To apply the radial drilling technique to thermal recovery and development of thin heavy oil reservoirs, a simulation study based on the equivalent continuum principle and local grid refinement technology is carried out. On the basis of historic matching of a higher fitting precision, the influences of the factors of length, plane angle and the quantity of the radial hole on oil production are studied. The results indicate the followings. The radial holes can increase the scope of steam and the area of pressure release and can enhance the production effectively; the oil production gradually increases with the increase of the radial hole length, but the increase rate decreases, with the optimal range of length of the radial hole being 100 to 120 m; a large angle of the distribution of the radial holes in the same plane in the reservoir has weak interference and production grows well; when the number of the radial holes in the same plane increases and the angle between the radial holes gradually decreases, mutual interference gradually strengthens and the output growth gradually declines; and the average angle distribution of four radial holes can obtain an obvious effect on oil production.

thin heavy oil reservoirs  /  radial drilling  /  steam stimulation  /  numerical simulation