Flowback Performance in Intensely Naturally Fractured Shale Gas Reservoirs

Flowback Performance in Intensely Naturally Fractured Shale Gas Reservoirs James W. Crafton James W. Crafton Performance Sciences, Inc. Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Paper presented at the SPE Unconventional Gas Conference, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, February 2010. Paper Number: SPE-131785-MS https://doi.org/10.2118/131785-MS Published: February 23 2010 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Twitter LinkedIn Get Permissions Search Site Citation W. Crafton, James "Flowback Performance in Intensely Naturally Fractured Shale Gas Reservoirs." Paper presented at the SPE Unconventional Gas Conference, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, February 2010. doi: https://doi.org/10.2118/131785-MS Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex Search nav search search input Search input auto suggest search filter All ContentAll ProceedingsSociety of Petroleum Engineers (SPE)SPE Unconventional Resources Conference / Gas Technology Symposium Search Advanced Search Abstract In an attempt to quantify post-stimulation flowback strategies, especially for high value wells with multi-stage stimulations, this study compares observed flowback production histories with multi-phase numerical simulation of flow in multiple fractures of various conductivities. A "fit for purpose" finite difference simulator is able to treat the numerical problem of extremely high transmissibility contrast ratios in the fracture patterns with multi-phase flow in the fractures. After simulation of several systems, it became apparent that the greatest behavioral contrast was between gas and liquid-filled fracture systems, regardless of the fracture intensity. The results from this study offer insight into the effect of high versus low rate or drawdown flowbacks in the two systems. It suggests potential stimulation strategies for the maximization of long-term productivity, especially in multi-stage stimulation scenarios. Keywords: fracture system, society of petroleum engineers, spe preprint, hydraulic fracturing, natural fracture, flowback, performance science, conductivity, hydraulic fracture, gas-filled fracture Subjects: Hydraulic Fracturing, Unconventional and Complex Reservoirs, Shale gas, Naturally-fractured reservoirs Copyright 2010, Society of Petroleum Engineers You can access this article if you purchase or spend a download.