A semianalytical model of fractured horizontal well with hydraulic fracture network in shale gas reservoir for pressure transient analysis

Abstract

Accurate construction of a seepage model for a multifractured horizontal well in a shale gas reservoir is essential to realizing the forecast of gas well production, the pressure transient analysis, and the inversion of the postfracturing parameters. This study introduces a method for determining the fracture control region to characterize the flow area of the matrix within the hydraulic fracture network, distinguishing the differences in the flow range of the matrix system between the internal and external regions caused by the hydraulic fracture network structure. The corresponding derivation and solution methods of the semi-analytical seepage model for fractured shale gas well are provided, followed by the application of case studies, model validation, and sensitivity analysis of parameters. The results indicate that the proposed model yields computational results that closely align with numerical simulations. It is observed that disregarding the differentiation of matrix flow area between the internal and external regions of the fracture network led to an overestimation of the estimated ultimate recovery, and the boundary-controlled flow period in typical well testing curves will appear earlier. Because hydraulic fracture conductivity can be influenced by multiple factors simultaneously, conducting a sensitivity analysis using combined parameters could lead to inaccurate results in the inversion of fracture parameters.

Document Type: Original article

Cited as: Cui, Q., Zhao, Y., Zhang, L., Chen, M., Gao, S., Chen, Z. A semianalytical model of fractured horizontal well with hydraulic fracture network in shale gas reservoir for pressure transient analysis. Advances in Geo-Energy Research, 2023, 8(3): 193-205. https://doi.org/10.46690/ager.2023.06.06

References

Afagwu, C., Abubakar, I., Kalam, S., et al. Pressure-transient analysis in shale gas reservoirs: A review. Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering, 2020, 78: 103319.

Agarwal, R. G., Al-Hussainy, R., Ramey, H. J. An investigation of wellbore storage and skin effect in unsteady liquid flow: I. Analytical treatment. SPE Journal, 1970, 10(3): 279-290.

Brown, M., Ozkan, E., Raghavan, R., et al. Practical solutions for pressure-transient responses of fractured horizontal wells in unconventional shale reservoirs. SPE Reservoir Evaluation & Engineering, 2011, 14(6): 663-676.

Chen, Z., Liao, X., Sepehrnoori, K., et al. A semi-analytical model for pressure transient analysis of fractured wells in unconventional plays with arbitrarily distributed fracture networks. Paper 187290 Presented at SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, San Antonio, Texas, 9-11 October, 2017.

Chen, Z., Liao, X., Yu, W., et al. Pressure-transient behaviors of wells in fractured reservoirs with natural and hydraulic-fracture networks. SPE Journal, 2018, 24(1): 375-394.

Chu, H., Zhang, J., Zhang, L., et al. A new semi-analytical flow model for multi-branch well testing in natural gas hydrates. Advances in Geo-energy Research, 2023, 7(3): 176-188.

Cinco-Ley, H., Samaniego, V. F. Transient pressure analysis for fractured wells. Journal of Petroleum Technology, 1981, 33(9): 1749-1766.

Cipolla, C. L., Lolon, E. P., Erdle, J. C., et al. Reservoir modeling in shale-gas reservoirs. SPE Reservoir Evaluation & Engineering, 2010, 13(4): 638-653.

Clarkson, C. R., Nobakht, M., Kaviani, D., et al. Production analysis of tight-gas and shale-gas reservoirs using the dynamic-slippage concept. SPE Journal, 2012, 17(1): 230-242.

Daniels, J. L., Waters, G. A., Calvez, J. H. L., et al. Contacting more of the Barnett Shale through an integration of real-time microseismic monitoring, petrophysics, and hydraulic fracture design. Paper SPE 110562 Presented at SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Anaheim, California, 11-14 November, 2007.

El-Banbi, A. H., Wattenbarger, R. A. Analysis of linear flow in gas well production. Paper SPE 39972 Presented at SPE Gas Technology Symposium, Calgary, Alberta, 15-18 March, 1998.

Ertekin, T., King, G. R., Schwerer, F. C. Dynamic gas slippage: A unique dual mechanism approach to the flow of gas in tight formations. SPE Formation Evaluation, 1986, 1(1): 43-52.

Fan, D., Ettehadtavakkol, A. Analytical model of gas transport in heterogeneous hydraulically-fractured organicrich shale media. Fuel, 2017, 207: 625-640.

Fisher, M. K., Wright, C. A., Davidson, B. M., et al. Integrating fracture mapping technologies to optimize stimulations in the Barnett Shale. Paper SPE 77441 Presented at SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, San Antonio, Texas, September 29-October 2, 2002.

Gringarten, A. C., Ramey, Jr H. J. The use of source and Green’s Functions in solving unsteady-flow problems in reservoirs. SPE Journal, 1973, 13(5): 285-296.

Hazlett, R. D., Farooq, U., Babu, D. K. A complement to decline curve analysis. SPE Journal, 2021, 26(4): 2468-2478.

Holditch, S. A. The increasing role of unconventional reservoirs in the future of the oil and gas business. Journal of Petroleum Technology, 2003, 55(11): 34-79.

Jia, P., Cheng, L., Huang, S., et al. Transient behavior of complex fracture networks. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 2015, 132: 1-17.

