Effects of Non-Darcy Flow and Penetrating Ratio on Performance of Horizontal Wells With Multiple Fractures in a Tight Formation

2017 ◽  
Vol 140 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Feng Zhang ◽  
Daoyong Yang
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Model ◽  
Pressure Drop ◽  
Flow Regime ◽  
Darcy Number ◽  
Pressure Response ◽  
Darcy Flow ◽  
Multiple Fractures ◽  
Linear Flow ◽  
Relative Minimum ◽  
Tight Formation

A novel slab source function has been formulated and successfully applied to examine effects of non-Darcy flow and penetrating ratio on performance of a horizontal well with multiple fractures in a tight formation. The Barree–Conway model is incorporated in the mathematical model to analyze non-Darcy flow behavior in the hydraulic fractures, while the pressure response under non-Darcy flow is determined by two dimensionless numbers (i.e., relative minimum permeability (kmr) and non-Darcy number (FND)). A semi-analytical method is then applied to solve the newly formulated mathematical model by discretizing the fracture into small segments. The newly developed function has been validated with numerical solution obtained from a reservoir simulator. Non-Darcy effect becomes more evident at a smaller relative minimum permeability (kmr < 0.05) and a larger non-Darcy number (FND > 10). The non-Darcy number is found to be more sensitive than the relative minimum permeability, resulting in a larger pressure drop even at a larger kmr. In addition, the non-Darcy flow is found to impose a significant impact on the early-stage bilinear/linear flow regime, resulting in an additional pressure drop that is similar to lowering the fracture conductivity. The pressure response can be classified into two categories by a penetrating ratio of 0.5. When the penetrating ratio is decreased, the early bilinear/linear flow regime occurs, followed by an early radial flow regime.

Performance Evaluation of a Horizontal Well With Multiple Fractures by Use of a Slab-Source Function

SPE Journal ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (03) ◽  
pp. 652-662 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daoyong Yang ◽  
Feng Zhang ◽  
John A. Styles ◽  
Junmin Gao
Keyword(s):  
Horizontal Well ◽  
Source Function ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Pressure Response ◽  
Multiple Fractures ◽  
Fracture Conductivity ◽  
Linear Flow ◽  
Type Curves ◽  
Semianalytical Method ◽  
Reservoir Simulator

Summary A novel slab-source function was formulated and successfully applied to accurately evaluate performance of a horizontal well with multiple fractures in a tight formation. More specifically, such a slab-source function in the Laplace domain has assigned a geometrical dimension to the source, whereas pressure response of a rectangular reservoir with closed outer boundaries can be determined. A semianalytical method is then applied to solve the newly formulated mathematical model by discretizing the fracture into small segments, each of which is treated as a slab source, assuming that there exists unsteady flow between the adjacent segments. The newly developed function was validated with numerical solution obtained from a reservoir simulator and then its application was extended to a field case. The pressure response together with its corresponding derivative type curves was reproduced to examine effects of number of stages, fracture conductivity, and fracture dimension under various penetration conditions. The fracture conductivity is found to mainly influence early-stage bilinear-/linear-flow regime, whereas a smaller conductivity will force more fluid to enter the toe of the fracture than its heel. The penetrating ratio will impose a significant impact on the pressure response at the early stage, forcing the bilinear/linear flow to become radial flow.

Performance Evaluation of A Horizontal Well with Multiple Fractures Using A Slab Source Function

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daoyong Yang ◽  
Feng Zhang ◽  
John A. Styles ◽  
Junmin Gao
Keyword(s):  
Horizontal Well ◽  
Source Function ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Pressure Response ◽  
Multiple Fractures ◽  
Fracture Conductivity ◽  
Linear Flow ◽  
Type Curves ◽  
Reservoir Simulator ◽  
Adjacent Segments

