Semianalytical Production Simulation of Complex Hydraulic-Fracture Networks

Abstract

Summary The application of horizontal-well drilling and multistage fracturing has become a norm in the industry to develop unconventional resources from ultratight formations. A complex fracture network generated in the presence of stress isotropy and pre-existing natural fractures immensely extends reservoir contact and improves hydrocarbon production. A semianalytical method is presented in this paper to simulate the production from such a complex fracture network. This method combines an analytical reservoir solution with a numerical solution on discretized fracture panels. The mathematics is briefly introduced. Numerous case studies are presented, from a simple planar fracture to a real-field example from the Barnett shale. Production behavior and the key flow regimes are discussed. With its simplicity, yet capturing the physics of the transient-production performance, this approach provides an accessible tool for people from multiple disciplines in unconventional-resource development to rapidly evaluate treated-well productivity and stimulation effectiveness.

Pressure Transient Behavior of Horizontal Wells Intersecting Multiple Hydraulic Fractures in Naturally Fractured Reservoirs

“…5. This example was also presented by Zhou et al (2013) (see Fig. 14 of their paper) for the transient behavior of a horizontal wells intersected by six multiple hydraulic fractures.…”

“…For this case, we will use the example given in one of the most recent articles published by Zhou et al (2013). For this single-rectangular-fracture case, fracture, formation, and fluid properties are given in Table 1 of Zhou et al (2013) and in Table 1 of this paper with a few additions: a horizontal well and F D = 10,000 instead of 20.…”

“…For this single-rectangular-fracture case, fracture, formation, and fluid properties are given in Table 1 of Zhou et al (2013) and in Table 1 of this paper with a few additions: a horizontal well and F D = 10,000 instead of 20. The reservoir is homogenous and infinite, the center of the well is located at {0, 0, 0} (in the middle of the formation from the top and bottom), and the transverse vertical fracture intersects the 1000-ft horizontal at {0, 0, 0} and penetrates the entire formation.…”

“…14 of their paper) for the transient behavior of a horizontal wells intersected by six multiple hydraulic fractures. The fracture, formation, and fluid properties are given in Table 2 of Zhou et al (2013) as:…”

“…Zhou et al (2013) stated: "A case of a horizontal well with six stages of uniform fractures is simulated, as shown in Fig. 13.…”