A Semianalytical Approach for Obtaining Type Curves of Multiple-Fractured Horizontal Wells With Secondary-Fracture Networks

Abstract

Summary In naturally fractured reservoirs, complex fracture systems can easily develop along a horizontal wellbore during hydraulic fracturing. In the fracture systems, multiple, discrete secondary fractures are connected to the multiple-fractured horizontal well (MFHW). Because of the fracture complexity, most studies about performance forecast of such MFHWs highly depend on numerical simulators. In this paper, a new semianalytical approach is proposed to overcome the challenge to analyze the pressure behavior of MFHWs in complex-fracture systems. First, a mathematical model for MFHWs with secondary-fracture networks is established. Then, with Gauss elimination and the Stehfest numerical algorithm (Stehfest 1970), the transient-pressure solution of the mathematical model is solved, and type curves of MFHWs with secondary-fracture networks are obtained. After that, model validation and sensitivity analysis are conducted. It is found that the presented approach can rapidly and accurately generate type curves of MFHWs with secondary-fracture networks. This work provides very meaningful references for reservoir engineers in fracturing evaluations as well as performance estimations of MFHWs in naturally fractured reservoirs.

The heat and mass transfer characteristics of superheated steam in horizontal wells with toe-point injection technique

“…In this section, type curves of SHS flow in IT and annuli are obtained and discussed in detail (Huang et al 2017(Huang et al , 2018a(Huang et al , 2018bFeng et al 2018;Sun et al 2017k, 2017l, 2018bZhang et al 2017aZhang et al , 2017bChen et al 2015Chen et al , 2016Chen et al , 2017. The injection pressure, temperature and mass flow rate at the heel point are 4.231 MPa, 566.6 K and 3 kg/s, respectively.…”

A Semi-Analytical Pressure-Transient Model to Detect Inter-well Interference of Multi-Well-Pad-Production Scheme in Shale Gas Reservoirs

“…Zhou et al (2014) and Chen et al (2016) artificially determined the flow direction, while Jia et al (2015) employed star-transformation to automatically determine flow direction. In this paper, the orthogonal hydraulic fractures system is idealized to characterize the geometry of HFNW, therefore, the star-transformation is utilized to automatically determine flow direction and solve the issue of fluid transfer at interacting point of HFNW system.…”

“…Zhou et al (2014) and Yu et al (2015) combined analytical reservoir solutions with numerical fracture network solution to characterize fracture network complexity. Similarly, Jia et al (2015) and Chen et al (2016) utilized star-transformation (Karimi-Fard et al, 2003 and boundary element integration methods to characterize fluid seepage within complex fracture network (induced hydraulic fractures and discrete natural fractures). These semi-analytical models provided quick insights into fracture-network performance and formed foundations to efficiently and accurately analyze transient pressure response.…”

Effect analysis of non-condensable gases on superheated steam flow in vertical single-tubing steam injection pipes based on the real gas equation of state and the transient heat transfer model in formation

“…In order to study the effect of injection temperature, various injection temperatures (590, 610 and 630 K) are tested based on no change in values of injection pressure and mass flow rate (Chen et al 2016(Chen et al , 2017Zhang et al 2017a, b;Sun et al 2017k, l, 2018bFeng et al 2018;Huang et al 2017Huang et al , 2018a. Besides, various values of mass content of non-condensing gases are added for comparison.…”