Abstract A novel slab source function has been formulated and successfully applied to accurately evaluate performance of a horizontal well with multiple fractures in a tight formation. A semi-analytical method is then applied to solve the newly formulated mathematical model by discretizing the fracture into small segments, each of which is treated as a slab source, assuming that there exists unsteady flow between the adjacent segments. The newly developed function has been validated with numerical solution obtained from a reservoir simulator and then extended its application to a field case. The pressure response together with its corresponding derivative type curves has been reproduced to examine effects of number of stages, fracture conductivity, and fracture dimension under various penetration conditions. The fracture conductivity is found to mainly influence early-stage bilinear/linear flow regime, while a smaller conductivity will force more fluid to enter the toe of the fracture than its heel. Penetrating ratio will impose a significant impact on the pressure response at the early stage, forcing the bilinear/linear flow to the radial flow.

scholarly journals Revising Transient-Pressure Solution for Vertical Well Intersected by a Partially Penetrating Fracture with Non-Darcy Flow Effect

Geofluids ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-17
Author(s):  
Shuheng Cui ◽  
Jie Kong ◽  
Hongwei Yu ◽  
Cheng Chen ◽  
Junlei Wang
Keyword(s):  
Flow Regime ◽  
Flow Regimes ◽  
Pressure Response ◽  
Darcy Flow ◽  
Transient Pressure ◽  
Fracture Conductivity ◽  
Flow Effect ◽  
Vertical Fracture ◽  
Dimensional Flow ◽  
Penetration Ratio

The principle purpose of this work is to formulate an accurate mathematical model to evaluate the transient pressure behavior of a well intercepted by a partially penetrating vertical fracture (PPVF) with non-Darcy flow effect. Fracture conductivity is taken into account by coupling the three-dimensional flow in reservoir and the two-dimensional flow within fracture; the Barree-Conway model is incorporated into the model to analyze non-Darcy flow behavior in fracture, which leads to the nonlinearity of the governing equations. A high-effective iterative algorithm using a combined technique of fracture-panel discretization and dimension transform is developed to render the nonlinear equations amenable to analytical linear treatment. On the basis of the solutions, the pressure response and its derivative type curves were generated to identify the evolution of flow regimes with time. Furthermore, the influences of fracture conductivity, penetration ratio, and non-Darcy characteristic parameters on pressure response are investigated. The results show that PPVF exhibits five typical flow regimes, and analytical solutions for each flow regime are similar to that for a fully penetrating vertical fracture (FPVF) that can be correlated with the penetration ratio and apparent conductivity. The non-Darcy flow effect is found to have more significant effect on the low and moderate conductivity, especially in early-stage flow regimes. When the penetration ratio is smaller than 0.5, the pressure behavior exhibit a more remarkable variation with penetration ratio. This study provides a better insight into understanding the influence of non-Darcy flow on flow regime identification.

Determination of Fracture Conductivity in Tight Formations With Non-Darcy Flow Behavior

SPE Journal ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 19 (01) ◽  
pp. 34-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Feng Zhang ◽  
Daoyong Yang
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Model ◽  
Characteristic Length ◽  
Flow Behavior ◽  
Fracture Network ◽  
Darcy Flow ◽  
Flow Number ◽  
Fracture Conductivity ◽  
Type Curves ◽  
Relative Minimum ◽  
Tight Formations

Summary In this paper, a mathematical model has been developed and successfully applied to accurately determine the fracture conductivity in tight formations with non-Darcy flow behavior. A new non-Darcy flow number is first defined to account for the effect of characteristic length in a hydraulic fracture. A semianalytical method is then applied to solve the newly formulated mathematical model by discretizing the fracture into small segments, assuming that there exists unsteady flow between the adjacent segments. The newly developed model has been validated by simplifying it to the traditional Forchheimer (i.e., non-Darcy) model and by performing numerical simulation with a reservoir simulator as well. The pressure response and its corresponding derivative type curves have been reproduced to examine non-Darcy flow behavior under different fracture conductivities. Both relative minimum permeability and characteristic length are found to impose a negative effect on the fracture conductivity. Compared with relative minimum permeability, characteristic length is a strong function dominating the non-Darcy flow behavior in the fractures. It is obvious that the fracture conductivity can be accurately determined when non-Darcy flow behavior in the fracture network is taken into account.

