Reservoir Engineering Module III

III.7 Fractured Reservoirs

Copyright 2008, NExT, All rights reserved

 Idealized Model Of
Naturally Fractured Reservoir

Copyright 2008, NExT, All rights reserved 2

 Fracture Geometries

Orthogonal and Continuous Nonorthogonal and Continuous

Orthogonal Nonorthogonal
with One Continuous with One Continuous
and One Discontinuous and One Discontinuous
Copyright 2008, NExT, All rights reserved 3
 More Fracture Geometries

Orthogonal with Both Nonorthogonal with

Sets Discontinuous Both Sets Discontinuous

Triple Intersections with All Joints Triple Intersections

Discontinuous at Various Angles at 120 Degree Angles
Copyright 2008, NExT, All rights reserved 4
 Idealized Fracture Geometries

Cube
Slab Geometry
Geometry

Column
Geometry

Copyright 2008, NExT, All rights reserved 5

 Idealized Model Of
Layered Reservoir

hf

Repetitive
Element

hm

Copyright 2008, NExT, All rights reserved 6

 Matrix Properties

Porosity - (V)m - fraction of bulk volume occupied by pore space in matrix

m - fraction of matrix volume occupied by pore space
Vm - fraction of bulk volume occupied by matrix, 1
Permeability - km - usually much less than bulk permeability

Compressibility - ctm - total compressibility of pore space and fluids in matrix

porosity

Copyright 2008, NExT, All rights reserved 7

 Fracture Properties

Porosity - (V)f - fraction of bulk volume occupied by pore space in fractures

f - fraction of fracture volume occupied by pore space,
1
Vf - fraction of bulk volume occupied by fractures
Bulk permeability - kf

Compressibility - ctf - total compressibility of pore space and fluids in fracture

porosity

Copyright 2008, NExT, All rights reserved 8

 Fracture Properties

Fracture geometry
Slab
Column
Cube
Fracture Spacing - hm
Fracture Width - hf

Copyright 2008, NExT, All rights reserved 9

 Fracture Permeability

kAp
qB =
L
~
k f = 84.2h 2f

~
k f hf
k f = 3.2808 10 6
hm
hf
hm
Copyright 2008, NExT, All rights reserved 10
Parameters For
Well Test Interpretation
In Dual Porosity Reservoirs

Porosity, ( m)
Permeability, k (kf)
Type of Dual Porosity Behavior
Pseudosteady State
Transient
Storativity Ratio,
Interporosity Flow Coefficient,

Copyright 2008, NExT, All rights reserved 11

 Dual Porosity Models

pm

pf pf

Pseudosteady State Transient

Copyright 2008, NExT, All rights reserved 12

 Dual Porosity Parameters Storativity Ratio

(Vct ) f
=
(V ct ) f + (V ct )m

Copyright 2008, NExT, All rights reserved 13

 Dual Porosity Parameters
Interporosity Flow Coefficient

2
km rw
=
kf

4n(n + 2 )
=
L2m

Copyright 2008, NExT, All rights reserved 14

 Interporosity Flow Coefficient

Geometry n Lm

12km rw2
Slabs 1 a
k f L2m

2ab 32km rw2

Columns 2
(a + b ) k f L2m

3abc 60km rw2

Cubes 3
(ab + bc + ca ) k f L2m
Copyright 2008, NExT, All rights reserved 15
Pseudosteady State Dual Porosity
2200
=10-2

2000 =10-6
m
tp=104 hrs

1800
Pressure, psi

m
1600

1400

1200

1000
10000000 1000000 100000 10000 1000 100 10 1
Horner Time Ratio
Copyright 2008, NExT, All rights reserved 16
 PSS Dual Porosity
Semilog Analysis Procedure

Graph pws vs (tp+t)/t on semilog coordinates

Identify first and/or second semilog straight lines
Estimate permeability from slope of either straight line
Estimate skin factor and p* from second straight line
Estimate from the horizontal separation between the two semilog straight lines
Estimate from the time at which the transition from the first to the second semilog
straight line occurs

Copyright 2008, NExT, All rights reserved 17

Pseudosteady State Dual Porosity
2200

p*=2000 psi

2000
Pressure, psi

1800

p1hr=1610 psi

1600

HTR1=90000 HTR2=900

1400
10000000 1000000 100000 10000 1000 100 10 1
Horner Time Ratio
Copyright 2008, NExT, All rights reserved 18
 PSS Dual Porosity
Estimating Permeability And Skin

