Application of HDR Stimulation Technology to Develop Tight Gas Reservoirs

摘要

Conventional, cross-linked gel, hydraulic fracture treatmentsrnface several challenges in naturally fractured, tight gas, hardrnrock environments. These challenges include the potential forrnfracture complexity, pre-mature screen-out caused by pressurerndependent leak-off and the likelihood of severe gel inducedrnformation damage. To alleviate these potential problems andrnto economically develop these challenging environments, arnnew stimulation technology, which has been proven to bernsuccessful for Hot Dry Rock (HDR) reservoirs, has beenrninvestigated in this paper in the context of tight gas reservoirrnstimulation. The paper first presents a 3D model in whichrnnaturally fractured, tight gas reservoirs can be simulated byrnintegrating available log and core data. Simulated naturalrnfractures are then treated considering a novel fracturernpropagation and shear dilation concept. The model presentedrnalso predicts the resultant hydraulic conductivity and thernreservoir growth pattern.rnFinally, the paper reviews the productivity performance ofrnthe ‘shear dilation’ fracture treatment and compares this with arnconventional style fracture treatment. Results are useful tornindicate reservoir conditions under which the economicrnviability of ‘shear dilation’ fracture treatments may exceedrnconventional fracture treatments.