Steady State Productivity

Jing Lu1
Equations for a Vertical Well in
Assistant Professor
Department of Petroleum Engineering, Anisotropic Sector Fault,
The Petroleum Institute,
P.O. Box 2533,
Abu Dhabi, UAE
Channel, and Rectangular
e-mail: jilu2@yahoo.com

Djebbar Tiab
Mewbourne School of Petroleum and Geological
Engineering,
University of Oklahoma,
100 East Boyd Street,
SEC T310,
Norman, OK 73019
e-mail: dtiab@ou.edu
Jalal Farhan Owayed
College of Engineering and Petroleum,
University of Kuwait,
P.O. Box 5969 Safat 13060 Kuwait
e-mail: jalal@kuc01.kuniv.edu.kw
Reservoirs
This paper presents steady state productivity equations for a fully penetrating vertical
well in the following three anisotropic systems: (a) sector fault, (b) channel, and (c)
rectangular reservoir using a uniform line sink model. The new equations, which are
based on conformal mapping method, are simple, accurate, and easy to use in field
practice. If the well is in a sector fault reservoir, the productivity is a function of the angle
of the sector, wellbore location angle, off-vertex distance, and drainage radius. If the well
is in a channel reservoir with two parallel impermeable lateral boundaries, well flow rate
reaches a maximum value when the well is located in the middle of the channel width. If
the well is in a rectangular reservoir with constant pressure lateral boundaries, a new
equation is provided to calculate the productivity of the well arbitrarily located in the
anisotropic reservoir for the case where the flow rate of an off-center well is bigger than
that of a centered well. It is concluded that, for a vertical well, different steady state
productivity equations should be used in different reservoir geometries.
关DOI: 10.1115/1.3066429兴

Keywords: productivity, anisotropic, channel, rectangular, sector fault

1 Introduction was developed by Dietz 关2兴. In pseudo-steady-state, a generalized

Well productivity is one of primary concerns in field develop-
ment and provides the basis for field development strategy. To
determine the economical feasibility of drilling a well, petroleum
engineers need reliable methods to estimate its expected produc-
tivity. We often relate the productivity evaluation to the long-time
performance behavior of a well, that is, the behavior during
pseudo-steady-state or steady state flow.
Substituting Darcy’s equation into the equation of continuity,
the steady state productivity equation of a fully penetrating verti-
cal well in a homogeneous isotropic permeability reservoir is ob-
tained as follows:
2␲KH共Pe − Pw兲/共␮B兲
Qw = FD
ln共Re/Rw兲
where Pe is the outer boundary pressure, Pw is the flowing bot-
tomhole pressure, and FD is the unit conversion factor 关1兴. In oil
field units, FD = 0.001127; in practical SI units, FD = 86.4. The
introduction of field and practical SI units is in Appendix A; unit
conversion factors can be found in Appendix B.
Rarely do wells drain regular-shaped drainage areas. Even if
they are assigned regular geographic drainage areas, these are
distorted after production commences, either because of the pres-
ence of natural boundaries or because of lopsided production rates
in adjoining wells. The drainage area is then shaped by the as-
signed production share of a particular well.
To account for irregular drainage shapes or asymmetrical posi-
tioning of a well within its drainage area, a series of shape factors
1 The following assumptions are made.
Corresponding author.
Contributed by the Petroleum Division of ASME for publication in the JOURNAL OF
ENERGY RESOURCES TECHNOLOGY. Manuscript received June 5, 2007; final manuscript
received May 20, 2008; published online February 5, 2009. Review conducted by
Faruk Civan.
productivity equation for different reservoir shapes was presented
by Dietz:
KH共Pa − Pw兲/共␮B兲
Qw = 共2兲
162.6 log关2.2458A/共CARw2 兲兴
where CA is the shape factor and A is the drainage area. Equation
共2兲 is expressed in oil field units.
Dietz 关2兴 evaluated shape factor CA for various geometries, in
particular, for rectangles of various aspect ratios with single well
in various locations. Furthermore, the method used by Dietz is
limited to rectangular shapes whose sides are impermeable; Eq.
共2兲 is therefore only applicable to pseudo-steady-state.
Lu and Tiab 关3兴 presented steady state productivity equations
共1兲
for an off-center vertical well in an anisotropic circular cylinder
drainage reservoir under different reservoir boundary conditions.
The primary goal of this study is to present new productivity
equations for a fully penetrating vertical well in steady state in an
anisotropic sector fault, channel, and rectangular drainage reser-
voirs.
2 Well and Reservoir Models
Figure 1 is a schematic of a well that drains a sector fault
reservoir with height H and radius Re, and the well is R0 away
from the vertex of the angle of the sector. Figure 2 is a schematic
of a well draining a channel reservoir with infinite extension in the
X direction. Figure 3 is a schematic of a well that drains a rect-
angular reservoir with height H, length 共x direction兲 Xe, and width
共y direction兲 Y e.
1. At time t = 0, pressure is uniformly distributed in the reser-
voir equal to the initial pressure Pi.
2. In the three reservoir physical models, the well is parallel to

