Abstract
In the development of heavy oil fields in the Bohai Sea, the “horizontal + directional” well pattern has significantly improved recovery rates. However, as the oilfield enters the ultra-high water cut stage, changes in waterflooding behavior and production characteristics lead to a more complex distribution of remaining oil, posing challenges for subsequent development. This study introduces a dynamic interference analysis method that integrates three-dimensional (3D) physical modeling with numerical simulation. The method optimizes the interference prediction model under the “horizontal + directional” well pattern, aiding in well placement optimization and enhancing development efficiency during the ultra-high water cut period. Additionally, a phenomenon was observed where remaining oil concentrates in the central segment during the displacement process. Through numerical simulations under varying permeability rhythms, the impact of the injection-production relationship on the distribution of remaining oil was revealed, providing a theoretical foundation for well pattern optimization. The findings offer technical support for the continued development of Bohai Oilfields under ultra-high water cut conditions and provide valuable guidance for other offshore heavy oil fields. The new methods proposed in this study can improve recovery rates in complex waterflood environments.
Data availability
To access the measured experimental data, one can contact Ma Kuiqian by contacting email of m25515461@163.com.
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Funding
Supported by Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province (BK20241945).
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Ma Kuiqian: As the principal investigator and corresponding author of this study, he conceived and designed the entire research project, oversaw data acquisition and analysis, drafted the initial manuscript, and was responsible for its critical revision and finalization.Zhang Zhang: As a key collaborator for the core experiments, he took the lead in performing pivotal experimental procedures and data validation, and played a major role in results interpretation.Wang Lilei and Deng Jingfu: They were jointly responsible for a significant portion of data collection and curation, and contributed to statistical analysis and figure preparation.Zhang Yunlai: His primary responsibilities involved conducting literature research and collating relevant materials. He also contributed to the writing and refinement of the Discussion section.Sun Qiang and Zhang Xuemin: They participated in the preliminary literature review during the early stages of the research and provided critical feedback during the manuscript review process.Sun Mingxing, Dou xiangji, Zhang Xiangkun, and Wu Longzhi: They provided specialized technical support at various stages of the study, All authors reviewed the manuscript.
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Kuiqian, M., Zhang, Z., Lilei, W. et al. Study on inter-segment interference mechanisms and patterns between horizontal well sections in a combined well pattern of horizontal and vertical wells in offshore oilfields. Sci Rep (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-41737-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-41737-3
