SPE 101048

Vertically Fractured Well Performance in Rectangular Drainage Area

V.V. Sabaev, Aurora Oil; D.S. Wolcott, SPE, J.M. Mach, SPE, and D.V. Antipina, Rusia Petroleum; A.M. Haidar,
Ufanipineft; and O.O. Sviyazova, Aurora Oil

Copyright 2006, Society of Petroleum Engineers

is reservoir volume. They found that for a given value of
This paper was prepared for presentation at the 2006 SPE Russian Oil and Gas Technical proppant number there is optimal dimensionless fracture
Conference and Exhibition held in Moscow, Russia, 3–6 October 2006.
conductivity and penetration ratio at which productivity index
This paper was selected for presentation by an SPE Program Committee following review of
information contained in an abstract submitted by the author(s). Contents of the paper, as
is maximized. Also they presented a type curve for fracturing
presented, have not been reviewed by the Society of Petroleum Engineers and are subject to optimization of a well in the center of square reservoir under
correction by the author(s). The material, as presented, does not necessarily reflect any position
of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, its officers, or members. Papers presented at SPE pseudo steady state conditions.
meetings are subject to publication review by Editorial Committees of the Society of Petroleum
Engineers. Electronic reproduction, distribution, or storage of any part of this paper for
commercial purposes without the written consent of the Society of Petroleum Engineers is Later J. Rueda, J. Mach and D. Wolcott [3] presented a new
prohibited. Permission to reproduce in print is restricted to an abstract of not more than
300 words; illustrations may not be copied. The abstract must contain conspicuous type curve for fracturing optimization of a well in the center of
acknowledgment of where and by whom the paper was presented. Write Librarian, SPE, P.O.
Box 833836, Richardson, TX 75083-3836 U.S.A., fax 01-972-952-9435.
square reservoir under steady state conditions, which can be
applied to the waterflooding case.
Abstract
This paper presents two new models to define the The purpose of this work was to extend JD and Nprop approach
dimensionless productivity index of finite conductivity in fracturing performance analysis and planning with
fractured well either for pseudo-steady state or steady state rectangular shape well drainage, both for pseudo steady state
conditions in the rectangular shape reservoir. and steady state conditions.

Maximum dimensionless productivity index (JD) of a fractured It was found that for the same volume of proppant used in the
well in a square drainage is 6/π at pseudo-steady state, and square drainage area a rectangular shaped drainage area can
give higher productivity. Since rectangular geometry provides
4/π for steady state. The same well in a rectangular drainage
much larger JD, it seams reasonable to consider this geometry
can have larger JD with the same area and dimensionless
for field development. The following main implications were
proppant number (Nprop).
made:
- Steady state fractured well performance potential in a
Since rectangular geometry provides much larger JD, it seams
rectangular drainage is always better than in a square
reasonable to consider this geometry for field development.
drainage.
For a given set of reservoir conditions there is an optimum
- For new field developments rectangular patterns
rectangular geometry aspect ratio (rectangle length width ratio),
provide higher investment efficiency.
which when fractured properly, will yield the maximum
- In the case of pseudo steady state as Nprop increases the
possible JD under pseudo steady state. Optimizing the aspect
optimum aspect ratio increases
ratio impacts the well spacing, which has major significance for
- For fracture design of rectangular drainage shapes the
field development planning or infill evaluation. The purpose of
appropriate type curves should be used to achieve
this work is to provide performance type curves for a fractured
optimum fracture geometry and therefore JD potential.
well in rectangular drainage area and provide a methodology to
Aspect Ratio
determine the optimum aspect ratio for a given set of reservoir
Let’s define the aspect ratio as:
conditions.
X
Ar = e (2)
Introduction Ye
M. Economides and P. Valko [1,2] introduced an optimization where
technique to maximize dimensionless productivity index. They X e - reservoir (pattern) length in the direction of fracture
introduced new dimensionless value: proppant number (Nprop):
2k f V fr propagation (Fig.1);
N prop = I x2 C fD = Ye - reservoir (pattern) width in the direction opposite to
k Vres fracture propagation.
(1)
where Ix is penetration ratio, CfD is dimensionless productivity
index, Vf is proppant (fracture) volume in the net pay and Vres
2 SPE 101048

