A New Analytical Approximation for the Flow into a Well in a Finite Reservoir

A new approach is presented for the pressure calculation around a horizontal well or a partially penetrating vertical well in a finite height reservoir. The new method matches the asymptotic solutions close to- and far from the well. To this end, the reservoir is divided into two distinct volumes with ellipsoidal and elliptically cylindrical symmetry, respectively. Comparison with other techniques shows that the new expressions yield excellent results. The method is also applicable to reservoirs containing one elliptical, vertical or horizontal fracture, and can be used with account of a zone of altered permeability around the well or fracture due to formation damage or stimulation.