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 3 Diffusivity Equation and Boundary Conditions
For all the three reservoir types in steady state, there holds
⳵2 P ⳵2 P ⳵2 P
Kx 2 + Ky 2 + Kz =0 共3兲
⳵x ⳵y ⳵ z2
And the top and bottom reservoir boundaries are impermeable,

冏 冏
⳵P
⳵z z=0
= 0, 冏 冏
⳵P
⳵z z=H
=0 共4兲

3.1 Sector Fault Reservoir Boundary Conditions. As Fig. 1

shows, a fully penetrating vertical well is in a sector drainage area

⍀1 = 兵共Re,⌽兲:⌽ = ␲/␶其 共5兲

where ␶ is an arbitrary real number, which is greater than or equal
to unity.
The two sides of the angle are impermeable,

冏 冏 冏 冏
Fig. 1 Sector fault reservoir model
⳵P ⳵P
= 0, =0 共6兲
⳵N OA ⳵N OB
the z direction with a producing length equal to the payzone where ⳵ P / ⳵N 兩OA,OB are the exterior normal derivatives of pressure
thickness H; the top and bottom reservoir boundaries are on the two sides of angle of the sector area.
impermeable. The reservoir outer boundary pressure Pe is The outer boundary is with edge water; during production, the
always equal to the initial pressure Pi during production. pressure at the outer boundary is always equal to the initial reser-
3. A single phase fluid, of small and constant compressibility voir pressure Pi.
C f , constant viscosity ␮, and formation volume factor B,
flows from the reservoir to the well. Fluid properties are P兩r=Re = Pe = Pi 共7兲
independent of pressure. Gravity forces are neglected.
4. Any additional pressure drops caused by formation damage, In order to solve the diffusivity equation in a dimensionless iso-
stimulation, or perforation are ignored. tropic circular drainage domain, we assume that horizontal perme-
5. If the well is in a sector fault reservoir, we assume constant ability Kh is equal to radial permeability Kr 共which implies Kx
horizontal permeability Kh, vertical permeability Kz, and = Ky = Kh = Kr兲 and define average permeability Ka as follows:
thickness H. Horizontal permeability Kh is equal to radial
Ka = Kr2/3Kz1/3 共8兲
permeability Kr. The well is located at R0 away from the
vertex of the angle of the sector. The outer boundary of the
3.2 Channel Reservoir Boundary Conditions. As Fig. 2
sector is always at constant pressure, Pe = Pi; the two sides of
shows, the fully penetrating vertical well is in a channel drainage
the angle of the sector are impermeable.
domain:
6. If the well is in a channel or rectangular reservoir, we as-
sume constant Kx , Ky , Kz permeability and thickness H. For ⍀2 = 共− ⬁,⬁兲 ⫻ 共0,Y e兲 共9兲
a channel reservoir, no lateral boundary in the X direction,
two parallel impermeable lateral boundaries are in the Y The lateral boundary conditions are shown as follows:

冏 冏 冏 冏
direction. For a rectangular reservoir, all the lateral bound-
aries of the reservoir are at constant pressure Pe = Pi. ⳵P ⳵P
= 0, =0 共10兲
⳵y y=0 ⳵y y=Y e

and

P共x兲兩x→⫾⬁ = Pi 共11兲

3.3 Rectangular Reservoir Boundary Conditions. As Fig. 3

shows, the fully penetrating vertical well is in a rectangular drain-
age domain defined by the following expression:

