exposed to flow.
This increase in well productivity indicates that a (2)
fully penetrating slant well creates a negative skin
effect. Roemershauser and Hawkins (1955)
(3)

This correlation is only applicable for fully

penetrating slant wells with angle less than 75
degrees. Although trying to incorporate the
anisotropy effect into their model, Rogers and
Economides (1996) claimed that it is only
applicable in isotropic mediums (in isotropic
(A)
mediums kv = kh, in anisotropic mediums kh > kv).

Van Der Vlis et al. (1979) used an electrolytic

analogue model to develop concept of effective
wellbore radius for slant wells as is shown in Eq.
(4). One should note that this model also is
applicable only applicable for isotropic reservoirs.

(4)
(B)
Figure 1. (A) slant well; (B) vertical well.
(5)

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Later, Besson (1990) obtained pressure decline obtained from Rogers and Economides (1996)
curves for a set of slant wells in homogeneous, were under estimated and significantly different
isotropic and infinite system by using a semi- from those predicted by equations proposed by
analytical simulator. Besson (1990) and Cinco et al (1975) using the
same transformation for isotropic media.
(6)
Based on previous sensitivity studies, in this
work, the results of the Cinco et al. (1975)
Then, the above equation is transformed for an analytical model for isotropic reservoir and the
anisotropic reservoir through a spatial Rogers and Economides (1996) for anisotropic one
transformation from real medium into equivalent are considered as a basis for comparison with
isotropic medium. computed slant skin from numerical simulation to
understand the discretization effect. Then, a
numerical simulation with specifications similar to
(7) Cinco et al. (1975) model assumptions has been
developed as a base case.

The model includes a slant well with 45 or 75-

(8) degree deviation (the most extreme degree of
deviation for slant wells in Cinco et al.’s study) in a
homogeneous (isotropic and anisotropic) reservoirs
(9) with Cartesian grids. All simulations were done
with a single-phase flow (dry gas or under-
saturated oil) in a closed (no-flow) boundary
In Eq. (9), Iani is called anisotropic index. It reservoir. By defining slant well within a LGR
should be noted that in most of the cases Iani is system, the goal was to show the sensitivity of
greater than 1, because of bed deposition of black oil simulation results to the well production
sediments. Rogers and Economides (1996) rate, as well as the resolution of the local grid
developed a correlation for the geometric skin opted for modeling the slant well of any deviation
factor of fully penetrating slant wells in anisotropic angle. Then, to deal with the LGR sensitivity
condition as is shown in Eq. (10) and Eq. (11). problem, the authors suggest finding an optimum
LGR system for each simulation case by taking the
(10) results of Cinco et al. (1975) as basis.

This paper proceeds as follows: first, the details

of the numerical simulation methodology are
(11) illustrated. Then, simulation results are presented
and explained. Finally, the conclusions end the
Suk Kyoon et al. (2008) conducted a sensitivity paper.
analysis of the available analytical models
developed for calculating the productivity of slant
wells. They claimed that these correlations were
inappropriate for extremely deviated wells; 2. METHODOLOGY
namely, the ones with deviation angle over 75
To simulate Cinco et al.’s (1975) analytical
degrees.
model, a base case with single-phase fluid (either
Haijing et al. (2012) presented an inflow model slightly-compressible or compressible) is
for a highly deviated well in an anisotropic considered. The rock and fluid parameters for a
reservoir and concluded that the increase in single-phased oil and dry gas reservoirs are shown
anisotropy index resulted in an increase in the in Table 1. The Cartesian coordinate is chosen to
effect of the deviation angle on well productivity. simulate slant wells. The reservoir is 34800 ft ×
34800 ft × 100 ft, with a global grid size of 201 ×
By using a sensitivity study, Ghahri and 201 × 1.
Jamiolahmady (2012) claimed that the skin values

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Table 1. Single phase fluid reservoir properties.

