JD as a Performance Indicator for Hydraulically Fractured Wells

摘要

Hydraulic fracture treatments are designed with a goal ofrnmaximizing the dimensionless productivity index (JrnJD).rnSingle-well, pseudo steady-state models are commonly used inrnthe treatment design process, notwithstanding the fact that thernstimulated well is often in a pattern water flood, and therefore,rnmore nearly in a steady-state flow regime. Using arncombination of analytical and numerical methods, it is shownrnthat application of the pseudo steady-state solution to a steadystaternproblem invariably leads to over-prediction of (JD).rn And thernbenefits of hydraulic fracturing. As a solution to thisrnexaggeration, there is a need to consistently apply the modelrnhaving boundary conditions most like those of the field. Thernfirst step is to understand the differences and formallyrndistinguish between the pseudo steady-state and steady-staterndimensionless productivity indices; thus two purportedly newrnterms are introduced for this purpose: rnJDpss and JDss. Resultsrndemonstrate that Jrn. JDss JDpss Dpss over the full range of fracturernpenetrations, the difference becoming greater with increasingrnfracture conductivity and penetration, reaching 50% at therntheoretical limits and 30%, or more, at practical fracturernconditions.rnWhile multiple well interference effects are shown to berncapable of limiting the achievable level of rnJD, there are actionsrnthat can be taken to greatly increase it: optimizing floodrnpattern shape and aligning patterns parallel to the hydraulicrnfracture azimuth are two measures that are each shown to berncapable of increasing JD by 50%, or more.