Abstract:Several methods have been proposed in the literature for analyzing drawdown data for the determination of fracture conductivity of vertically fractured wells. These techniques have paved accurate, but in some cases the fracture conductivity calculated is much smaller than anticipated. This study shows that producing fractured wells at high flow rates will cause nondarcy effects in the fracture, resulting in a pessimistic fracture conductivity.Numerical and semianalytical models were developed to analyze the un… Show more
“…The velocity plot (Figure 9b) reveals that the oil migrates fastest near the tips of the fractures, with an interior region between the fractures draining much slower. Classical analytical flow models [92] asserted that no fluid flow would occur from matrix into the fracture tips. Only flow of matrix normal to the fracture is assumed, which is clearly not what we see in our CAM simulations where flow near the fracture is fastest and not following sub-parallel or linear streamlines, but more complex particle paths.…”
Closed-form solution-methods were applied to visualize the flow near hydraulic fractures at high resolution. The results reveal that most fluid moves into the tips of the fractures. Stranded oil may occur between the fractures in stagnant flow zones (dead zones), which remain outside the drainage reach of the hydraulic main fractures, over the economic life of the typical well (30-40 years). Highly conductive micro-cracks would further improve recovery factors. The visualization of flow near hypothetical micro-cracks normal to the main fractures in a Wolfcamp well shows such micro-cracks support the recovery of hydrocarbons from deeper in the matrix, but still leave matrix portions un-drained with the concurrent fracture spacing of 60 ft (~18 m). Our study also suggests that the traditional way of studying reservoir depletion by mainly looking at pressure plots should, for hydraulically fractured shale reservoirs, be complemented with high resolution plots of the drainage pattern based on time integration of the velocity field.
“…The velocity plot (Figure 9b) reveals that the oil migrates fastest near the tips of the fractures, with an interior region between the fractures draining much slower. Classical analytical flow models [92] asserted that no fluid flow would occur from matrix into the fracture tips. Only flow of matrix normal to the fracture is assumed, which is clearly not what we see in our CAM simulations where flow near the fracture is fastest and not following sub-parallel or linear streamlines, but more complex particle paths.…”
Closed-form solution-methods were applied to visualize the flow near hydraulic fractures at high resolution. The results reveal that most fluid moves into the tips of the fractures. Stranded oil may occur between the fractures in stagnant flow zones (dead zones), which remain outside the drainage reach of the hydraulic main fractures, over the economic life of the typical well (30-40 years). Highly conductive micro-cracks would further improve recovery factors. The visualization of flow near hypothetical micro-cracks normal to the main fractures in a Wolfcamp well shows such micro-cracks support the recovery of hydrocarbons from deeper in the matrix, but still leave matrix portions un-drained with the concurrent fracture spacing of 60 ft (~18 m). Our study also suggests that the traditional way of studying reservoir depletion by mainly looking at pressure plots should, for hydraulically fractured shale reservoirs, be complemented with high resolution plots of the drainage pattern based on time integration of the velocity field.
“…Many scholars at home and abroad have done a lot of research on this aspect [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24], the domestic aspects, Wei Chen [8] established the evaluation model of finite conductivity and symmetrical fractured vertical wells in coalbed methane reservoirs; Weiping Ouyang [9] uses the finite element method to establish the numerical well test model of vertical fractured well of coalbed methane infinite conductivity, and the double logarithmic well test theory chart is drawn; Haitao Cao [13] used the theory of point source function to deduce modern decreasing plate of CBM symmetrically fractured well production; Baojun Cao [14] established a model for asymmetric fracture productivity of volcanic rocks based on the principle of conformal transformation and equivalent filtrational resistance; Wenjuan Wu [15] took the Chang 6 oil reservoir in Ordos Basin as an example, using the logging data to carry out the geological modeling and studying the three-dimensional stress field established the numerical simulation model of the asymmetric fracturing in the ultra-low permeability oil and gas reservoirs; Jian Xiong [16] derived productivity prediction model of finite conductivity asymmetric vertical fractured wells in low permeability gas reservoirs based on the steady flow theory and conformal transformation. The foreign aspects, Benjamin, J. and Barker [17] studied the pressure dynamics of finite conductivity symmetrical fractured vertical well in coalbed methane with confined boundaries based on the assumption of two dimensional single-phase Darcy flow; K.H.Guppy [18] established a numerical and semi-analytical model to analyze the high velocity non-Darcy's flow behavior of the finite conductivity fractured wells in coalbed methane reservoirs; Fernando Rodriguez [19] established a semi-analytical model of finite conductivity asymmetrical fractured well in oil reservoirs based on a new solution to the dynamic analysis of quasi-linear flow and bilinear flow pressure; B.D. Poe [20] gave a dynamic analysis model of pressure propagation in ...…”
