Title: Production calculation of multi-cluster fractured horizontal well accounting for stress shadow effect

Authors: Qingdong Zeng; Jun Yao

Addresses: School of Petroleum Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, China ' School of Petroleum Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, China

Abstract: The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of stress shadow in the process of multi-cluster fracturing on the production of horizontal well. First, the model of simultaneous propagation of multiple fractures is established with coupling rock deformation, fluid flow in fracture and wellbore. This model is solved by using iterative procedure. Based on the solution of hydraulic fracturing, a modified method is presented to calculate transient production of horizontal well by using source function and superposition principle. Two scenarios in regards to fracture conductivity have been considered. In the situation that fracture conductivity is varying, the variation of fracture width is captured by joint element method. Thus, the relation between model of hydraulic fracturing and of production calculation is well established. Both models have been verified, and the effect of stress shadow on well production has been analysed. Results show that accounting for stress shadow helps to increase well production. As fluid is extracted out from wellbore, the fracture conductivity would decrease rapidly, and then it leads to decrease well production. Moreover, the model is extended to calculate production of simultaneously fractured wells. [Received: November 30, 2017; Accepted: April 15, 2018]

Keywords: horizontal well; hydraulic fracturing; stress shadow; displacement discontinuity method; DDM; joint element method; source function.

DOI: 10.1504/IJOGCT.2020.105773

International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Technology, 2020 Vol.23 No.3, pp.293 - 311

Received: 30 Nov 2017
Accepted: 15 Apr 2018

Published online: 13 Mar 2020 *

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