Finite-Conductivity Horizontal-Well Fractures

Horizontal wells are preferred in the oil and gas fields because of their effectiveness in heterogeneous reservoirs, potential in enhanced oil recovery, ability to reduce coning, and advantages in environmentally sensitive areas. For tight formations, the productivity of a horizontal well can be further increased by hydraulic fracturing. Recently, interest in improved models and understanding of fractured horizontal wells has been elevated due to their success in exploiting unconventional reservoirs, such as shale gas. This book presents a research on the transient pressure responses and modeling of horizontal wells with transverse vertical fractures. A hybrid numerical-analytical model is developed where the fracture flow is numerically simulated and dynamically coupled with an analytical solution for the reservoir flow. The hybrid model reduces the computational work while providing for incorporating the details of the fracture flow and different fractured horizontal well geometries. The book is intended for researchers as well as the practicing engineers in the areas of petroleum production and reservoir engineering, well completions, and stimulations.