xf xf xf xf
Ye Ye

Xe Xe
Figure 1: Illustration to using rectangular shape
Figure 2: Waterflooding case illustration
The analytical solution for fully penetrating infinite
New steady state type curves for aspect ratios 2, 3, 5 and 10 are
conductivity fracture in the rectangular is presented in equation
shown in Figures 3 to 9. New pseudo steady state type curves
[4] for steady state and equation [5] for pseudo steady state.
for aspect ratios 2, 3, 5 and 10 are shown in Figures 10 to 13.
4 Xe
J d= ≈ Ar * 1.27 (4)
π Ye As optimum dimensionless fracture conductivity for a given
proppant number is defined from the type curves the optimum
6 Xe fracture geometry can be readily determined from the following
J d= ≈ Ar * 1.9099 (5)
π Ye Equations 6 to 8.
From inspection of Equations 4 and 5, since JD is proportional X N prop
to aspect ratio, well productivity increases as the aspect ratio X f _ opt = e (6)
2 C fd _ opt * Ar
increases. From this observation it can be concluded that
aspect ratios should be greater than one. k
w f _ opt = C fd _ opt X f _ opt (7)
kf
Proppant number in the case of rectangular shape can be
defined from the following equation: Or
2k f V fr N prop C fd _ opt
N prop = kX e
k Vres w f _ opt = (8)
2k f Ar
After rearranging:
2k f 2 X f w f h 2k f 2 X f w f X f X
N prop = = e Benefits
k X eYe h k X eYe X f X e
Therefore: Drilled field
Often, in existing waterfloods, patterns are not square and
N prop = C fd I x2 Ar (3) therefore have an aspect ratio other than one. In such cases, for
a given Nprop, the aspect ratio affects the optimum geometry.
This equation should be used for proppant number
Therefore attention should be paid to using the appropriate type
determination for the case of rectangular shape well drainage.
curve, with corresponding aspect ratio, to facilitate optimum
design. Shown in Figures 14 and 15 are examples of the
Type Curves
increase in JD for rectangular drainage shapes. For the steady
A 3D finite-difference model was developed to examine the
state case (Figure 15) at an Nprop of 10 using the correct type
response of fractured wells in rectangular drainage for various
curve can increas JD potential by 10% to 18% for aspect ratios
practical aspect ratios. The accuracy of chosen finite-difference
of 2 to 3, respectively.
grid and time steps were verified by analytical solutions. The
type curves provide the relationship between dimensionless
From inpection of Figures 14 and 15 the following conlusions
productivity index, fracture conductivity, proppant number and
can be made:
penetration ratio.
- As job volume increases (higher Nprop) use of the
correct type curve creates more benefit.
Shown in Figure 2 is an illustration showing that linear flow
- The larger the well drainage aspect ratio the greater
dominates to the fracture and is well established at the average
the benefit from using the correct type curve.
pressure boundary. Corner injectors are assumed to be
stimulated adequately to not adversely affect producer JD.
Undeveloped field
Use of rectangular shaped patterns (aspect ratio greater than
one) in field development provides proportionally larger JD
potential for a given Nprop. Since the proppant volume in a
rectangulare pattern can provide larger JD the investment
efficiency is also larger.
SPE 101048
Due to higher fractured well productivity in the rectangular
shape pattern with the same Nprop, a larger well spacing can be
used. Larger well spacing leads to a decrease in the total
number of wells in the field development, and will further
improve investment efficiency.
In field development under pseudo steady state conditions the
economic benefits of using rectangular shapes are intuitively
obvious due to the significantly larger JDs. Following are two
principle benefits that are arrived at by using rectangular
drainage shapes.
- larger net present value and investment efficiency
resulting from higher velocity of field development
- larger recovery factor since the economic limit flow
rate will be achieved at a lower reservoir pressure
It was found that for a specific proppant number there is an
optimum aspect ratio that can provide the largest productivity
under pseudo steady state conditions. Figure 16 shows the
design optimum curve needed to optimize Nprop and aspect
ratio.
Waterflood Recovery
For the steady state (waterflooding) case the benefits for
increased production potential with rectangular shaped patterns
are clear. However there have been questions raised about the
influence of fracturing on early water breakthrough or more
significantly reduced recovery. To dispel these fears an
example is provided that shows recovery efficiency is improved
when rectangular shaped paterns with optimum fracturing is
implimented.
Steady State Example:
Two approaches to field development of the same area and
volume were compared:
1) Square pattern with well in the center. For Nprop=5 and
the optimum fracture parameters are in the Table 1.
2) Rectangular pattern of aspect ratio three. Optimum
fracture parameters for Nprop=5 are in the Table 1.
In both cases injectors were assumed to have the same Jd as the
production wells. Simulation results are shown on the Figures
17 and 18.
Table 1 – Example data
Optimum Parameters
Ar Nprop
Ix Cfd Jd
1 5 0.9 6.2 1.03
3 5 0.7 3.4 1.48
From Figure 17 it can be seen that the higher aspect ratio
fractured well has the highest oil rate for most of the well life.
More significantly it is observed from Figure 18 the most
cumulative production comes from the higher aspect ratio well
at all times during field life.
3
Conclusion
1) Use of rectangular patterns in field development combined
with hydraulic fracturing creates the potential for larger JDs and
recovery. The resulting economics are also better when
compared to the traditional square pattern development
approach.
2) New type curves of fractured well performance in
rectangular drainage areas for steady state and pseudo steady
state are presented.
3) Presented type curves enable fracturing design in the case of
rectangular shaped well drainage to achieve higher productivity
index.
Nomenclature
J d = dimensionless productivity index
N prop = proppant number, dimensionless
I x = penetration ratio, dimensionless
C fd = dimensionless fracture conductivity
k f = proppant (fracture) permeability, md
k = reservoir permeability, md
V fr = proppant (fracture) volume in the net pay, m 3
Vres = reservoir volume, m 3
Ar = aspect ratio, dimensionless
X e = reservoir (pattern) length in the direction of fracture
propagation, m
Ye = reservoir (pattern) width in the direction opposite to
fracture propagation, m
X f = fracture half-length, m
w f = fracture width, m
h = fracture height in the net pay, m
References
1. Economides M.J., Oligney R.E. and Valko P.P.:
Unified Fracture Design, (hardbound) Orsa Press,
Houston, May 2002.
2. Romero D.J., Valko P.P. and Economides M.J.:
“Optimization of the Productivity Index and the
Fracture Geometry of a Stimulated Well with Fracture
Face and Choke Skins”, Paper SPE 73758, 2002.
3. Rueda J.I., Mach J., Wolcott D.: “Pushing Fracturing
Limits to Maximize Producibility in Turbidite
Formations in Russia”, Paper SPE 91760, 2004.
4 SPE 101048

