Which of the following is NOT a way to prevent coning effects?

• A. Increase production rate
• B. Don't produce at too high of a rate
• C. Don't complete near the OWC or GOC
• D. Use horizontal drilling

Answer: (A)

Coning happens when drawing down pressure at the well pulls nearby fluids (water from below or gas from above) toward the well, forming a cone that can invade the producing interval and reduce oil flow. To prevent this, you keep the drawdown modest by not producing at too high a rate, avoid perforating near the oil–water or gas–oil contacts so the cone has less driving force to reach the well, and use well architectures like horizontal drilling to place more of the well in the oil zone and reduce the vertical path for a cone to form. Increasing production rate, on the other hand, raises the drawdown and accelerates the movement of water or gas toward the well, making coning more likely. So, boosting production rate is not a way to prevent coning; the other strategies help mitigate it.