⍀3 = 共0,Xe兲 ⫻ 共0,Y e兲 共12兲

Fig. 2 Channel reservoir model Assume

Xe ⱖ Y e 共13兲
If the well is located at 共Xw , Y w兲, we have

0 ⬍ X w ⬍ X e, 0 ⬍ Yw ⬍ Ye 共14兲
If the well is located at the center of the rectangular reservoir, then

Xw = Xe/2, Y w = Y e/2 共15兲

For the case of a reservoir with a strong edge water drive, the
pressure at the outer boundary is assumed constant and equal to
Fig. 3 Rectangular reservoir model the reservoir initial pressure during production,

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 Table 1 Sector shape functions for special ⌽ and ␪w Table 2 Reservoir and fluid properties for Example 1

Case ⌽ ␶ ␪w Fw Pressure drop, ⌬P 5.0 MPa

Off vertex distance, R0 400 m
1 ␲ 1 ␲/2 关1 − 共R0 / Re兲4兴 / 共2RwR0 / Re2兲 Wellbore radius, Rw 0.1 m
2 3␲ / 4 4/3 3␲ / 8 关1 − 共R0 / Re兲16/3兴 / 关共8 / 3兲RwR5/3
0 / Re 兴
8/3
Drainage radius, Re 600 m
3 2␲ / 3 3/2 ␲/3 关1 − 共R0 / Re兲6兴 / 共3RwR20 / Re3兲 Payzone thickness, H 60 m
4 ␲/2 2 ␲/4 关1 − 共R0 / Re兲8兴 / 共4RwR30 / Re4兲 Angle of sector, ⌽ 5␲ / 12
5 5␲ / 12 2.4 5␲ / 24 关1 − 共R0 / Re兲9.6兴 / 共4.8RwR3.8
0 / Re 兲
4.8
Angle of well location, ␾w ␲ / 12
6 ␲/3 3 ␲/6 关1 − 共R0 / Re兲 兴 / 共6RwR0 / Re 兲
12 5 6
Permeability, K 0.01 ␮m2
7 ␲/4 4 ␲/8 关1 − 共R0 / Re兲16兴 / 共8RwR70 / Re8兲 Oil Vviscosity, ␮ 2.0 mPa s
8 ␲/5 5 ␲ / 10 关1 − 共R0 / Re兲20兴 / 共10RwR90 / Re10兲 Formation volume factor, B 1.5 Rm3 / Sm3
9 ␲/6 6 ␲ / 12 关1 − 共R0 / Re兲24兴 / 共12RwR11 0 / Re 兲
12

10 ␲/8 8 ␲ / 16 关1 − 共R0 / Re兲 兴 / 共16RwR0 / Re16兲

32 15

11 ␲/9 9 ␲ / 18 关1 − 共R0 / Re兲36兴 / 共18RwR17 0 / Re 兲

18

12 ␲ / 10 10 ␲ / 20 关1 − 共R0 / Re兲 兴 / 共20RwR0 / Re20兲

40 19 Solution. We have
␶ = ␲/⌽ = ␲/共5␲/12兲 = 2.4
Using Eq. 共19兲 and the definitions of dimensionless variables in
P兩x=0 = P兩x=Xe = P兩y=0 = P兩y=Y e = Pe = Pi 共16兲 Appendix C, we have
For channel and rectangular reservoirs, in order to solve the dif- Fw = S1/S2
fusivity equation in a dimensionless isotropic drainage domain, where
define the average permeability Ka as follows:
S1 = 关1 − 共400/600兲4.8兴关1 − 2共400/600兲4.8 cos共2 ⫻ 2.4 ⫻ ␲/12兲
Ka = 共KxKyKz兲1/3 共17兲
+ 共400/600兲9.6兴1/2
Water encroachment and multiphase flow effect are ignored.
= 0.82759
4 Productivity Equation for Sector Fault Reservoir and
As Fig. 1 shows, if the well is located at 共R0 , ␪w兲 in the sector
S2 = 2 ⫻ 2.4 ⫻ 共0.1/400兲 ⫻ 共400/600兲4.8 sin共2.4 ⫻ ␲/12兲 = 1.0073
fault reservoir 兵共Re , ⌽兲 : ⌽ = ␲ / ␶其, the productivity equation in
steady state is as follows: ⫻ 10−4
2␲KrH共Pi − Pw兲/共␮B兲 So
Qw = FD 共18兲
ln共Fw兲 Fw = 0.82759/共1.0073 ⫻ 10−4兲 = 8215.92
where Fw is the sector shape function defined as Using Eq. 共18兲, the well flow rate is
2␶ 2␶ 4␶ 1/2 542.867KH共Pi − Pw兲/共␮B兲
共1 − R0D 兲关1
− 2R0D cos共2␶␪w兲 + R0D 兴
Fw = 共19兲 Qw =
2␶−1
2␶RwDR0D sin共␶␪w兲 ln共Fw兲
where R0 is the off-vertex distance, Re is the sector radius, and ␪w 542.867 ⫻ 0.01 ⫻ 60 ⫻ 5/共2 ⫻ 1.5兲
is the wellbore location angle. =
ln共8215.92兲
If the reservoir is an isotropic permeability reservoir, i.e., Ka
= Kr = Kz = K, then = 60.23 Sm3/D

