Rate Decline Curves Analysis of a Vertical Fractured Well With Fracture Face Damage

Abstract

Rate decline analysis is a significant method for predicting well performance. Previous studies on rate decline analysis of fractured wells are all based on homogeneous reservoirs rather than homogeneous ones considering fracture face damage. In this article, a well model intercepted by a finite conductivity vertical fracture with fracture face damage is established to investigate how face damage factor affects the productivity of fractured well. Calculative results show that in transient flow, dimensionless rate decreases with the increase of fracture face damage and in pseudo steady-state flow, all curves under different face damage factors coincide with each other. Then, a new pseudo steady-state analytic formula and its validation are presented. Finally, new Blasingame type curves are established. It is shown that the existence of fracture damage would decrease the rate when time is relatively small, so fracture damage is an essential factor that we should consider for type curves analysis. Compared with traditional type curves, new type curves could solve the problem of both variable rate and variable pressure drop for fractured wells with fracture face damage factor. A gas reservoir example is performed to demonstrate the methodology of new type curves analysis and its validation for calculating important formation parameters.