Jia, P., Cheng, L., Huang, S., et al. A comprehensive model combining Laplace-transform finite-difference and boundary-element method for the flow behavior of a twozone system with discrete fracture network. Journal of Hydrology, 2017, 551: 453-469.

Karimi-Fard, M., Durlofsky, L. J., Aziz, K. An efficient discrete-fracture model applicable for general-purpose reservoir simulators. SPE Journal, 2004, 9(2): 227-236.

Kuchuk, F., Onur, M., Hollaender, F. Pressure transient formation and well testing: Convolution, deconvolution, and nonlinear estimation, in Developments in Petroleum Science, Elsevier. edited by F. Kuchuk, F. Hollaender, M. Onur, Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp, 1-389, 2010.

Miao, F., Wu, D., Liu, X., et al. Methane adsorption on shale under in situ conditions: Gas-in-place estimation considering in situ stress. Fuel, 2022, 308: 121991.

Moghanloo, R. G., Javadpour, F. Applying method of characteristics to determine pressure distribution in 1D shalegas samples. SPE Journal, 2014, 19(3): 361-372.

Nguyen, K. H., Zhang, M., Ayala, L. F. Transient pressure behavior for unconventional gas wells with finite-conductivity fractures. Fuel, 2020, 266: 117119.

Ozkan, E., Brown, M., Raghavan, R., et al. Comparison of fractured horizontal-well performance in conventional and unconventional reservoirs. Paper SPE 121290 Presented at SPE Western Regional Meeting, San Jose, California, 24-26 March, 2009.

Ozkan, E., Raghavan, R., Apaydin, O. G. Modeling of fluid transfer from shale matrix to fracture network. Paper SPE 134830 Presented at SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Florence, Italy, 19-22 September, 2010.

Palmer, I. Modeling shear failure and stimulation of the Barnett Shale after hydraulic fracturing. Paper SPE 106113 Presented at SPE Hydraulic Fracturing Technology Conference, College Station, Texas, 29-31 January, 2007.

Ren, Z., Yan, R., Huang, X., et al. The transient pressure behavior model of multiple horizontal wells with complex fracture networks in tight oil reservoir. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 2019, 137: 650-665.

Stalgorova, E., Matter, L. Analytical model for unconventional multi-fractured composite systems. SPE Reservoir Evaluation & Engineering, 2013, 16(3): 246-256.

Tiab, D. Analysis of pressure and pressure derivative without type-curve matching-III. Vertically fractured wells in closed systems. Paper SPE 26138 Presented at the SPE Western Regional Meeting, Anchorage, Alaska, 26-28 May, 1993.

Tian, S., Wang, T., Li, G., et al. An analytical model for shale gas transport in circular tube pores. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 2018, 127: 321-328.

Waltman, C. Comparison of single and dual array microseismic mapping techniques in the Barnett Shale. Paper SPE 95568 Presented at SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Dallas, Texas, 6-11 November, 2005.

Wang, H. Performance of multiple fractured horizontal wells in shale gas reservoirs with consideration of multiple mechanisms. Journal of Hydrology, 2014, 510: 299-312.

Wang, H., Chen, L., Qu, Z., et al. Modeling of multi-scale transport phenomena in shale gas production - A critical review. Applied Energy, 2020, 262: 114575.

Wang, W., Fan, D., Sheng, G. A review of analytical and semi-analytical fluid flow models for ultra-tight hydrocarbon reservoirs. Fuel, 2019, 256: 115737.

Wang, T., Tian, S., Zhang, W., et al. Production model of a fractured horizontal well in shale gas reservoirs. Energy & Fuels, 2021, 35(1): 493-500.

Wattenbarger, R. A., El-Banbi, A. H., Villegas, M. E., et al. Production analysis of linear flow into fractured tight gas wells. Paper SPE 39931 Presented at the SPE Rocky Mountain Regional/Low-Permeability Reservoirs Symposium, Denver, Colorado, 5-8 April, 1998.

Yao, S., Zeng, F., Liu, H., et al. A semi-analytical model for multi-stage fractured horizontal wells. Journal of Hydrology, 2013, 507: 201-212.

Zhang, R., Chen, M., Zhao, Y., et al. Production performance simulation of the fractured horizontal well considering reservoir and wellbore coupled flow in shale gas reservoirs. Energy & Fuels, 2022, 36(22): 13637-13651.

Zhang, Y., Yang, D. Modeling transient pressure behavior of a multi-fractured horizontal well in a reservoir with an arbitrary boundary and different fracture networks by considering stress-sensitive effect. Journal of Hydrology, 2021, 600: 126552.

Zhao, K., Du, P. Performance of horizontal wells in composite tight gas reservoirs considering stress sensitivity. Advances in Geo-Energy Research, 2019, 3(3): 287-303.

Zhao, Y., Li, H., Zhang, L., et al. Pressure transient analysis for off-centered fractured vertical wells in arbitrarily shaped gas reservoirs with the BEM. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 2017, 156: 167-180.

Zhao, Y., Zhang, L., Xiong, Y., et al. Pressure response and production performance for multi-fractured horizontal wells with complex seepage mechanism in box-shaped shale gas reservoir. Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering, 2016, 32: 66-80.

Zhao, Y., Zhang, L., Zhao, J., et al. Performance of fractured horizontal well with stimulated reservoir volume in unconventional gas reservoir. Journal of Hydrology, 2014, 512: 447-456.