Doug Walser, Randall Edgeman, & Rocky Chambers, BJ Services Co.
Production from thirty-two horizontal Devonian wells in the Permian Basin was studied in detail to determine if the impact of various completion methods might be distinguished from an existing reservoir overprint. Flowing transient pressure analysis was utilized to determine effective permeabilities and contributing lateral lengths. Production and economic performance were normalized for permeability, productive zone height, and initial static reservoir pressure on each of the wells, so that examinations into various completion processes would be more meaningful. Some of the wells in the study were completed with cemented liners, while the remaining wells were completed with predrilled uncemented liners. A direct comparison is made between the two completion styles. A variety of stimulation processes were employed and examined. Recommendations for various completion processes are presented, based on results of the study and industry-accepted rock mechanics concepts.