The Inversion Method of Shale Gas Effective Fracture Network Volume Based on Flow Back Data—A Case Study of Southern Sichuan Basin Shale

• Published in: Processes 2024-05, Vol.12 (5), p.1027
• Main Authors: Tang, Dengji, Wu, Jianfa, Zhao, Jinzhou, Zeng, Bo, Song, Yi, Shen, Cheng, Ren, Lan, Huang, Yongzhi, Wang, Zhenhua
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Algorithms; Analysis; Case studies; Compressibility; Fluid flow; Fractals; Fracturing; Gas production; Genetic algorithms; Mathematical models; Methods; Natural gas; Permeability; Productivity; Saturn; Shale; Shale gas; Shale oils; Water; Workflow
• ISSN: 2227-9717; 2227-9717
• DOI: 10.3390/pr12051027

Fracture network fracturing is pivotal for achieving the economical and efficient development of shale gas, with the connectivity among fracture networks playing a crucial role in reservoir stimulation effectiveness. However, flow back data that reflect fracture network connectivity information are often ignored, resulting in an inaccurate prediction of the effective fracture network volume (EFNV). The accurate calculation of the EFNV has become a key and difficult issue in the field of shale fracturing. For this reason, the accurate shale gas effective fracture network volume inversion method needs to be improved. Based on the flow back characteristics of fracturing fluids, a tree-shaped fractal fracture flow back mathematical model for inversion of EFNV was established and combined with fractal theory. A genetic algorithm workflow suitable for EFNV inversion of shale gas was constructed based on the flow back data after fracturing, and the fracture wells in southern Sichuan were used as an example to carry out the EFNV inversion. The reliability of the inversion model was verified by testing production, cumulative gas production, and microseismic results. The field application showed that the inversion method proposed in this paper can obtain tree-shaped fractal fracture network structure parameters, fracture system original pressure, matrix gas breakthrough pressure, fracture compressibility coefficient, reverse imbibition index, equivalent main fracture half length, and effective initial fracture volume (EIFV). The calculated results of the model belong to the same order of magnitude as those of the HD model and Alkouh model, and the model has stronger applicability. This research has important theoretical guiding significance and field application value for improving the accuracy of the EFNV calculation.