Cluster spacing optimization of multi-stage fracturing in horizontal shale gas wells based on stimulated reservoir volume evaluation

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• 作者：Ran Lin ; Lan Ren ; Jinzhou Zhao ; Leize Wu ; Yuanzhao Li
• 关键词：Shale gas ; Horizontal well ; Multi ; stage fracturing ; Stimulated reservoir volume ; Cluster spacing ; Optimization
• 刊名：Arabian Journal of Geosciences
• 出版年：2017
• 出版时间：January 2017
• 年：2017
• 卷：10
• 期：2
• 全文大小：
• 刊物类别：Earth and Environmental Science
• 刊物主题：Earth Sciences, general;
• 出版者：Springer Berlin Heidelberg
• ISSN：1866-7538
• 卷排序：10

文摘

The multi-stage fracturing in horizontal well is a common technique for shale gas reservoir exploitation, in which cluster spacing governs the fracturing performance. Undersized cluster spacing might make the stimulated reservoir volume (SRV), activated by the respective hydraulic fracture, excessively overlap with each other, while oversized cluster spacing might leave a large unstimulated volume between neighboring hydraulic fractures; in either case, fracturing would be inefficient. Previous design of cluster spacing has failed to maximize the SRV due to the absence of a dynamic SRV evaluation model. A numerical model of SRV evaluation in shale reservoir was established by integrating four main modules, including fracture propagation, reservoir pressure distribution, formation stress distribution, and natural fracture failure criterion. Then, a method to optimize cluster spacing was developed with the goal of maximizing SRV. In order to validate this method, it was applied in Fuling shale gas reservoir in Southwest China to determine the optimal cluster spacing. The sensitivity of key parameters on the optimal cluster spacing has been analyzed. This research proposed a compelling cluster spacing optimization method, which could reduce the uncertainty in cluster spacing design, and provides some new insights on the optimal design of multi-stage fracturing in horizontal shale gas well.