Field experience
shows that extending shut-in periods are conducive
to increasing tight oil production after fracturing operations. Understanding
the regularity of pressure decay is helpful to establish an appropriate
shut-in time. However, the characteristics and influencing factors
of pressure decay are unclear. This paper studies the porosity, permeability,
mineral composition, and pore structure of samples in six different
blocks. The pressure decay regularity is tested according to an independently
designed indoor shut-in experimental device, and the oil distribution
of experimental samples is monitored using nuclear magnetic resonance
technology. The results show that the fracturing fluid enters the
matrix pores under the action of percolation to slowly drive out the
oil, causing the well pressure to decay over time. There are three
types of pressure decay characteristics: concave type, fluctuation
type, and quadratic type. Compared with conventional sandstone, the
pressure decay rate of tight reservoirs is slower, and the pressure
decay characteristics are more complicated. Clay mineral-rich reservoirs
will swell when exposed to water. As a result, the strength of the
framework will be weakened and collapsed. What’s more, it will
cause blockage of the throat, blocking the flow of oil and the decay
of pressure. In addition, the rate of pressure decay is also related
to the volume of fracturing fluid, initial borehole pressure, and
formation closure stress. At a certain proppant thickness (fracture
width), the larger the fracturing fluid volume, the larger the fracture
surface area and the faster the pressure decay rate; Moreover, the
greater the initial shut-in pressure, the greater the pressure difference
and the faster the decay rate; the formation closure stress causes
the core porosity and the permeability to decrease, resulting in a
decrease in the decay rate. The experimental results are of great
significance for establishing a proper shut-in time and enhancing
the oil recovery of tight reservoirs.
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