The Impact of CT–Measured and Stress–Dependent Nonuniform Fracture Apertures on Production Performance of Microseismic–Constrained Complex Fracture Networks

Author(s):  
Jianlei Sun ◽  
David Schechter ◽  
Shuhua Lin ◽  
Tianyu Liu ◽  
Baoquan Zeng ◽  
...  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Youwei He ◽  
Yingjie Xu ◽  
Yong Tang ◽  
Yu Qiao ◽  
Wei Yu ◽  
...  

Abstract Complex fracture networks (CFN) provide flow channels and significantly affect well performance in unconventional reservoirs. However, traditional rate transient analysis (RTA) models barely consider the effect of CFN on production performance. The impact of multi-phase flow on rate transient behaviors is still unclear especially under CFN. Neglecting these effects could cause incorrect rate transient response and erroneous estimation of well and fracture parameters. This paper investigates multi-phase rate transient behaviors considering CFN, and tries to investigate in what situations the multi-phase models should be used to obtain more accurate results. Firstly, an embedded discrete fracture model (EDFM) is generated instead of LGR method to overcome time-intensive computation. The model is coupled with reservoir models using non-neighboring connections (NNCs). Secondly, eight cases are designed using the EDFM technology to analyze effect of natural fractures, formation permeability, and relative permeability on rate transient behaviors. Thirdly, Blasingame plot, log-log plot, and linear flow plot are used to analyze the differences of rate transient response between single-phase and multi-phase flow in reservoirs with CFN. For multi-phase flow, severe deviations can be observed on RTA plots compared with single-phase model. Combination of three RTA type curves can characterize the differences from early to late flow regimes and improve the interpretation accuracy as well as reduce the non-unicity. Finally, field data analysis in Permian Basin demonstrates that multi-phase RTA analysis are required for analyzing production and pressure data since single-phase RTA analysis will lead to big errors especially under high water cut during fracturing fluid flowback period, early production of unconventional gas wells or after waterflooding or water huff-n-puff.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Jiazheng Qin ◽  
Yingjie Xu ◽  
Yong Tang ◽  
Rui Liang ◽  
Qianhu Zhong ◽  
...  

Abstract It has recently been demonstrated that complex fracture networks (CFN) especially activated natural fractures (ANF) play an important role in unconventional reservoir development. However, traditional rate transient analysis (RTA) methods barely investigate the impact of CFN or ANF. Furthermore, the influence of CFN on flow regime is still ambiguous. Failure to consider these effects could lead to misdiagnosis of flow regimes and underestimation of original oil in place (OOIP). A novel numerical RTA method is therefore presented herein to improve the quality of reserves assessment. A new methodology is introduced. Propagating hydraulic fractures (HF) can generate different stress perturbations to allow natural fractures (NF) to fail, forming various ANF pattern. An embedded discrete fracture model (EDFM) of ANF is stochastically generated instead of local grid refinement (LGR) method to overcome the time-intensive computation time. These models are coupled with reservoir models using non-neighboring connections (NNCs). Results show that except for simplified models used in previous studies subjected to traditional concept of stimulated reservoir volume (SRV), in our study, the ANF region has been discussed to emphasis the impact of NF on simulation results. Henceforth, ANF could be only concentrated around the near-wellbore region, and it may also cover the whole simulation area. Obvious distinctions could be viewed for different kinds of ANF on diagnostic plots. Instead of SRV-dominated flow mentioned in previous studies, ANF-dominated flow developed in this work is shown to be more reasonable. Also, new flow regimes such as interference flow inside and outside activated natural fracture flow region (ANFR) are found. In summary, better evaluation of reservoir properties and reserves assessment such as OOIP are achieved based on our proposed model compared with conventional models. The novel RTA method considering CFN presented herein is an easy-to-apply numerical RTA technique that can be applied for reservoir and fracture characterization as well as OOIP assessment.


2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 132-132
Author(s):  
Sergio Calsamiglia ◽  
Maria Rodriguez-Prado ◽  
Gonzalo Fernandez-Turren ◽  
Lorena Castillejos

Abstract In the last 20 years there has been extensive in vitro research on the effects of plant extracts and essential oils on rumen microbial fermentation. The main objectives have been to improve energy metabolism through a reduction in methane emissions and an increase in propionate production; and to improve protein metabolism by reducing proteolysis and deamination. While the positive results from in vitro studies has stimulated the release of commercial products based on blends of essential oils, there is limited in vivo evidence on the rumen fermentation and production performance effects. A literature search was conducted to select in vivo studies where information on rumen fermentation and animal performance was reported. For dairy cattle, we identified 37 studies of which 21 were adequate to test production performance. Ten studies reported increases and 3 decreases in milk yield. For beef cattle, we identified 20 studies with rumen fermentation profile and 22 with performance data. Average daily gain improved in 7 and decreased in 1 study. Only 1 out of 16 studies reported an improvement in feed efficiency. Data indicate that out of more than 500 products tested in vitro, only around 20 have been tested in vivo in different mixtures and doses. The use of statistical approaches will allow to describe the conditions, doses and responses in dairy and beef cattle performance. The search for postruminal effects offers another alternative use. Evidence for effects on the intestinal and systemic effects on the immune system and antioxidant status (i.e., capsicum, garlic, eugenol, cinnamaldehyde curcuma, catechins, anethol or pinene), and in the modulation of metabolic regulation (capsicum, cinnamaldehyde, curcuma or garlic) may open the opportunity for future applications. However, stability of the product in the GI tract, description of the mechanisms of action and the impact of these changes on performance needs to be further demonstrated.


