Mitigating Interwell Fracturing Interference: Numerical Investigation of Parent Well Depletion Affecting Infill Well Stimulation

Abstract

Frac hits were not unfamiliar in tight gas development. During the hydraulic fracturing process in infill well, due to closely spaced wells and parent well depletion, operators often encounter fracture interference between the parent well and infill well, resulting in frac hits. This phenomenon typically has a significant impact on the productivity of both infill and parent wells. However, effectively mitigating and minimizing the negative effects of frac hits continues to pose a formidable challenge. Therefore, we developed a new frac hits evaluation and management workflow, aiming to investigate the mechanism of frac hits between infill well and parent well and improve the performance of the infill well while avoiding frac hits. The results indicate that an increased extent of parent well depletion leads to higher surrounding rock pressure and stress depletion. The stress deflection region near the fracture tip of the parent well attracts the propagation of infill well fractures, resulting in frac hits and significantly affecting the performance of the parent well. Consequently, optimizing the timing of hydraulic fracturing in the infill well is beneficial to mitigate parent well depletion, controlling frac hits and enhancing gas well productivity. This research provides important insights for mitigating parent–infill well interference in the development of tight gas reservoirs and establishes a solid foundation for future studies.