Well-flow behavior of reorientation fracture considering permeability anisotropy

Abstract

Purpose

In petroleum industry, hydraulic fracturing is essential to enhance oil productivity. The hydraulic fractures are usually generated in the process of hydraulic fracturing. Although some mathematical models were proposed to analyze the well-flow behavior of conventional fracture, there are few models to depict unconventional fracture like reorientation fracture. To figure out the effect of reorientation fracture on production enhancement and guide the further on-site operating, this paper aims to investigate the well-flow behavior of vertical reorientation fracture in horizontal permeability anisotropic reservoir.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the governing equation considering horizontal permeability anisotropy, the mathematical models for reorientation fractures in infinite reservoir are developed by using the principle of superposition. Furthermore, a rectangular closed drainage area is also considered to investigate the well-flow behavior of reorientation fracture, and the mathematical models are developed by using Green’s and source functions.

Findings

Computational results indicate that the flux distribution of infinite conductivity fracture is uniform at very early times. After a period, it will stabilize eventually. High permeability anisotropy and small inclination angle of reorientation will cause significant end point effect in the infinite conductivity fracture. The reorientation fractures with small inclination angle in high anisotropic reservoir are capable of improving 1-1.5 times more oil productivity in total.

Originality/value

This paper develops the mathematical methods to study the well-flow behavior for unconventional fracture, especially for reorientation fracture. The results validate the production enhancement effect of reorientation fracture and identify the sensitive parameters of productivity.

Citation

Tian, X. and Dong, P. (2018), "Well-flow behavior of reorientation fracture considering permeability anisotropy", Engineering Computations, Vol. 35 No. 7, pp. 2459-2479. https://doi.org/10.1108/EC-12-2017-0516