Optimized Horizontal Wellbore Length for Gas Breakthrough Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing techniques for drilling hydrocarbon wells often result in inefficient hydrocarbon extraction due to variations in production across the wellbore, leading to early breakthroughs of unwanted substances like gas or water, which can shorten the productive life of the well and leave behind unswept hydrocarbons.
Innovation Solution
Determining and employing an optimized horizontal well lateral length by identifying candidate well parameters, conducting simulations to determine gas breakthrough time and productivity index, and selecting a wellbore length that minimizes the ratio of gas breakthrough productivity index change to wellbore length change, thereby optimizing production rates and reducing breakthrough occurrences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a relatively long horizontal wellbore is drilled to increase overall production, then the total amount of hydrocarbons extracted increases, but the production becomes highly uneven with the heel extracting most hydrocarbons and the toe extracting very little
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the horizontal wellbore into multiple discrete intervals along its length. By identifying and treating specific intervals that show promise for production rather than treating the entire wellbore uniformly, the system creates multiple potential production zones. This segmentation allows the well to maintain longer lateral extent for overall productivity while creating multiple distributed production points that improve uniformity across the wellbore length.
2Productivity
If a long horizontal wellbore is used to maximize hydrocarbon extraction, then more hydrocarbons can be accessed, but breakthrough of injected substances occurs earlier, shortening the well's productive life
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary identification and evaluation of productive intervals along the horizontal wellbore before full production begins. By using simulation models and analysis to predict which intervals will remain productive longest and are least susceptible to early breakthrough, the system can prioritize those intervals for initial production. This preliminary action delays breakthrough effects by establishing production from optimized zones first, thereby extending the overall productive life of the well.
3Productivity
If the wellbore length is increased to improve production, then more reservoir area is swept, but the ratio of gas breakthrough productivity index change to wellbore length change increases, indicating diminishing returns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex manual wellbore optimization processes with automated simulation and analysis systems. By using computer-based models to calculate gas breakthrough productivity indexes and evaluate interval performance, the system automatically identifies optimal productive intervals without requiring manual trial-and-error analysis. This substitution of mechanical/engineering judgment with computational analysis reduces the complexity of wellbore optimization while maintaining or improving production outcomes.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are embodiments that include identifying candidate well parameters for a hydrocarbon well that include a location, a well production rate and candidate horizontal wellbore lateral lengths for the well, conducting simulations of hydrocarbon wells located at the location and having lateral lengths corresponding to the candidate horizontal wellbore lateral lengths and operating at the well production rate to determine a gas breakthrough productivity indexes (GBPIs) for the simulated wells, determining (based on the GBPIs) a relationship of GBPI to horizontal wellbore lateral length, determining (based on the relationship) an optimized horizontal wellbore lateral length for the production rate, and developing the well based on the optimized horizontal wellbore lateral length.