See the DOE website for additional information. This is an extension of the work done by Durlofsky et al who have developed an accurate near well upscaling method for vertical wells. Most existing upscaling techniques are based on the assumption that the pressure field is slowly varying or linear. In the near-well region, however, the pressure field cannot be expected to be either linear or slowly varying.
Standard methods can therefore provide inaccurate results in the near well region.
Durlofsky et al also demonstrated the inaccuracy of standard methods for more extreme permeability fields. The near well upscaling approach previously developed for vertical wells will be extended to handle general non-conventional wells. This may lead to more accurate models of non-conventional wells. A local problem corresponding to the near well region is solved. The fine grid solution is used to determine the upscaled well block transmissibilities and well index.