Developing an inflow performance relationship for predicting hydrocarbon recovery from horizontal wells operating in partially naturally fractured reservoirs under solution-gas drive

Abstract

Inflow performance relationships (IPR) have long been recognized as one of the most important diagnostic tools for predicting hydrocarbon production performance. Current IPR models associated with naturally fractured reservoirs (NFR) are only applicable to fully fractured NFR models. No previous research has investigated the IPR of partially naturally fractured reservoirs (PNFR). This work aims to develop an IPR model for horizontal wells producing from PNFRs under solution-gas drive (SGD). A 3D black oil simulator is utilized to generate the required IPR data. A total of 236 IPR plots and 26 future IPR plots are generated throughout six major cases varying in fracture intensity (FI), dimensionless well length (L_D), matrix permeability (k_m), and fracture porosity (ϕ_f). Percolation theory validated the existence of a critical FI threshold at which complex IPR behaviors manifest. Sensitivity analysis reveals that IPR shape becomes more complex as L_D reduces. ϕ_f has negligible effects on IPR and future IPR behaviors. A logarithmic cycle proportionality governs the relationship between k_m and absolute open flow potential (q_o,AOF) in future IPR curves. A generalized IPR model applicable to horizontal wells producing from SGD PNFRs is developed through the non-linear regression of IPR candidates. The model is validated against field data and complex IPR behaviors.

Keywords:

• horizontal wells
• inflow performance relationship
• naturally fractured reservoirs
• simulation
• solution-gas drive

Authors’ contributions

Fuad Qasem: Conceptualization [Lead], Resources, Methodology, Investigation [Equal], Data Curation, Project Administration, Supervision, Writing – Review & Editing [Supporting] Hussain Al-Mazidi: Conceptualization [Supporting], Methodology, Investigation [Equal], Data Curation, Software, Formal Analysis, Visualization, Writing – Original Draft, Writing – Review & Editing [Lead] Ibrahim Sami Nashawi: Supervision, Writing – Review & Editing [Supporting]

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Additional information

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.