Post-pressure monitoring and evaluation of horizontal wells using pressure-based analysis

Yang Song; Yang Song

doi:10.3934/environsci.2026023

AIMS Environmental Science

2026, Volume 13, Issue 3: 550-578. doi: 10.3934/environsci.2026023

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Research article Special Issues

Post-pressure monitoring and evaluation of horizontal wells using pressure-based analysis

Yang Song ^,

Associate Professor, School of Electronic Engineering, Xi'an Shiyou University, Xi'an, China, 710065

Received: 06 January 2026 Revised: 04 June 2026 Accepted: 24 June 2026 Published: 10 July 2026

Horizontal well post-pressure monitoring is important in testing wellbore integrity, reservoir response, and stability after interventions involving pressure. However, existing pressure-based evaluation methods lack systematic integration to capture transient behavior and translate pressure dynamics into actionable well condition assessments. The quantitative description of post-pressure behavior is aided by smoothed pressure trends, rolling variance, and derived stability indices, whereas the statistical approach to detect abnormal pressure deviations is based on the Z-score. This study optimized horizontal well monitoring, supporting sustainable energy by enhancing production efficiency and minimizing risks. A key finding of this study is the development of a clear rule-based decision framework that transforms pressure-derived metrics into operationally meaningful well condition states (stable, warning, and risk), shifting into a quantitative analysis and field-level decision-making. The proposed framework was confirmed with real post-pressure information from a horizontal oil well (Well No. 807). The proposed framework contributes to sustainable energy and environmental solutions by enabling reliable post-pressure well monitoring, improving operational efficiency, reducing intervention risks, and supporting optimized resource utilization in horizontal well systems. The results indicate a clear transition from initial transient pressure behavior to a stable equilibrium state, with approximately 65% in the stable category, 25% in the warning category, and 10% in the risk category. In addition, the role of visual imaging logging is considered at a conceptual level due to the absence of real imaging data, intended to support future interpretation of pressure anomalies.
- horizontal wells,
- post-pressure monitoring,
- pressure analysis,
- anomaly detection,
- stability index,
- rule-based classification
Citation: Yang Song. Post-pressure monitoring and evaluation of horizontal wells using pressure-based analysis[J]. AIMS Environmental Science, 2026, 13(3): 550-578. doi: 10.3934/environsci.2026023

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Abstract

Horizontal well post-pressure monitoring is important in testing wellbore integrity, reservoir response, and stability after interventions involving pressure. However, existing pressure-based evaluation methods lack systematic integration to capture transient behavior and translate pressure dynamics into actionable well condition assessments. The quantitative description of post-pressure behavior is aided by smoothed pressure trends, rolling variance, and derived stability indices, whereas the statistical approach to detect abnormal pressure deviations is based on the Z-score. This study optimized horizontal well monitoring, supporting sustainable energy by enhancing production efficiency and minimizing risks. A key finding of this study is the development of a clear rule-based decision framework that transforms pressure-derived metrics into operationally meaningful well condition states (stable, warning, and risk), shifting into a quantitative analysis and field-level decision-making. The proposed framework was confirmed with real post-pressure information from a horizontal oil well (Well No. 807). The proposed framework contributes to sustainable energy and environmental solutions by enabling reliable post-pressure well monitoring, improving operational efficiency, reducing intervention risks, and supporting optimized resource utilization in horizontal well systems. The results indicate a clear transition from initial transient pressure behavior to a stable equilibrium state, with approximately 65% in the stable category, 25% in the warning category, and 10% in the risk category. In addition, the role of visual imaging logging is considered at a conceptual level due to the absence of real imaging data, intended to support future interpretation of pressure anomalies.

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