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An experimental and theoretical investigation of the flow behavior in horizontal wells and its interaction with the reservoir was performed. This has been recognized as one of the unsolved, yet most important problems in the production area.A new test facility was designed and constructed, suitable for acquiring data on the relationship between the pressure drop along the well and the fluid influx from the reservoir. The test facility features a 1-in. I.D., 26-ft long horizontal well test section flowing into a 9.2-ft high vertical section. Pertinent preliminary data were acquired.Initial models are proposed which describe the flow behavior in a horizontal well configuration for both the experimental work and field operations. The models use the IPR (Inflow Performance Relationship) approach, the black oil model and mechanistic models for wellbore hydraulics.A sensitivity analysis was performed on key parameters using the model for field operations. Good agreement was found between the model for the experimental work and the preliminary experimental data.A new IPR apart from the extension of the Darcy's law must be investigated extensively to help in the proper design of horizontal wells.
Ihara et al. (Thu,) studied this question.