2014 ◽  
Vol 17 (03) ◽  
pp. 304-313 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.M.. M. Shehata ◽  
M.B.. B. Alotaibi ◽  
H.A.. A. Nasr-El-Din

Summary Waterflooding has been used for decades as a secondary oil-recovery mode to support oil-reservoir pressure and to drive oil into producing wells. Recently, the tuning of the salinity of the injected water in sandstone reservoirs was used to enhance oil recovery at different injection modes. Several possible low-salinity-waterflooding mechanisms in sandstone formations were studied. Also, modified seawater was tested in chalk reservoirs as a tertiary recovery mode and consequently reduced the residual oil saturation (ROS). In carbonate formations, the effect of the ionic strength of the injected brine on oil recovery has remained questionable. In this paper, coreflood studies were conducted on Indiana limestone rock samples at 195°F. The main objective of this study was to investigate the impact of the salinity of the injected brine on the oil recovery during secondary and tertiary recovery modes. Various brines were tested including deionized water, shallow-aquifer water, seawater, and as diluted seawater. Also, ions (Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+, and SO42−) were particularly excluded from seawater to determine their individual impact on fluid/rock interactions and hence on oil recovery. Oil recovery, pressure drop across the core, and core-effluent samples were analyzed for each coreflood experiment. The oil recovery using seawater, as in the secondary recovery mode, was, on the average, 50% of original oil in place (OOIP). A sudden change in the salinity of the injected brine from seawater in the secondary recovery mode to deionized water in the tertiary mode or vice versa had a significant effect on the oil-production performance. A solution of 20% diluted seawater did not reduce the ROS in the tertiary recovery mode after the injection of seawater as a secondary recovery mode for the Indiana limestone reservoir. On the other hand, 50% diluted seawater showed a slight change in the oil production after the injection of seawater and deionized water slugs. The Ca2+, Mg2+, and SO42− ions play a key role in oil mobilization in limestone rocks. Changing the ion composition of the injected brine between the different slugs of secondary and tertiary recovery modes showed a measurable increase in the oil production.


2005 ◽  
Vol 71 (12) ◽  
pp. 8721-8728 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. L. Stoner ◽  
S. M. Watson ◽  
R. D. Stedtfeld ◽  
P. Meakin ◽  
L. K. Griffel ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Here we introduce the use of transparent experimental models fabricated by stereolithography for studying the impacts of biomass accumulation, minerals precipitation, and physical configuration of flow paths on liquid flow in fracture apertures. The internal configuration of the models ranged in complexity from simple geometric shapes to those that incorporate replicated surfaces of natural fractures and computationally derived fracture surfaces. High-resolution digital time-lapse imaging was employed to qualitatively observe the migration of colloidal and soluble dyes through the flow models. In this study, a Sphingomonas sp. and Sporosarcina (Bacillus) pasteurii influenced the fluid dynamics by physically altering flow paths. Microbial colonization and calcite deposition enhanced the stagnant regions adjacent to solid boundaries. Microbial growth and calcite precipitation occurred to a greater extent in areas behind the fabricated obstacles and less in high-velocity orifices.


Author(s):  
Hannes Hofmann ◽  
Tayfun Babadagli ◽  
Günter Zimmermann

The creation of large complex fracture networks by hydraulic fracturing is imperative for enhanced oil recovery from tight sand or shale reservoirs, tight gas extraction, and Hot-Dry-Rock (HDR) geothermal systems to improve the contact area to the rock matrix. Although conventional fracturing treatments may result in bi-wing fractures, there is evidence by microseismic mapping that fracture networks can develop in many unconventional reservoirs, especially when natural fracture systems are present and the differences between the principle stresses are low. However, not much insight is gained about fracture development as well as fluid and proppant transport in naturally fractured tight formations. In order to clarify the relationship between rock and treatment parameters, and resulting fracture properties, numerical simulations were performed using a commercial Discrete Fracture Network (DFN) simulator. A comprehensive sensitivity analysis is presented to identify typical fracture network patterns resulting from massive water fracturing treatments in different geological conditions. It is shown how the treatment parameters influence the fracture development and what type of fracture patterns may result from different treatment designs. The focus of this study is on complex fracture network development in different natural fracture systems. Additionally, the applicability of the DFN simulator for modeling shale gas stimulation and HDR stimulation is critically discussed. The approach stated above gives an insight into the relationships between rock properties (specifically matrix properties and characteristics of natural fracture systems) and the properties of developed fracture networks. Various simulated scenarios show typical conditions under which different complex fracture patterns can develop and prescribe efficient treatment designs to generate these fracture systems. Hydraulic stimulation is essential for the production of oil, gas, or heat from ultratight formations like shales and basement rocks (mainly granite). If natural fracture systems are present, the fracturing process becomes more complex to simulate. Our simulation results reveal valuable information about main parameters influencing fracture network properties, major factors leading to complex fracture network development, and differences between HDR and shale gas/oil shale stimulations.


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