Fractured Well Simulation via Equivalent Complex Well Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing simulators for hydraulic fracturing in the oil and gas industry are limited in their ability to accurately model fractured wells, failing to capture individual parameters of hydraulic fractures and providing inaccurate approximations, as they assume uniform production and performance, and are not capable of generating simulation results at the hydraulic fracture level.
Innovation Solution
The method involves generating an equivalent complex well representation of a fractured well, using parameters such as fracture half-length, width, and height, and executing a simulation using a multi-segmentation approach to model and solve computation matrices, allowing for individual production and performance profiles of hydraulic fractures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If existing simulators use grid refinement to explicitly represent hydraulic fractures, then the simulation model can capture fracture geometry, but the simulators cannot generate individual performance profiles for each hydraulic fracture and assume uniform production across all fractures
Solution Approach 1:
The simulation model segments the fractured well into multiple independent hydraulic fracture components, each with its own performance characteristics. Instead of treating all fractures as a single uniform entity, the system divides them into discrete segments that can be individually modeled and analyzed, allowing each fracture to have unique production profiles based on its specific geometry and reservoir interactions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies local quality by assigning different properties and parameters to individual hydraulic fractures based on their specific characteristics. Each fracture can have unique half-length, width, height, and production performance, rather than assuming uniform properties across all fractures. This allows the simulation to capture the heterogeneity and variability inherent in actual hydraulic fracturing operations.
2Ease of manufacture
If existing simulators assume uniform hydraulic fracture properties, then the simulation process is simplified, but the results become inaccurate approximations that do not reflect real-world non-uniform fracture behavior
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the parameters from uniform, averaged values to variable, fracture-specific parameters. Each hydraulic fracture is assigned individual parameters including half-length, width, height, and production rate, allowing the simulation to reflect the natural variability and non-uniformity of actual fracture networks while maintaining computational feasibility through parameterized modeling.
3Productivity
If existing simulators model fractured wells at the well level only, then the overall well performance can be assessed, but important information about surrounding areas and individual fracture contributions is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system adds another dimension of analysis by moving from well-level aggregate performance to fracture-level individual performance. This dimensional shift allows simultaneous assessment of both overall well productivity and individual fracture contributions, providing a multi-scale view that captures both macro and micro level information without losing detail in the transition.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are methods, systems, and computer-readable medium to perform operations including: receiving, by a computing device, parameters of the fractured well, wherein the fractured well comprises a wellbore and one or more hydraulic fractures extending from the wellbore; generating, by the computing device and based on the parameters of the fractured well, an equivalent complex well that represents the fractured well; and executing, by the computing device and using the equivalent complex well, a simulation that simulates the performance of the fractured well.