Well Interference

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Abstract
An asymptotic solution to the equation that describes the flow of a slightly compressible fluid in an infinite porous medium has been used to estimate the interaction between two adjacent wells producing from a common reservoir. A direct method for approximating the interference time defined by Stevens and Thodos has been suggested. An alternative definition for the time of interference, based on the minimum pressure change in the interference region, has been proposed; also, a direct method of determination has been prescribed. Examples have been employed to illustrate the use of both methods. Introduction: The pressure behavior associated with a completely penetrating well in a uniformly thick, homogeneous, horizontal reservoir containing a single, slightly compressible, mobile fluid is described by the radial form of the diffusion equation. A useful asymptotic solution to this equation is the continuous line-source solution obtained from the basic formulation of Lord Kelvin. ..................(1) In the derivation of Eq. 1, it is assumed that a well of infinitesimal radius is producing at a constant rate from an infinite reservoir. Because of the assumption of a vanishing well radius, the solution is valid only for large values of time. Horner discusses the limitations on the use of this equation; Elkins presents field data which support Horner's conclusions. If two or more wells are producing from the same reservoir, the resulting pressure distribution is obtained by the superposition of the solutions for the individual wells. The object of this paper is to develop approximate techniques for determining the time and the place at which pressure disturbances originating from two adjacent wells begin to interact, or interfere, significantly. Two distinct approaches will be followed. First, the effect due to each well will be considered separately; then, the cumulative effect of the two wells will be examined.

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