Figure 3 – Steady State Fracture Performance Type Curve (Ar=2)

SPE 101048 5

Figure 4 – Steady State Fracture Performance Type Curve (Ar=3)

Figure 5 – Steady State Fracture Performance Type Curve (Ar=3)

6 SPE 101048

Figure 6 – Steady State Fracture Performance Type Curve (Ar=5)

Figure 7 – Steady State Fracture Performance Type Curve (Ar=5)

SPE 101048 7

Figure 8 – Steady State Fracture Performance Type Curve (Ar=10)

Figure 9 – Steady State Fracture Performance Type Curve (Ar=10)

8 SPE 101048

Figure 10 – Pseudo Steady State Fracture Performance Type Curve (Ar=2)

Figure 11 – Pseudo Steady State Fracture Performance Type Curve (Ar=3)

SPE 101048 9

Figure 12 – Pseudo Steady State Fracture Performance Type Curve (Ar=5)

Figure 13 – Pseudo Steady State Fracture Performance Type Curve (Ar=10)

10 SPE 101048

300
2.4
Ar=3
Ar=1
2.2 2 Nonfrac

Oil flow rate (tonn/day)

Jd_m ax/Jd_designed

2 200
3

1.8

1.6
100
1.4

1.2

1 0
1 10 100 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6
Nprop Recovery factor

Figure 14 – Design Error Evaluation at Pseudo Steady State Figure 17 – Example simulation results

1.7 0.6

1.6
0.5
Ar=3
Jd_m ax/Jd_designed

1.5
0.4 Ar=3
Ar=2
1.4 Recovery factor Ar=1
Nonfrac
0.3
1.3

0.2
1.2

1.1 0.1

1
0
1 10 100
0 5 10 15 20
Nprop Years

Figure 15 - Design Error Evaluation at Steady State Figure 18 - Example simulation results

JD vs. Aspect Ratio

8
0.1
Nprop=100
7 0.5

1
6
2

5 Nprop=50
5

10
40
Jd

4
30 20

20 30
3
40
10
2 50
5

2 100
11
0.5 Max
0.1
0
1 10
Aspect Ratio

Figure 16 – Optimum Aspect Ratio (only for pseudo steady

state)