Abstract

In this work, dfnWorks simulation tool is used to track the efficiency of hydraulic fracture stages across a hypothetical multi-stage hydraulic fracture well connected to a natural fracture network under low porosity and permeability typical of unconventional shale reservoirs. The evaluation of the influence of hydraulic fractures on the fluid flow trajectories and velocities in a natural fractured reservoir was weighted by the modeled connectivity with the natural fractures (DFN) and by the use of hydraulic fracture stage pressures. Under low natural fracture intensities is connectivity the factor that matters more in fluid flow towards the well; conversely, under high fracture intensities and the resulting high connectivity, fluid flows towards the well is more influenced by low-pressure stages or stages with highest pressure gradient between the boundary faces and the horizontal well.

Keywords:
complex reservoir, fracture intensity, united states government, connectivity, fracture, hydraulic fracture, stochastically, particle trajectory, boundary, viswanathan
Subjects:
Hydraulic Fracturing, Unconventional and Complex Reservoirs, Naturally-fractured reservoirs
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Copyright 2022, Discrete Fracture Network Engineering, American Rock Mechanics Association
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