Production performance analysis for horizontal wells in composite coal bed methane reservoir

In this paper, the mathematical model of production performance analysis for horizontal wells in composite coal bed methane reservoir is introduced. In this model, two regions with different formation parameters are distinguished, and multiple mechanisms are considered including desorption, diffusion, and viscous flow. Then the solution of horizontal well performance analysis model is obtained by using point source function method, Laplace transform, and Stehfest algorithm comprehensively. The solution of the proposed model is verified with previous work thoroughly. The pressure transient analysis for horizontal well when producing at a constant rate is obtained and discussed. At last, different flow regimes are divided based on pressure transient analysis curves. They are early wellbore storage period, skin factor period, first radial flow regime, transition regime, second radial flow regime, transfer regime, and late pseudo-radial flow regime. The effects of related parameters such as storativity ratio, transfer coefficient, adsorption coefficient, ratio of vertical permeability to horizontal permeability, skin factor, horizontal well position in vertical direction, and inner region radius are analyzed as well according to pressure transient analysis and rate transient analysis curves. The presented work in this paper can give a better understanding of coal bed methane production performance in composite reservoir.