Optimization of Perforation Distribution for Horizontal Wells

Abstract In a high permeability reservoir, significant pressure drop can occur in a horizontal well, causing nonuniform inflow due to the variation in pressure drawdown along the well. A mathematical model is described for investigating how perforation distribution affects the performance of a horizontal well producing under steady state inflow. The model couples the Darcy flow into each perforation with the one-dimensional momentum equations for pipe flow. The perforated well is treated like a pipe manifold with T-junctions representing the perforations along the wellbore. A number of examples are presented demonstrating how the model may be used to determine the optimal perforation distribution for different production requirements.