A Semi-Analytical Model for Complex Fracture Geometries with Fracture Hits

Abstract

In this study, we develop a new model for the complex fracture geometries with fracture hits using an efficient semi-analytical model. The semi-analytical model has the capability to simulate shale well performance by considering complex non-planar hydraulic fractures and fracture hits. By combining nodal analysis and Laplace transforms, the pressure transient solution of the diffusivity equation is obtained. The semi-analytical model is verified against the numerical models. Then, we apply the model to analyze pressure testing data of a parent well and a child well. Results show that the flow regimes of complex fracture geometries with fracture hits include wellbore storage, skin effect, fracture bilinear flow, "fluid feed", pseudo-boundary dominated flow, unconnected fracture (UF) impact, and pseudo radial flow. During the flow regime of UF impact, the pressure derivative curves exist a second "V-shape", as the UF improve the matrix permeability and the pressure depletion will be reduce once the flow reaches the UF. Those flow regimes provide good guidelines for identification of complex fracture networks with fracture hits.