Pressure-Transient Analysis of Multiwing Fractures Connected to a Vertical Wellbore

SPE Journal ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 20 (02) ◽  
pp. 360-367 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luo Wanjing ◽  
Tang Changfu
Keyword(s):  
Flow Regime ◽  
Asymmetry Factor ◽  
Strong Interactions ◽  
Transient Pressure ◽  
High Fracture ◽  
Multiple Fractures ◽  
Pressure Derivative ◽  
Linear Flow ◽  
Type Curves ◽  
Vertical Well

Summary The principal focus of this work is on transient-pressure behaviors of multiwing fractures connected to a vertical wellbore. The vertical well is fractured with multiple-fracture wings with varied intersection angle, length, and asymmetry factor (AF). In the case of equally spaced fractures connected to a vertical wellbore, three flow regimes may be observed: bilinear-flow regime, formation linear flow, and pseudoradial-flow regime. With the increase of fracture numbers, the interaction of fractures becomes stronger and a “hump” occurs on the curves of pressure derivative for low and moderate fracture conductivities. For an anisotropic formation, the fracture may grow at a specific azimuth, and a fracture cluster develops. Because of the strong interactions among fracture clusters, the end of bilinear flow occurs earlier, and the formation linear flow will not be observed even for high fracture conductivities. In some extreme case in which a vertical well is intercepted with highly asymmetrically distributed fracture clusters, its transient performances of pressure and pressure-derivative curves may deviate from the conventional type curves totally. In addition, it is found that the complexity of multiple fractures near the wellbore can enhance the recovery of oil and gas.

Study on the Flow Characteristics of Shengli Oilfield Super Heavy Oil

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wang Shou-long ◽  
Li Ai-fen ◽  
Peng Rui-gang ◽  
Yu Miao ◽  
Fu Shuai-shi
Keyword(s):  
Pressure Drop ◽  
Pressure Gradient ◽  
Heavy Oil ◽  
Flow Characteristics ◽  
Fluid Viscosity ◽  
Linear Flow ◽  
Start Up ◽  
Non Linear ◽  
Core Permeability ◽  
Velocity Pressure

Objective:The rheological properties of oil severely affect the determination of percolation theory, development program, production technology and oil-gathering and transferring process, especially for super heavy oil reservoirs. This paper illustrated the basic seepage morphology of super heavy oil in micro pores based on its rheological characteristics.Methods:The non-linear flow law and start-up pressure gradient of super heavy oil under irreducible water saturation at different temperatures were performed with different permeable sand packs. Meanwhile, the empirical formulas between start-up pressure gradient, the parameters describing the velocity-pressure drop curve and the ratio of gas permeability of a core to fluid viscosity were established.Results:The results demonstrate that temperature and core permeability have significant effect on the non-linear flow characteristics of super heavy oil. The relationship between start-up pressure gradient of oil, the parameters representing the velocity-pressure drop curve and the ratio of core permeability to fluid viscosity could be described as a power function.Conclusion:Above all, the quantitative description of the seepage law of super heavy oil reservoir was proposed in this paper, and finally the empirical diagram for determining the minimum and maximum start-up pressure of heavy oil with different viscosity in different permeable formations was obtained.

The effect of two-phase flow regime on hydrodynamics and mass transfer in a horizontal-tube gas-liquid reactor

1985 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
pp. 745-757 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Zahn ◽  
Lothar Ebner ◽  
Kurt Winkler ◽  
Jan Kratochvíl ◽  
Jindřich Zahradník
Keyword(s):  
Mass Transfer ◽  
Pressure Drop ◽  
Flow Regime ◽  
Liquid Flow ◽  
Horizontal Tube ◽  
Liquid Holdup ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Flow Rates ◽  
Type Relation ◽  
Good Agreement

