Low-Conductivity and Short Fracture Half-Length Type Curves and Analysis for Hydraulically Fractured Wells Exhibiting Near Radial Flow Profile Available to Purchase

Some actual buildup pressure responses from deep, hydraulically fractured wells or wells which sanded out during the fracturing treatment have yielded pressure responses similar to radial flow. These cases show no apparent bilinear or linear flow regimes on the log-log plots. The same type of near-radial flow response can also be observed in wells with short fracture half-lengths, high linear skin on the fracture, or in wells with very low fracture conductivities.

New type curves parameterized in terms of S_wfDe^3Sc where S_c is a function of wellbore radius, linear fracture skin, fracture conductivity and half-length were developed for analyzing such systems. Applications of the new type curves parameterized in terms of S_wfDe^3Sc illustrate accurate evaluation of the above parameters governing fracture flow in the presence of wellstorage. The provided analysis procedure computes fracture conductivity and half-length, formation permeability, and wellbore storage. Field and theoretical example problems are also included which illustrate the consequences of performing the analyses assuming radial flow. Type-curve analysis based on radial flow assumptions produce accurate permeability values but appreciable error in fracture half-length and conductivity values.