Decline Curve Analysis of Fractured Horizontal Wells Through Segmented Fracture Model

Abstract

Nowadays, production performance evaluation of a multifractured horizontal well (MFHW) has attracted great attention. This paper presents a mathematical model of an MFHW with considering segmented fracture (SF) for better evaluation of fracture and reservoir properties. Each SF consists of two parts: fracture segment far from wellbore (FSFW) and fracture segment near to wellbore (FSNW) in segmented fracture model (SFM), which is different from fractures consists of only one segment in common fracture model (CFM). Employing the source function and Green's function, Newman's product method, Duhamel principle, Stehfest inversion algorithm, and Laplace transform, production solution of an MFHW can be obtained using SFM. Total production rate is mostly contributed from FSNW rather than FSFW in many cases; ignoring this phenomenon may lead to obvious erroneous in parameter interpretation. Thus, clear distinctions can be found between CFM and SFM on the compound type curves. By using decline curve analysis (DCA), the influences of sensitive parameters (e.g., dimensionless half-length, dimensionless production rate, conductivity, and distance between SF) on compound type curves are analyzed. The results of sensitivity analysis are benefit of parameter estimation during history matching.