By Sam Browning and Ram Jayakumar OKLAHOMA CITY-Reserves recovery in liquids-rich unconventional reservoirs is challenging. Horizontal wells completed with multistage hydraulic fracturing treatments can lose productivity over time as a result of liquid loading. To maximize returns and net present value, it is critical to consider wellbore orientation when developing these reservoirs. Drilling laterals with a toe-up versus toe-down inclination may or may not have an impact on overall well performance, depending on the particular horizontal play and specific reservoir conditions, but it is important to identify whether it is a factor. If toe-up versus toe-down orientation is found to be a controlling factor on production performance, actions can be taken to maximize production by changing developmental and geosteering strategies, thereby increasing incremental economics. JANUARY 2017 61