Deep Insights to Multilateral Wells with Arbitrary Trajectories - An Integrated Approach for Transient Pressure Behavior

The objective of this paper is focusing deep insights on stabilized productivity index and transient pressure behaviors and flow regimes of multilateral wells. It introduces an integrated approach for the performance of reservoirs depleted by multilateral wells extending in arbitrary trajectories. The study introduces new practical solutions for estimating stabilized pseudo-steady state productivity index and starting time of pseudo-steady state as well as transient productivity index behavior of multilateral wells in single and dual porous media with laterally and spatially anisotropic characteristics. The study also aims to understand pressure behaviors and flow regimes expected to develop in reservoirs during the entire life of production.

Several analytical models are used for describing pressure and pressure derivative behavior of multilateral wells considering different reservoir configurations and types and different wellbore lengths and directions. These models are developed for laterally and spatially anisotropic reservoirs consisting of single homogenous and dual heterogeneous porous media (Naturally fractured reservoirs) and depleted by multilateral wells extending from single vertical wellbore at different horizons and directions. The models are modified to identify the staring time of pseudo-steady state flow or the time when boundary dominated flow regime is developed.