Hydraulic fracture stimulation of highly permeable formations: The effect of critical fracture parameters on oilwell production and pressure
- and others
Hydraulic fracturing of moderate to high-permeability reservoirs with short, highly conductive fractures is a technique often applied to improve well productivity through penetration beyond near wellbore damage. This paper investigates the effect of important fracture parameters (e.g., fracture half-length, fracture conductivity, and fracture-face damage) on the short-term behavior and long-term productivity of the well. The degree and extent of near wellbore damage, in addition to the fracture parameters, are varied in the sensitivity analysis. A case study from the Gulf Coast addresses the effect of these important parameters on the well response. It is evident the length and conductivity of a created hydraulic fracture have an important effect on the poststimulation performance of a well. Some of these fractures may be damaged. Damage to the proppant-pack has considerable effects, reducing the fracture conductivity. Generally fracture-face damage caused by fluid and polymer leakoff does not significantly alter long-term production, assuming the permanent reduction of absolute permeability is low (less than 90%) and provided the fracture bypasses the radial 1damage zone in the formation. When the fracture face damage is high (greater than 90%), early time well response is significantly impaired by the fracturing fluid cleanup process. This has implications on the timing of poststimulation pressure transient analyses. The modeled behavior and recommendations for the design of such tests are presented.
- OSTI ID:
- 191904
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-951002--
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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