20.2 Definition of Separation Factor

There are three main methods of defining the separation factor and depending on how it is defined, the results change. Also, since the separation factor is always calculated in the plane determined by the scanning method, the scanning method also obviously can change the results. The older methods of scanning will calculate the separation factor along a plane either perpendicular or horizontal to the primary well path. Again, best policy is to use 3D closest approach scanning so that the shortest distance is seen.