Non-darcy and multiphase flow in propped fractures: case studies illustrate the dramatic effect on well productivity

摘要

The dramatic effects of non-Darcy and multiphase flow in propped hydraulic fractures have been documented by several authors. However, many engineers disregard these effects when designing fracture treatments under the assumption that they only apply to high rate wells. This paper shows these effects are significant even in wells considered to be low rate by current industry standards. Ignoring these effects will often lead to inaccurate production forecasts, suboptimal fracture design, and selection of an inappropriate proppant type. These mistakes result in lost revenues which can exceed