A Parametric Comparison of Horizontal and Vertical Well Performance

TLDR

Literature lacks comparisons between fully completed horizontal wells and hydraulically fractured wells, and between hydraulically fractured horizontal and vertical wells, and ignores plumbing system effects on performance. The study develops screening criteria for vertical and horizontal wells, with or without induced fractures, to address these gaps. It presents a simple procedure to compute the optimal number and size of orthogonal transverse fractures in horizontal wells and outlines screening criteria for well selection. Using a parametric basis, the screening makes well type decisions more objective.

Abstract

Summary This paper presents screening criteria for vertical and horizontal wells with or without induced fractures. The parametric basis of such screening makes the decision on either type of well more objective. A simple procedure to calculate the optimum number of orthogonal transverse fractures in horizontal wells and their sizes is also presented. Two important comparisons have not appeared in the literature: (1) the performance of a fully completed horizontal well with that of a hydraulically fractured well and (2) the performance of a hydraulically fractured horizontal well with that of a hydraulically fractured vertical well. In addition, previous work does not take into account the effect of the plumbing system on well performance. This paper is intended to fill these gaps.