This research aims to present a comprehensive workflow for predicting the performance of multistage hydraulic fracturing wells, with a specific focus on parent well depletion effect analysis, fracturing, and post-fracturing stage evaluation. The workflow will be applied to actual horizontal (HZ) wells in the Wolfcamp formation and investigate the correlation between the Post-Stimulation Area (PSA) and the total production of the wells.
The methodology employed begins with the estimation of the depletion radius of parent wells based on the volumetric analysis of the current production and the estimated ultimate recovery (EUR) of the parent wells, offering valuable insights into the influence of nearby wells on the target formation. Subsequently, during the fracturing stage evaluation, the balance between the fracturing pressure and volume is analyzed to calculate the Fracture Stimulation Area (FSA), providing an assessment of the effectiveness of the hydraulic fracturing process in stimulating the reservoir. In the post-fracturing stage evaluation, a fall-off analysis is conducted to determine the Post-Stimulation Area (PSA), representing the available surface area for production. The presence of fracture hits extending into the parent wells or natural fractures can be identified by comparing the PSA to the FSA. The confirmation of fracture hits is facilitated through Fracture-Driven Interactions (FDI) processes, where the pressure of parent wells is monitored during the fracturing of the child wells.
The results obtained from applying this comprehensive workflow to HZ wells in the Wolfcamp formation demonstrate a significant correlation between the Post-Stimulation Area (PSA) and the total production of the wells, in addition, real-time monitoring resulted in improving the well productivity by 15% compared to offset wells. Furthermore, the confirmation of fracture hits through FDI processes provides valuable insights for optimizing hydraulic fracturing operations and making informed decisions.
In conclusion, this research contributes to the enhancement of hydraulic fracturing operations by providing a comprehensive workflow that considers parent well depletion effects, fracturing stage evaluation, and post-fracturing analysis, enabling a more accurate prediction of well performance.
Hydraulic fracturing is the main reason for making shale rocks to be productive with the commercial amounts of oil and gas. To break the reservoir rock, the technique normally involves the injection of fluids at high rates and pressures. Moreover, understanding the interactions between the rock and various fluid properties and proppants is essential (Assem and Nasr-El-Din 2017; Assem et al. 2017). A hydraulic fracture job generates a fracture area called stimulated reservoir volume (SRV). The simple definition of SRV is the stimulated rock volume connected to each other and then connected to the wellbore. Assem et al. 2023a presented a method for improving and measuring SRV during a frac job by using neural network technology to guide frac operation in achieving the maximum SRV per injected fluid volume.
