Estimating productivity of horizontal wells with longitudinal hydraulic fractures

Authors: R.R.Ibatullin (TAL Oil Ltd., Canada, Calgary), V.G.Salimov, A.V. Nasybullin (TatNIPIneft, RF, Bugulma), O.V. Salimov (NAUKA OOO, RF, Bugulma)

Key words: hydraulic fracturing, horizontal wells, longitudinal fractures, productivity.

Efficient frontier for longitudinal fractures is defined, which shifts towards permeability increase with increase of reservoir fluid viscosity. Transverse fractures are more attractive in low-permeability reservoirs. For higher permeabilities, longitudinal fractures are favorable. The lower is the dimensionless conductivity of induced fracture, the more advantageous is to fracture horizontal well longitudinally. If creation of high dimensionless conductivity fracture is unfeasible, longitudinal fractures should be considered. The number of vertical fractured wells equivalent to a single horizontal well with transverse fractures for the conditions encountered in Tatarstan fields is approximately half the number of transverse fractures.