Type Curves Analysis for Asymmetrically Fractured Wells

Abstract

In this paper, a new constant rate solution for asymmetrically fractured wells was proposed to analyze the effect of fracture asymmetry on type curves. Calculative results showed that for a small wellbore storage coefficient or for the low fracture conductivity, the effect of fracture asymmetry on early flow was very strong. The existence of the fracture asymmetry would cause bigger pressure depletion and make the starting time of linear flow occur earlier. Then, new type curves were established for different fracture asymmetry factor and different fracture conductivity. It was shown that a bigger fracture asymmetry factor and low fracture conductivity would prolong the time of wellbore storage effects. Therefore, to reduce wellbore storage effects, it was essential to keep higher fracture conductivity and fracture symmetry during the hydraulic fracturing design. Finally, a case example is peiformed to demonstrate the methodology of new type curves analysis and its validation for calculating important formation parameters.

Productivity estimations for vertically fractured wells with asymmetrical multiple fractures

“…Tiab et al (2010) discussed the influence of fracture asymmetry on the pressure behavior of a one-fracture well under constant production rate. Wang and Wang (2014) analyzed the effect of fracture asymmetry on type curves. They found that the fracture asymmetry has an important effect on fractured well productivity.…”

Transient-Flow Modeling of Vertical Fractured Wells with Multiple Hydraulic Fractures in Stress-Sensitive Gas Reservoirs

“…Later, by considering the effect of the fluid flow within the hydraulic fractures, a seepage model of a vertical fractured well with two symmetrical finite-conductivity hydraulic fractures was established [20,21], which can identify the bilinear flow. Some researchers pointed out the existence of two asymmetrical hydraulic fractures in practice and established some seepage models of vertical fractured wells with two asymmetrical hydraulic fractures [22][23][24][25][26][27]. In fact, massive hydraulic fracturing usually creates fractured network or several main hydraulic fractures near the wellbore instead of two symmetrical/asymmetrical hydraulic fractures [28][29][30][31].…”

A Novel Semi-Analytical Model for Multi-branched Fractures in Naturally Fractured-Vuggy Reservoirs

“…Furthermore, general solutions considering the effects of dual-porosity effect in the reservoir was presented by Cinco-Ley and Meng 13 . The above solutions become the basic solutions of production data analysis 14 – 17 and some authors also considered fracture asymmetry based on the basic solutions 18 – 22 .…”