162.6qB
k=
mh

p p
k
s = 1.151 log10 + 3.23
1hr wf
m (Vc ) r 2
t f + m w

Copyright 2008, NExT, All rights reserved 19

 PSS Dual Porosity
Estimating And

HTR2
=
HTR1

(Vct ) f rw2 (Vct ) f + m rw2

= HTR1 = HTR2
kt p kt p

Copyright 2008, NExT, All rights reserved 20

 PSS Dual Porosity
Limitations Of Semilog Analysis

Both semilog straight lines must be present to estimate and

Production rate must be constant for a period at least 10x longer than time
required to reach second semilog straight line
At early times, WBS may obscure the first semilog straight line
At late times, either producing time effects or boundaries may hide the second
straight line
Long test times may be required to reach the second semilog straight line

Copyright 2008, NExT, All rights reserved 21

Transient Dual Porosity
2200
=10-2
m
2000 =10-7
tp=104 hrs m/2

1800
Pressure, psi

m
1600

1400

1200

1000
10000000 1000000 100000 10000 1000 100 10 1
Horner Time Ratio
Copyright 2008, NExT, All rights reserved 22
 Transient Dual Porosity
Semilog Analysis Procedure

Graph pws vs (tp+t)/t on semilog coordinates

If possible, identify first, second, and/or third semilog straight lines
Estimate permeability from slope of any straight line
Estimate skin factor and p* from third straight line
Estimate from the horizontal separation between the first and third semilog straight
lines
Estimate from the time at which the second and third semilog straight lines intersect

Copyright 2008, NExT, All rights reserved 23

Transient Dual Porosity
2200

p*=2000 psi

2000
Pressure, psi

1800

p1hr=1610 psi

1600

HTR1=90000 HTR2=900 HTR*=31

1400
10000000 1000000 100000 10000 1000 100 10 1
Horner Time Ratio
Copyright 2008, NExT, All rights reserved 24
 Transient Dual Porosity
Estimating Permeability And Skin

162.6qB 81.3qB
k= k=
m
mh 2
h

p p
k
s = 1.151 log10 + 3.23
1hr wf
m (Vc ) r 2
t f + m w

Copyright 2008, NExT, All rights reserved 25

 Transient Dual Porosity
Estimating And

* tp
t =
HTR* 1

HTR2
= km 532.3(Vct )m
HTR1 2
=
hm t *

km rw2
= 12 2
hm k
Copyright 2008, NExT, All rights reserved 26
 References

Serra, K., Reynolds, A.C., and Raghavan, R.: "New Pressure Transient Analysis
Methods for Naturally Fractured Reservoirs," JPT (Dec. 1983) 2271-2283.
Barenblatt, G.E., Zheltov, I.P., and Kochina, I.N.: "Basic Concepts in the Theory of
Homogeneous Liquids in Fissured Rocks," J. Appl. Math. Mech. (1960) 24, 1286-1303.
Warren, J.E. and Root, P.J.: "The Behavior of Naturally Fractured Reservoirs," SPEJ
(Sept. 1963) 245-255.
Kazemi, H.: "Pressure Transient Analysis of Naturally Fractured Reservoirs With
Uniform Fracture Distribution," SPEJ (Dec. 1969) 451-462; Trans., AIME, 246.
deSwaan, A.: "Analytical Solutions for Determining Naturally Fractured Reservoir
Properties by Well Testing," SPEJ (June 1976) 117-122.
Gringarten, A.C.: "Interpretation of Tests in Fissured and Multilayered Reservoirs With
Double-Porosity Behavior: Theory and Practice," JPT (April 1984) 549-564.
Bourdet, D., Ayoub, J.A., Whittle, T.M., Pirard, Y.M., and Kniazeff, V.: "Interpreting Well
Tests in Fractured Reservoirs," World Oil (Oct. 1983).
Bourdet, D., Alagoa, A., Ayoub, J.A., and Pirard, Y.M.: "New Type Curves Aid Analysis
of Fissured Zone Well Tests," World Oil (April 1984).
Copyright 2008, NExT, All rights reserved 27