Semi-Analytical Rate Decline Solutions for a Refractured Horizontal Well Intercepted by Multiple Reorientation Fractures with Fracture Face Damage in an Anisotropic Tight Reservoir

Abstract

Refracturing treatment is an economical way to improve the productivity of poorly or damaged fractured horizontal wells in tight reservoirs. Fracture reorientation and fracture face damage may occur during refracturing treatment. At present, there is still no report on the rate decline solution for refractured horizontal wells in tight reservoirs. In this work, by taking a semi-analytical method, traditional rate decline and Blasingame-type rate decline solutions were derived for a refractured horizontal well intercepted by multiple reorientation fractures with fracture face damage in an anisotropic tight reservoir. The accuracy and reliability of the traditional rate decline solution were verified and validated by comparing it with a classic case in the literature and a numerical simulation case. The effects of fracture reorientation and fracture face damage on the rate decline were investigated in depth. These investigations demonstrate that fracture face damage is not conducive to increasing well productivity during the early flow period and there is an optimal matching relationship between the principal fracture section angle and permeability anisotropy, particularly for the reservoirs with strong permeability anisotropy. The fracture length ratio and fracture spacing have a weak effect on the production rate and cumulative production while the fracture number shows a strong influence on the rate decline. Furthermore, multifactor sensitivity analysis indicates that fracture conductivity has a more sensitive effect on well productivity than fracture face damage, implying the importance of improving fracture conductivity. Finally, a series of Blasingame-type rate decline curves were presented, and type curve fitting and parameter estimations for a field case were conducted too. This work deepens our understanding of the production performance of refractured horizontal wells, which helps to identify reorientation fracture properties and evaluate post-fracturing performance.

Keywords

• semi-analytical rate decline solutions
• reorientation fracture
• fracture face damage
• horizontal well
• permeability anisotropy
• tight reservoir