Heavy Crude Production from Shallow Formations: Long Horizontal Wells Versus Horizontal Fractures Conference Paper uri icon

abstract

  • Abstract This paper studies the feasibility of producing heavy oil from shallow formations using either long horizontal wells or short horizontal wells fractured horizontally. The suggested withdrawal configuration provides excellent well / fracture communication and additional sand control. The problem of optimum proppant placement is solved in two steps. First, finite conductivity fracture performance is considered in general terms. It is shown that the performance can be described as a function of two dimensionless parameters. Optimum conditions are derived. Then the solution is applied to the horizontal fracture configuration. The performance is compared to that of a "long" horizontal well.

name of conference

  • All Days

published proceedings

  • All Days

author list (cited authors)

  • Valk, P. P., & Economides, M. J.

citation count

  • 57

complete list of authors

  • Valkó, Peter P||Economides, Michael J

publication date

  • January 1998