Fw = 兵共R2e ␶ − R20␶兲关R4e ␶ − 2R2e ␶R20␶ cos共2␶␪w兲

5 Productivity Equations for Channel and Rectangu-
+ R40␶兴1/2其/关2␶RwR20␶−1R2e ␶ sin共␶␪w兲兴 共20兲 lar Reservoirs
If the well is on the bisector of an angle, Eq. 共20兲 can be simpli- Figure 2 shows the channel reservoir with infinite extension in
fied. Table 1 shows simplified Fw for several special angles in an the X direction. Assuming that the well is located at 共0 , Y w兲 in the
isotropic reservoir. From Table 1 and Eqs. 共18兲 and 共19兲, the fol- drainage domain 共−⬁ , ⬁兲 ⫻ 共0 , Y e兲, the steady state productivity
lowing conclusions can be obtained. equation is
共1兲 For given values of ␪w, H, Re, and R0, productivity index 2␲冑KxKyH共Pi − Pw兲/共␮B兲
共PI兲 共i.e., well flow rate per unit pressure drop兲 is an in- Qw = FD 共21兲
creasing function of the angle of the sector ⌽ and a de- ⌳
creasing function of ␶. Note that Fw is an increasing func- where
tion of ␶.
⌳ = ␲RwD/Y eD − ln关共2␲RwD/Y eD兲sin共␲Y wD/Y eD兲兴 共22兲
共2兲 For given ␪w, H, Re, and ⌽, PI is an increasing function of
the off-vertex distance R0 and Fw is a decreasing function When sin共␲Y wD / Y eD兲 = sin共␲ / 2兲 = 1.0, and the well is located at
of R0. the center of the reservoir width, i.e., Y w = Y e / 2, the well flow rate
共3兲 For given ␪w, H, R0, and ⌽, PI is a decreasing function of reaches a maximum value.
the drainage radius Re and Fw is an increasing function of Figure 3 shows a fully penetrating vertical well draining a rect-
R e. angular drainage domain 共0 , Xe兲 ⫻ 共0 , Y e兲. In this case the produc-
共4兲 For given H, R0, Re, and ⌽, PI reaches a maximum value tivity equation in steady state becomes
when ␪w = ⌽ / 2.
4␲冑KxKyH共Pi − Pw兲/共␮B兲
Qw = FD 共23兲
Example 1. Reservoir and fluid properties data in practical SI ln关T1 ⫻ T2/共T3 ⫻ T4兲兴
units are shown in Table 2. The reservoir is a homogeneous iso-
where
tropic permeability reservoir. Calculate well flow rate in steady
state in the given sector fault reservoir. T1 = sin2共␲Y wD/Y eD兲/sin2关␲RwD/共2Y eD兲兴 共24兲

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 Table 3 Reservoir and fluid properties for Example 3
冋 冉
T2 = sin2
␲ ⫻ 1.25
5.0
冊
冉 冊册 冒 冋 冉 冊
Reservoir length, Xe 800 m
Reservoir width, Y e 200 m ␲ ⫻ 40.0 ␲ ⫻ 0.00375
Wellbore radius, Rw 0.1 m + sinh2 sin2
5.0 2 ⫻ 5.0

冉 冊册
Well location in the x direction, Xw 100 m
Well location in the y direction, Y w 50 m ␲ ⫻ 40.0
Payzone thickness, H 20 m + sinh2
5.0
Permeability in the x direction, Kx 0.1 ␮m2
Permeability in the y direction, Ky 0.4 ␮m2 ⬇ 1.0000
0.025 ␮m2