In this study, based on Green function and Laplace transformation, a pressure transient analysis semi-analytical evaluation model which can be used for coalbed reservoirs of finite conductivity asymmetrically fractured vertical well was established. The mathematical model considers asymmetrically fracture and finite conductivity. Fick law was used to describe gas diffusion in spherical matrix and Lagrange function was used to depict the unsteady desorption of coalbed gas. The influences of related parameters, such as artificial fracture conductivity, asymmetry factor, storativity ratio, cross-flow factor, dimensionless drainage radius and so forth, on the seepage flow were analyzed by using the established model. The results show that The percolation process include 6 stages (a) artificial fracture flow with the effect of wellbore storage effect; (b) transition flow; (c) linear flow between matrix and artificial fracture; (d) cross-flow between matrix and fracture in double medium fractures; (e) the pseudoradial flow stage of whole system; (f) closed boundary flow. Artificial fracture conductivity has great impact on whole production cycle. With the artificial fracture conductivity increases, the raise of capacity is very significant, especially for the production period after the influence of wellbore storage effect. Asymmetry factor is also important to whole production cycle. The bigger asymmetry factor is, the lower capacity is. Storativity ratio and cross-flow factor influence the degree and occurrence time of cross-flow between matrix and ________________________ Ming Li, Desheng Zhou, Xiong Liu, Chaoneng Zhao, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Xi'an Shiyou University, Xi'an 710065, China 261 fractures respectively. The smaller storativity ratio is, the more observer cross-flow is. The smaller cross-flow factor is, the earlier cross-flow will happen. The dimensionless drainage radius has only an effect on the later production. The smaller dimensionless drainage radius is, the earlier the closed boundary flow will happen.
“…The inertial or non-Darcy effect in HFWs has also been studied by some investigators and different correlations for the estimation of fracture skin have been introduced for these flow systems (Guppy et al 1982;Giddley 1991;Settari et al 2002;Huang and Ayoub 2007). In all these studies, the negative impact of inertia in increasing the pressure drop in the fracture, i.e., reducing effective fracture conductivity, has been highlighted.…”
Fracturing is one of the most common well-stimulation techniques especially for tight gas-condensate reservoirs. Considerable efforts have been devoted to this subject albeit mainly for single-phase or conventional gas oil systems. Gas condensate flow around hydraulically fractured wells (HFWs) is different from that in conventional gas oil systems. Previous studies (Danesh et al. in Gas Condensate Recovery Studies, 1994; Jamiolahmady in Transp Porous Media 41(1): 2000) have shown that at low to moderate velocities, the relative permeability of these low interfacial tension systems increases as velocity increases and/or interfacial tension decreases. At very high velocity values, on the other hand, the inertial effect becomes dominant, reducing the relative permeability as velocity increases (Forchheimer in Hydraulik, Chap 15, Teubner, Leipzik, 1914). Description of HFWs in gas condensate reservoirs using the existing reservoir simulators requires the use of very fine grids to capture the abrupt changes in flow and rock parameters for these systems. This task is very cumbersome, time consuming and impractical. In this work, a two-dimensional mathematical simulator has been developed, based on finite-difference methods. The simulator accounts for phase change, condensate drop out, coupling and inertial effects. This single-well model has been used to investigate the impact of important geometrical and flow parameters on the performance of a HFW. Based on this investigation new formulae have been developed for fracture skin factor and effective wellbore radius. The developed formula for effective wellbore radius, which is applicable under both steady state and pseudo-steady state conditions, can be used in an equivalent open-hole system replicating flow around HFWs. The approach is similar to that followed for single phase systems albeit with a modified formula for the fracture conductivity term as developed here. Another important application of these formulae is in the optimization of fracture dimensions for a given fracture volume, in gas condensate reservoirs.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.