Application and Optimization of a Fractured Horizontal Well in an Ultralow Permeability Reservoir

• Published in: Petroleum science and technology Vol. 31; no. 9; pp. 977 - 990
• Main Authors: Zeng, B.-Q., Cheng, L.-S., Li, C.-L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Colchester Taylor & Francis Group 01.05.2013; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Crude oil, natural gas and petroleum products; dimensionless productivity; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; fracture distribution; Fracture mechanics; fractured horizontal well; Fuels; Horizontal; Horizontal wells; Mathematical models; Oil recovery; Permeability; Petroleum products, gas and fuels. Motor fuels, lubricants and asphalts; Processing of crude oil and oils from shales and tar sands. Processes. Equipment. Refinery and treatment units; Reservoirs; Segments; spindle shaped; streamlines; ultra low-permeability reservoir; ultra low-permeability reservoir; fractured horizontal well; fracture distribution; streamlines; Optimization; dimensionless productivity; spindle shaped
• ISSN: 1091-6466; 1532-2459
• DOI: 10.1080/10916466.2010.527892

With wide application of fractured horizontal well in ultralow permeability reservoirs, it's necessary to investigate their development and to optimize fracture parameters. Based on dynamics and numerical simulation in Block W, development index and flow fields including streamlines, oil saturation and formation pressure were analyzed between fractured horizontal and vertical wells, and distribution of equal fractures was optimized. According to production and water cut in fractures, a novel fractured horizontal well with spindle shaped was proposed. The results that fractured horizontal wells had high initial production, great production decline, sharp water cut and low oil recovery. The development of fractured horizontal well is worse than that of fractured vertical one. The optimal fracture distribution of 400 m horizontal segment is 3 equal fractures with space of 133 m. For a 400 m horizontal segment with three equal ones and spacing of 200 m, it is advisable to lengthen the middle fracture and shorten the end fractures to form spindle shaped one, which can improve oil recovery by 1.76% with significant water cut reduction.