冋 冉
Permeability in the z direction, Kz
Pressure drop, ⌬P
Oil viscosity, ␮
2.0 MPa
5.0 mPa s T3 = sin2
␲ ⫻ 1.25
5.0
冊
冊册 冒 冋 冉
Formation volume factor, B 1.5 Rm3 / Sm3

+ sinh2 冉 ␲ ⫻ 5.0
5.0
sin2
␲ ⫻ 0.00375
2 ⫻ 5.0
冊
T2 = 关sin2共␲Y wD/Y eD兲 + sinh2共␲XeD/Y eD兲兴/兵sin2关␲RwD/共2Y eD兲兴 + sinh2 冉 ␲ ⫻ 5.0
5.0
冊册
+ sinh2共␲XeD/Y eD兲其 共25兲 = 1.0037

T3 = 关sin2共␲Y wD/Y eD兲 + sinh2共␲XwD/Y eD兲兴/兵sin2关␲RwD/共2Y eD兲兴

再 冉
T4 = sin2
␲ ⫻ 1.25
5.0
冊
册冎 冒 再 冉
+ sinh2共␲XwD/Y eD兲其 共26兲

T4 = 兵sin2共␲Y wD/Y eD兲 + sinh2关共␲/Y eD兲共XeD − XwD兲兴其/ + sinh2 冋 ␲ ⫻ 共40.0 − 5.0兲

5.0
sin2
␲ ⫻ 0.00375
2 ⫻ 5.0
冊
兵sin 关␲RwD/共2Y eD兲兴 + sinh 关共␲/Y eD兲共XeD − XwD兲兴其 共27兲
冋 册冎
2 2
␲ ⫻ 共40.0 − 5.0兲
+ sinh2
and sinh共·兲 stands for hyperbolic sine function. 5.0
For a square reservoir 共Xe = Y e兲, Eq. 共23兲 has an approximate
⬇ 1.0000
expression as follows:
So, using Eq. 共23兲, the well flow rate is
2␲冑KxKyH共Pi − Pw兲/共␮B兲
Qw ⬇ FD 共28兲 1085.734 ⫻ 冑0.1 ⫻ 0.4 ⫻ 20 ⫻ 2.0/共5.0 ⫻ 1.5兲
ln兵sin共␲Y wD/Y eD兲/sin关␲RwD/共2Y eD兲兴其 Qw =
ln共360,253.26 ⫻ 1.0000/共1.0037 ⫻ 1.0000兲兲
If the well is in the center of an isotropic square reservoir,
= 90.54 Sm3/D
Xw = Xe/2 = Y w = Y e/2, Kx = K y = Kz = K 共29兲 From this example, we find that
then Eq. 共28兲 can be further simplified to T2 ⬇ T3 ⬇ T4 ⬇ 1.0
2␲KH共Pi − Pw兲/共␮B兲 In Eq. 共28兲, when Y w = Y e / 2, sin共␲Y wD / Y eD兲 = sin共␲ / 2兲 = 1.0, it
Qw ⬇ FD 共30兲 can be shown that in a rectangular reservoir with constant pressure
ln关2Y e/共␲Rw兲兴
lateral boundaries, the flow rate of an off-center well is bigger
Example 2. Reservoir and fluid properties data are the same as in than that of a centered well.
Table 3. Calculate well productivity in steady state in the rectan- Example 3. Use the same reservoir and fluid properties data in
gular drainage area with constant pressure lateral boundaries. Table 3 to calculate the productivity of a fully penetrating vertical
Solution. We have well in a channel reservoir.
Solution. In this case, the parameter ⌳ is
Ka = 共KxKyKz兲1/3 = 共0.1 ⫻ 0.4 ⫻ 0.025兲1/3 = 0.1 ␮m2
⌳ = ␲ ⫻ 0.00375/5.0 − ln关共2 ⫻ ␲ ⫻ 0.00375/5.0兲
From Appendix C,
⫻sin共␲ ⫻ 1.25/5.0兲兴
XeD = 共0.1/0.1兲1/2 ⫻ 共800/20兲 = 40
= 5.706
Y eD = 共0.1/0.4兲1/2 ⫻ 共200/20兲 = 5 So, using Eq. 共21兲, the well flow rate is
542.867 ⫻ 冑0.1 ⫻ 0.4 ⫻ 20 ⫻ 2.0/共5.0 ⫻ 1.5兲
XwD = 共0.1/0.1兲1/2 ⫻ 共100/20兲 = 5 Qw =
5.706
Y wD = 共0.1/0.4兲1/2 ⫻ 共50/20兲 = 1.25 = 101.474 Sm3/D
Equation 共21兲 is for a channel reservoir with two parallel imper-
HD = 共0.1/0.025兲1/2 = 2.0 meable lateral boundaries 共two parallel sealing faults兲; Eq. 共23兲 is
for a rectangular reservoir with four constant pressure lateral
RwD = 关0.025/共冑0.1 ⫻ 0.4兲兴1/6关共0.1/0.4兲1/4 + 共0.4/0.1兲1/4兴 ⫻ 0.1/共2 boundaries 共the reservoir is surrounded by edge water兲.
Based on the works of Muskat 关4兴, Brigham 关5兴, Peaceman 关6兴,
⫻ 20兲 = 0.00375 and Besson and Aquitaine 关7兴 for the Laplace equation given by
Now, we calculate T1, T2, T3, and T4: Eq. 共3兲, we define the dimensionless effective wellbore radius RwD