Parameters Values
Initial pressure 5000 psi
Oil 100 bbl/day
production rate
Gas 2000 M scf/day
Permeability(isotropic) 10 md
Porosity 0.2
Oil 2cp
Oil viscosity
Gas 0.0244 cp
-1
Formation compressibility 6.66E-06 psi
-1
Oil 3E-06 psi
compressibility -1
Gas 1.217E-04 psi
Reservoir depth 5000 ft
Reservoir thickness 100 ft
Wellbore radius 0.5 ft
Oil formation volume
1.05 bbl/stb
factor
Critical gas temperature 343.1 °R
Critical gas pressure 667 psi

In this research, the deviations of the well from numerical simulation output is analyzed using a
vertical axis for the base case are 75 and 45 straight-line technique. After that, the skin factor is
degrees. Therefore, the grid sizes selected are calculated by Eq. (12) and Eq. (13) for oil and gas
equal to 373.2×373.2×100ft and 100×100×100ft well respectively (Van Everdingen and Hurst,
respectively to pass from the grid center as is 1994);
shown in Fig. 2.
(12)
Then, the bottom-hole pressure versus time as a

(13)

The values of damage skin, partial penetration

skin, and anisotropy skin are considered zero in
numerical simulation. Hence, according to Eq. (14),
the total skin factor obtained from semi-log
analysis is equal to the geometric skin factor. For
the gas well, the dependent skin rate is also
(A) calculated and subtracted from total skin to obtain
geometric skin factor as is shown in Eq. (15),
(Wattenbarger & Ramey, 1986).

(14)

(15)

Therefore, it is possible to perform a

comparison between a numerical geometric skin
(B) and an analytical/semi analytical one.
Figure 2. Slant well with different angles; (A) 75
degree, (B) 45 degree.

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3. DISCUSSION OF THE NUMERICAL optimal grid sizes for 75 and 45-degree slanted
wells in oil and gas reservoirs are obtained by
SIMULATION RESULTS
applying two restrictions as follows:
Table 2 shows the comparison between the
1) The difference between numerical and analytical
numerical geometric and the analytical skin
model results should be in acceptable range of
calculated by different models for the base case for
error ±0.5;
oil and gas well. It also shows that the geometric
skin factor of the numerical model in base case for 2) A reduction in grid sizes to less than optimum
oil and gas reservoirs do not present a significant sizes does not cause significant changes in the
difference with each other but their value is results of the numerical model.
different from analytical model. To improve the
accuracy of the numerical model, the grid sizes that Therefore, the optimum grid sizes for 75 and
slant well passes from must be reduced using the 45-degree slanted wells in both oil and gas
LGR approach. The implementation of LGR for a reservoirs are 9.33ft×9.33ft×2.5ft and
slant well in a Cartesian reservoir model should be 2.5ft×2.5×2.5ft, respectively. One should note that
done according to a specific pattern (Farokhi et al., the optimum LGR for both oil and gas reservoirs
2015). Hence, the grid sizes are fined in the way are the same. But, different LGR systems should be
that the number of local grids in x and z directions considered for different deviation angles.
be equal, so that the slant well with any angle
passes from center of grid blocks as it is shown in After finding the optimum grid size, sensitivity
the third and fourth columns of Table 3. analyses on production rate, oil viscosity, and
anisotropy ratio are done to find out how they
Table 3 indicates that, by reducing the grid sizes, affect the geometric skin factor obtained by
the numerical model results become closer to the numerical simulation.
ones presented by the analytical model. Thus,

Table 2. Comparison of geometric skin calculated by analytical and numerical models in oil and gas reservoirs for the
base case.

Angle Numerical Model Analytical

(Degree) Oil Gas Models

75 -2.44 -3.071 -3.98

45 -0.68 -0.697 -1.41

Table 3. Comparison of geometric skin values for different grid size in slant well in oil and gas reservoirs.

Angle Grid size Number Numerical model skin Analytical Difference

Fluid
(Degree) (ft) of grids Oil Gas Model Oil Gas
74.64 × 20 5×5 -2.44 -3.07 1.54 0.910
37.32 × 10 10 × 10 -2.66 -3.202 1.32 0.778
75 9.33 × 2.5 40 × 40 -3.47 -3.993 -3.98 0.51 0.013
100 ×
3.732 × 1 -3.5 -4.01 0.48 0.030
100
Oil
20 × 20 5×5 -0.68 -0.69 0.730 0.720
10 × 10 10 × 10 -0.74 -0.881 0.670 0.529
45 2.5 × 2.5 40 × 40 -1.179 -1.305 -1.41 0.231 0.105
100 ×
1×1 -1.17 -1.349 0.240 0.061
100

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Table 4. Geometric skin factor in different oil production rate for slant well.

Angle Qoil Skin

(Degree) (bbl/day) Value
75 -3.468
75 100 -3.47
200 -3.40
75 -1.176
45 100 -1.179
200 -1.174

Table 5. Geometric skin factor in different gas production rate for slant well.

