Analyze Horizontal Well Tests Using Reservoir Simulation Approach–a Case Study

Abstract

Analysis based on analytical solutions dominates in conventional well testing analysis. Analytical solutions, however, meet their challenges under some complex test conditions. This paper presents a case study of horizontal well testing analysis using simulation approach. In this case study, we show an example that the horizontal well tests, sometimes, could not be analyzed using conventional well testing methods, but they could be analyzed using simulation approach (a single well model in this case). By history matching the well tests, we calibrated the single well model. Then using the calibrated model, we analyzed the actual well performance. We also used the single well model to design a new drawdown test. The new drawdown test was successfully conducted and analyzed using an analytical model. The analysis results are consistent with those obtained from the earlier tests analyzed using simulation approach.
Key words: Reservoir simulation approach; Horizontal well; ECLIPSE; PanSystem