冊冒 冉
in Appendix C.

T1 = sin2 冉 ␲ ⫻ 1.25
5.0
sin2
␲ ⫻ 0.00375
2 ⫻ 5.0
冊
= 360,253.26
It must be pointed out that in order to solve Eq. 共3兲 for the three
reservoir types, the point sink solutions are first obtained by or-

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 thogonal decomposition of Dirac ␦ function under different Subscripts
boundary conditions; then using superposition principle, the uni- a ⫽ average
form line sink solutions are obtained. The detailed derivations of D ⫽ dimensionless
Eqs. 共18兲, 共19兲, and 共21兲–共27兲 can be found in the thesis of Lu 关8兴. e ⫽ external
h ⫽ horizontal
i ⫽ initial
6 Conclusions r ⫽ radial
Assuming no water encroachment and no multiphase flow ef- w ⫽ well
fects, taking edge water as a constant pressure boundary, and as- x,y,z ⫽ coordinate indicators
suming top and bottom reservoir boundaries are impermeable, we
can obtain the following conclusions.
Appendix A: Dimensional Factor Table
1. For a given well, different steady state productivity equa-
tions should be used in different reservoir drainage shapes. Dimension SI Field Practical SI
2. In a sector fault reservoir, for a given well location or angle Distance L m ft m
␪w, formation thickness H, and sector radius Re, PI is an Area L2 m2 ft2 m2
Pressure mL−1t−2 Pa psi MPa
increasing function of the angle of the sector ⌽ and an in-
Permeability L2 m2 mD ␮m2
creasing function of the off-vertex distance R0.
Oil viscosity mL−1t−1 Pa s cP mPa s
3. In a sector fault reservoir, for a given H, R0, and ⌽, PI is a Flow rate L3t−1 m3 s−1 bbl/D m3 / D
decreasing function of the drainage radius Re and reaches a
maximum value when ␪w = ⌽ / 2.
4. In a channel reservoir with two parallel impermeable lateral Appendix B: Unit Conversion Factors
boundaries, when the well is located at the center of the
reservoir width, i.e., Y w = Y e / 2, the well flow rate reaches a 1 bbl = 0.1589873 m3
maximum value.
5. For an off-center vertical well in steady state arbitrarily lo- 1 cP = 0.001* Pa s
cated in an anisotropic rectangular reservoir with constant
pressure lateral boundaries, the proposed productivity equa- 1 ft = 0.3048* m
tion indicates that the flow rate of an off-center well is big-
ger than that of a centered well. 1 psi = 6894.757 Pa

1 mD = 9.86923 ⫻ 10−16 m2
*
Nomenclature Conversion factor is exact.
A ⫽
drainage area, L 2

B formation volume factor, L3 / L3

⫽ Appendix C: Definition of Dimensionless Variables
CA ⫽
shape factor, dimensionless
FD ⫽
unit conversion factor, dimensionless For sector fault drainage region
Fw
H
K
⫽
sector shape function defined by Eq. 共19兲
⫽
payzone thickness, L
⫽
permeability, L2
xD = 冉x
Re
冊冉Ka
Kr
冊
1/2