The effect of two-phase flow regime on decisive hydrodynamic and mass transfer characteristics of horizontal-tube gas-liquid reactors (pressure drop, liquid holdup, kLaL) was determined in a cocurrent-flow experimental unit of the length 4.15 m and diameter 0.05 m with air-water system. An adjustable-height weir was installed in the separation chamber at the reactor outlet to simulate the effect of internal baffles on reactor hydrodynamics. Flow regime maps were developed in the whole range of experimental gas and liquid flow rates both for the weirless arrangement and for the weir height 0.05 m, the former being in good agreement with flow-pattern boundaries presented by Mandhane. In the whole range of experi-mental conditions pressure drop data could be well correlated as a function of gas and liquid flow rates by an empirical exponential-type relation with specific sets of coefficients obtained for individual flow regimes from experimental data. Good agreement was observed between values of pressure drop obtained for weirless arrangement and data calculated from the Lockhart-Martinelli correlation while the contribution of weir to the overall pressure drop was well described by a relation proposed for the pressure loss in closed-end tubes. In the region of negligible weir influence values of liquid holdup were again succesfully correlated by the Lockhart-Martinelli relation while the dependence of liquid holdup data on gas and liquid flow rates obtained under conditions of significant weir effect (i.e. at low flow rates of both phases) could be well described by an empirical exponential-type relation. Results of preliminary kLaL measurements confirmed the decisive effect of the rate of energy dissipation on the intensity of interfacial mass transfer in gas-liquid dispersions.

Revisiting Current Techniques for Analyzing Reservoir Performance: A New Approach for Horizontal-Well Pseudosteady-State Productivity Index

SPE Journal ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (01) ◽  
pp. 71-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salam Al-Rbeawi
Keyword(s):  
Porous Media ◽  
Pressure Drop ◽  
Transient State ◽  
Darcy Flow ◽  
Analytical Models ◽  
Productivity Index ◽  
Pressure Derivative ◽  
Starting Time ◽  
State Flow ◽  
State Pressure

Summary The objective of this paper is to revisit currently used techniques for analyzing reservoir performance and characterizing the horizontal-well productivity index (PI) in finite-acting oil and gas reservoirs. This paper introduces a new practical and integrated approach for determining the starting time of pseudosteady-state flow and constant-behavior PI. The new approach focuses on the fact that the derivative of PI vanishes to zero when pseudosteady-state flow is developed. At this point, the derivative of transient-state pressure drop and that of pseudosteady-state pressure drop become mathematically identical. This point indicates the starting time of pseudosteady-state flow as well as the constant value of pseudosteady-state PI. The reservoirs of interest in this study are homogeneous and heterogamous, single and dual porous media, undergoing Darcy and non-Darcy flow in the drainage area, and finite-acting, depleted by horizontal wells. The flow in these reservoirs is either single-phase oil flow or single-phase gas flow. Several analytical models are used in this study for describing pressure and pressure-derivative behavior considering different reservoir configurations and wellbore types. These models are developed for heterogeneous and homogeneous formations consisting of single and dual porous media (naturally fractured reservoirs) and experiencing Darcy and non-Darcy flow. Two pressure terms are assembled in these models; the first pressure term represents the time-dependent pressure drop caused by transient-state flow, and the second pressure term represents time-invariant pressure drop controlled by the reservoir boundary. Transient-state PI and pseudosteady-state PI are calculated using the difference between these two pressures assuming constant wellbore flow rate. The analytical models for the pressure derivatives of these two pressure terms are generated. Using the concept that the derivative of constant PI converges to zero, these two pressure derivatives become mathematically equal at a certain production time. This point indicates the starting time of pseudosteady-state flow and the constant behavior of PI. The outcomes of this study are summarized as the following: Understanding pressure, pressure derivative, and PI behavior of bounded reservoirs drained by horizontal wells during transient- and pseudosteady-state production Investigating the effects of different reservoir configurations, wellbore lengths, reservoir homogeneity or heterogeneity, reservoirs as single or dual porous media, and flow pattern in porous media whether it has undergone Darcy or non-Darcy flow Applying the concept of the PI derivative to determine the starting time of pseudosteady-state stabilized PI The novel points in this study are the following: The derivative of the PI can be used to precisely indicate the starting time of pseudosteady-state flow and the constant behavior of PI. The starting time of pseudosteady-state flow determined by the convergence of transient- and pseudosteady-state pressure derivative or by the PI curve is always less than that determined from the curves of total pressure drop and its derivative. Non-Darcy flow may significantly affect the transient-state PI, but pseudosteady-state PI is slightly affected by non-Darcy flow. The starting time of pseudosteady-state flow is not influenced by non-Darcy flow. The convergence of transient- and pseudosteady-state pressure derivatives is affected by reservoir configurations, wellbore lengths, and porous-media characteristics.

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