Summary With the increasing application of distributed temperature sensing (DTS) in downhole monitoring for multifractured horizontal wells (MFHWs), well performance interpretation by inversing DTS data has become a popular topic around the world. However, because of the lack of efficient inversion models, great challenges still exist in interpreting flow rate profiles and fracture parameters for MFHWs in unconventional gas reservoirs from DTS data. In this paper, a robust inversion system is developed to interpret flow rate profiles and fracture parameters for MFHWs in unconventional gas reservoirs by inversion of DTS data. A temperature prediction model serves as a forward model to simulate the temperature behaviors of MFHWs. A new inversion model based on a simulated annealing (SA) algorithm is proposed to find inversion solutions to flow rate profiles and fracture parameters. The simulated results of temperature behaviors indicate that the temperature profile of each MFHW is irregularly serrated, and the temperature drop in each serration is positively correlated with the inflow rate and fracture half-length. These results provide an excellent method to identify and locate effective hydraulic fractures for field MFHWs. Because of the far more significant influence of fracture half-length than conductivity on a temperature profile, fracture half-length was chosen as the inversion target parameter when performing the inversion of DTS data for MFHWs. Then a synthetic inversion task was accomplished using the SA algorithm-based inversion system, and it took only 110 iterations to reach the target inversion accuracy (10−6 level). Real-time inversion error distributions indicate that this novel inversion system shows great advantages in computational efficiency. Finally, a field application in a shale gas reservoir is presented to validate the reliability of the new inversion model. Based on accurate identification of effective fractures from DTS profiles, satisfactory inversion solutions (the maximum temperature deviation of less than 0.03 K) are obtained. The absolute error of the inversed gas production rate is less than 4 m3/d. The SA algorithm-based inversion system proves reliable to interpret flow rate profiles and fracture parameters, which is a great help to postfracturing evaluation and productivity improvement for MFHWs in unconventional gas reservoirs.

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Horizontal wells are prone to water coning and imbalanced inflow profile problems because of reservoir heterogeneity, the “heel-toe” effect, and different water avoidance heights. To solve these problems, an automatic inflow control device (AICD) technology is developed, as the traditional inflow control device (ICD) technology is frequently invalid after water breakthrough. In this study, a novel water control tool, an automatic inflow-regulating valve (AIRV), was designed to balance inflow profiles before water breakthrough and to limit water inflow after water breakthrough. With the use of a movable part, the AIRV can quickly distinguish fluids and limit the water output based on differences in fluid properties and the swirling flow principle. The water control efficiency and ability of the AIRV were simulated and optimized using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software and verified experimentally using a water control testing system specially designed for the AIRV. We observed that (1) the total water force on the movable component of the AIRV is notably larger than that of oil because the swirling intensity of water is significantly higher than that of oil; moreover, the force directions of water and oil are opposite to each other. (2) The AIRV is sensitive to the flow rate and fluid viscosity but not to fluid density. (3) A higher water cut results in a higher AIRV pressure loss. The results of the CFD simulation and experimental test demonstrated that the AIRV has a significant water control ability and efficiency, particularly under conditions of a high production rate and high water cut. Thus, the AIRV can be used to enhance the control of water inflow before and after water breakthroughs in horizontal wells.