STUDY OF STEADY-STATE FLOW TO A HORIZONTAL WELL IN A DEFORMABLE RESERVOIR

The article examines the nature of steady-state inflow to a horizontal well located in a finite isotropic circular reservoir with a deformable rock matrix. In the context of the growing need to develop hard-to-recover hydrocarbon reserves, horizontal wells are increasingly being used as one of the most efficient and economically viable solutions. Their use makes it possible to significantly increase productivity, enhance the recovery of reserves, and improve the oil and gas recovery factor. A mathematical inflow model was developed in the study, accounting for the influence of rock deformation on changes in reservoir permeability. This allowed for obtaining more accurate and realistic well production rates compared to classical approaches. A numerical and analytical analysis was conducted to evaluate the impact of horizontal wellbore length, its position relative to the reservoir top and bottom, reservoir thickness, as well as hydrodynamic interactions when operating a cluster of horizontal wells. It was found that under certain ratios of wellbore length to reservoir thickness, inflow to a horizontal well can exceed that of a vertical well fully penetrating the reservoir. The optimal hydrodynamic position of the horizontal wellbore is at the center of the reservoir, equidistant from its top and bottom boundaries. It was shown that rock deformability can lead to a decrease in production rate of up to 21.6%, depending on the type of reservoir. The developed graph-analytical relationships allow for technical and economic evaluation and optimization of design parameters of horizontal wells under complex geomechanical conditions. The obtained results can be applied in field development planning both onshore and offshore, including in the late stages of field operation.