Pressure transient performance for a horizontal well intercepted by multiple reorientation fractures in a tight reservoir

Abstract

A fractured horizontal well is an effective technology to obtain hydrocarbons from tight reservoirs. In this study, a new semi-analytical model for a horizontal well intercepted by multiple finite-conductivity reorientation fractures was developed in an anisotropic rectangular tight reservoir. Firstly, to establish the flow equation of the reorientation fracture, all reorientation fractures were discretized by combining the nodal analysis technique and the fracture-wing method. Secondly, through coupling the reservoir solution and reorientation fracture solution, a semi-analytical solution for multiple reorientation fractures along a horizontal well was derived in the Laplace domain, and its accuracy was also verified. Thirdly, typical flow regimes were identified on the transient-pressure curves. Finally, dimensionless pressure and pressure derivative curves were obtained to analyze the effect of key parameters on the flow behavior, including fracture angle, permeability anisotropy, fracture conductivity, fracture spacing, fracture number, and fracture configuration. Results show that, for an anisotropic rectangular tight reservoir, horizontal wells should be deployed parallel to the direction of principal permeability and fracture reorientation should be controlled to extend along the direction of minimum permeability. Meanwhile, the optimal fracture number should be considered for economic production and the fracture spacing should be optimized to reduce the flow interferences between reorientation fractures.