Angle Qgas
Skin Value
(Degree) (Mscf/day)
1500 -3.992
75 2000 -3.993
2500 -3.999
1500 -1.41
45 2000 -1.305
2500 -1.38

Table 6. Geometric skin factor in different oil viscosity values for slant well.

Angle Viscosity
skin value
(Degree) (cp)
1 -3.477
75 2 -3.47
3 -3.40
1 -1.179
45 2 -1.179
3 -1.173

3.1 Production rate Hence, the geometric skin factor is obtained by

subtracting the anisotropy skin factor from the
Tables 4 and 5 show that changing the total skin factor. The anisotropy skin factor is
production rate to optimal grid size for oil and gas calculated according to Eq. (17) (Abbaszadeh &
well does not affect the geometric skin factor. Hegeman, 1990).

3.2 Oil viscosity

Table 6 shows that changing the viscosity for (16)
optimum grid size for oil well does not affect the
geometric skin factor.
(17)
3.3 Anisotropy ratio
In anisotropic reservoirs, by neglecting the Table 7 shows the values of geometric skin for
other parameters of skin factor, the total skin different anisotropy ratio for oil and gas reservoirs.
factor is equal to the sum of geometric skin factor The values calculated are compared also with
and anisotropy skin factor, as is shown in Eq. (16). analytical model.

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Table 7. Comparison of geometric skin factor values in various anisotropy ratio for slanted well in anisotropic
reservoirs.

, Numerical
Angle Difference
Kv Iani Model , Analytical Model
(Degree)
Oil Gas Oil Gas Oil Gas
kv=kh 1 -3.47 -3.993 0 -3.47 -3.993 -4.52 1.05 0.527

75 kv=0.5kh 2 -2.69 -2.75 -0.34 -2.35 -2.41 -2.32 0.03 0.09

kv=0.1kh 3 -2.09 -2.15 -0.53 -1.56 -1.62 -1.57 0.01 0.05

kv=kh 1 -1.179 -1.305 0 -1.179 -1.305 -0.68 0.499 0.625

45 kv=0.5kh 2 -0.491 -0.504 -0.124 -0.367 -0.38 -0.37 0.003 0.010
kv=0.1kh 3 -0.402 -0.412 -0.157 -0.245 -0.255 -0.251 0.006 0.004

The results of Table 7 indicate that an increase  The authors suggest to further study the results
in Iani (which means decrease in kv) leads to a of numerical simulations for horizontal well,
decrease in geometric skin. Hence, an increase in slant well in radial configurations, slant wells
anisotropy results in a decrease in slant well with deviation angles greater than 75, especially
productivity. The difference between calculated in gas condensate reservoirs.
geometric skin from analytical and numerical
model rises with an increase in well deviation
angle, but it decreases with an increase in Iani.
NOMENCLATURE
-1
Ct= total compressibility, psi
Dq= rate dependent skin
4. CONCLUSION h,ho= formation thicknes, ft
Based on this study, one can observe the hD= dimensionless formation thickness, ,
dimensionless
following results:
Iani= anisotropy index, dimensionless
 Calculated geometric skins from analytical and k=reservoir permeability, md
numerical models are nearly the same for kh= reservoir permeability in horizontal direction, md
slightly compressible (oil) and compressible (dry kv= reservoir permeability in vertical direction, md
L= well length, ft
gas) fluids;
LGR= local grid refinement
 The determination of reservoir grid sizes for m=slope of linear portion of semi log plot of pressure
transient data, (psi/cycle)
calculating geometric skin factor and, hence,
pi= initial equilibrium pressure, psi
productivity index in slant well requires a qo= oil production rate, stb/day
specific pattern. By decreasing the grid sizes, qg= gas production rate, scf/day
results’ accuracy increase. However, decreasing rw= wellbore radius, ft
the grid size to less than optimum leads to an rw,eff=effective wellbore radius, ft
increase in numerical simulation run time. Also, s,st= total skin factor
changes in the results are not sensible; sani= anisotropy skin
sp= partial penetration skin
 Optimal grid sizes are unique for each well sd= damage skin
deviation angle. But, they are independent from Sθ= slant skin due to well deviation, dimensionless
production rate or fluid viscosity; z = vertical coordinate
ϕ= reservoir porosity, fraction
 An increase in reservoir anisotropy results in a μo= oil viscosity, cp
decrease in slant well productivity and θ= well deviation angle, degree
computed geometric skin factor; Ψ=pseudo pressure,

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