Structured Grid Model for Fracture Driven Interaction Simulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fracture Driven Interactions (FDIs) occur when child well hydraulic fractures preferentially propagate towards nearby depleted parent wells, leading to increased parent well pressure, water production, and child well production loss, posing challenges for effective simulation and mitigation.
Innovation Solution
A method is developed to calculate Water Movement from Child well to Parent well (WMCP) by constructing a structured grid model with time-varying connectivity, embedding fracture flow-based parameters, and upscaling permeability values to determine connectivity values for each well pair, allowing for the calculation of WMCP.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional simulation methods are used for fracture driven interaction, then computational simplicity is maintained, but simulation accuracy and ability to capture dynamic connectivity changes are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic connectivity between parent and child wells by using time-varying transmissibility values that change as hydraulic fractures grow. The model transitions from static to dynamic representation of fracture connectivity, allowing the simulation to capture the evolving interaction between wells as fractures propagate and intersect over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the fracture system into discrete fracture segments with individual transmissibility values. Each fracture segment can be independently modeled and updated, allowing the complex fracture network to be broken down into manageable components that can be simulated efficiently while maintaining overall accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If detailed fracture geometry is modeled explicitly, then fracture growth and interaction are captured accurately, but computational cost and simulation time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary approach by using structured grid models with embedded fracture transmissibility values rather than explicitly modeling every fracture surface. This intermediary representation captures the essential fracture flow characteristics and connectivity changes without the computational burden of fully explicit fracture geometry, enabling efficient simulation of fracture growth and interaction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes key simulation parameters dynamically, particularly transmissibility values, to reflect fracture growth and connectivity changes. By updating these parameters at different simulation time steps rather than maintaining fixed geometry, the model captures fracture evolution efficiently without requiring continuous remeshing or geometric updates.
3Ease of manufacture
If static connectivity models are used between wells, then model simplicity is maintained, but dynamic fracture interaction and water movement calculation are inaccurate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static connectivity model into a dynamic one by implementing time-varying transmissibility values that evolve as hydraulic fractures grow and interact. This allows the model to maintain relative simplicity in structure while accurately capturing the dynamic nature of fracture-driven water movement between parent and child wells throughout the simulation process.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of calculating Water Movement from Child well to Parent well. The method includes obtaining hydraulic fracturing data; constructing a structured grid model using the obtained hydraulic fracturing data, where the structured grid model includes time-varying connectivity equivalent to the at least one parent well hydraulic fracture and the at least one child well hydraulic fracture to represent dynamically changing connectivity between wells and capture hydraulic fracturing growth; embedding fracture flow-based parameters into the structured grid model to generate a fine scale grid of permeability values; upscaling the fine scale grid of permeability values into a coarse scale grid of permeability values to determine a single connectivity value for each well pair; constructing a time varying connectivity curve for each well pair using the determined connectivity values for each well pair; and utilizing the time varying connectivity curve to calculate the Water Movement from Child well to Parent well.