Pa
Pe
Pi
⫽
average reservoir pressure, m / 共Lt2兲
⫽
reservoir outer boundary pressure, m / 共Lt2兲
⫽
initial reservoir pressure, m / 共Lt2兲
yD = 冉 y
Re
冊冉 Ka
Kr
冊
1/2
共C1兲

Pw
PI
Qw
⫽
flowing bottomhole pressure, m / 共Lt2兲
productivity index, L4t / m
⫽
⫽
well flow rate, L3 / t
zD = 冉z
Re
冊冉Ka
Kz
冊
1/2

Rw
Re
R0
⫽
wellbore radius, L
⫽
drainage radius, L
⫽
off-vertex distance, L
HD = 冉 H
Re
冊冉 Ka
Kz
冊 1/2
共C2兲

sinh共·兲 ⫽
hyperbolic sine function ReD = 1 共C3兲
T1 ⫽
a function defined by Eq. 共24兲
T2 ⫽
a function defined by Eq. 共25兲 R0D = Ro/Re 共C4兲
T3 ⫽
a function defined by Eq. 共26兲
T4 ⫽
a function defined by Eq. 共27兲 RwD = Rw/Re 共C5兲
Xe ⫽
length of rectangular reservoir, L For channel and rectangular drainage regions
⫽
冉 冊冉 冊
Xw well location in the X direction in the rectan-
1/2
gular reservoir, L x Ka
xD =
Y e ⫽ width of rectangular reservoir, L H Kx
Y w ⫽ well location in the Y direction in the rectan-

Greek Symbols
gular reservoir, L
yD = 冉 冊冉 冊
y
H
Ka
Ky
1/2
共C6兲

冉 冊冉 冊
␾ ⫽ porosity, fraction 1/2
␪w ⫽ wellbore location angle z Ka
zD =
␮ ⫽ fluid viscosity, m / 共Lt兲 H Kz

冉 冊冉 冊
⌳ ⫽ a function defined by Eq. 共22兲 1/2
⌽ ⫽ angle of sector reservoir Xw Ka
XwD =
⍀ ⫽ drainage domain H Kx

Journal of Energy Resources Technology MARCH 2009, Vol. 131 / 013102-5

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 Y wD = 冉 冊冉 冊
Yw
H
Ka
Ky
1/2
共C7兲
References
关1兴 Butler, R. M., 1994, Horizontal Wells for the Recovery of Oil, Gas and Bitu-
men, Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum, Calgary,

冉 冊冉 冊
Canada.
1/2
Xe Ka 关2兴 Dietz, D. N., 1965, “Determination of Average Reservoir Pressure From
XeD = Build-Up Surveys,” J. Pet. Technol., 15, pp. 955–959.
H Kx 关3兴 Lu, J., and Tiab, D., 2008, “Productivity Equations for an Off-Center Partially
共C8兲
冉 冊冉 冊
Penetrating Vertical Well in an Anisotropic Reservoir,” J. Pet. Sci. Eng., 60,
1/2 pp. 18–30.
Ye Ka
Y eD = 关4兴 Muskat, M., 1949, The Flow of Homogeneous Fluids Through Porous Media,
H Ky McGraw-Hill, New York.
关5兴 Brigham, W. E., 1990, “Discussion of Productivity of a Horizontal Well,” SPE

冉 冊 1/2 Reservoir Eng., 5, pp. 245–255.

Ka 关6兴 Peacemean, D. W., 1991, “Further Discussion of Productivity of a Horizontal
HD = 共C9兲 Well,” SPE Reservoir Eng., 6, pp. 149–150.
Kz
关7兴 Besson, J., and Aquitaine, E., 1990, “Performance of Slanted and Horizontal
Wells on an Anisotropic Medium,” presented at the SPE European Conference,
RwD = 关Kz/共冑KxKy兲兴1/6关共Kx/Ky兲1/4 + 共Ky/Kx兲1/4兴Rw/共2H兲 The Hague, Netherlands, Oct. 22–24, Paper No. SPE 20965.
关8兴 Lu, J., 2008, “Productivity Equations for Oil Wells in Anisotropic Reservoirs,”
共C10兲 Ph.D. thesis, The University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK.

013102-6 / Vol. 131, MARCH 2009 Transactions of the ASME

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