Evaluation of performance for volume fractured horizontal well in tight oil reservoirs

Based on the characteristics of tight sandstone reservoir formation and microseismic monitor data of volumetric fracture, a new conductive medium was introduced in hydroelectric simulation method. In this paper, sectional volumetric fractured horizontal well hydroelectric simulation laboratory experiments method of tight sandstone reservoir was designed to reveal the typical flow characteristics of near wellbore formation in volumetric fracturing horizontal well. With reservoir numerical simulation method, the development effects of different well types were evaluated in several aspects, for example, inter-well pressure gradient distribution, single well productivity, degree of reserve recovery, and so on. The influences of fracturing stimulated volume size and formation comprehensive stimulation factor on the productivity of volumetric fracturing horizontal well were analyzed for the first time. Meanwhile, different well patterns were tested and optimized for tight sandstone reservoir development. The results show that, compared with conventional fractured horizontal well, the volume fractured horizontal well poses three different characteristics: it has higher initial oil production rate; the pressure drop is almost zero in fracturing zone and isobars are gentle nearby wellbore.The productivity of volume fractured horizontal well is positively correlated with reservoir stimulated volume size and reservoir comprehensive transformation factor. Stagger horizontal well pattern is suitable for tight oil development because displacement pressure gradient between injector and producer is greater than threshold pressure gradient and has a bigger displacement area. The research results could offer guidance for effective development of tight sandstone reservoir and the parameter optimization of volumetric fracturing. © Research India Publications.