Open AccessEffects of parent well spacing on the poroelastic behaviors in the infill zone in shale oil reservoirs: A case study in Jimsar Shale Oil, China
Author(s) -
Wang Zhenlin,
Guo Xuyang,
Zheng Guoqing,
Yu Peirong,
Wang Wei,
Jin Yan,
Chen Gang
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
energy science and engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.638
H-Index - 29
ISSN - 2050-0505
DOI - 10.1002/ese3.1059
Subject(s) - infill , poromechanics , geology , geotechnical engineering , hydraulic fracturing , pore water pressure , oil shale , stress (linguistics) , porosity , engineering , porous medium , structural engineering , linguistics , philosophy , paleontology
Shale oil resources are usually developed by tightly spaced horizontal wells that are hydraulically fractured. Infill wells are often used to develop the zones not thoroughly produced by previously fractured parent wells, and determining the parent well spacing has become a key issue in the field as it affects the overall fracturing and production efficiency. This study employs a coupled flow and geomechanics model to investigate the poroelastic changes induced by parent well depletion in the infill zone. Based on poromechanics, the temporal and spatial changes in pore pressure, minimum horizontal principal stress, breakdown pressure, and maximum horizontal principal stress orientation are quantified. Pore pressure is used to estimate the remaining hydrocarbon exploitation potential in the infill zone, while minimum horizontal principal stress, breakdown pressure, and maximum horizontal principal stress orientation are used to estimate the difficulties of establishing hydraulic fracture networks in the infill zone. Results show that increasing parent well spacing helps to maintain the pore pressure in the infill zone, while the difficulties of initiating hydraulic fracture networks in the infill zone are slightly increased. Tight well spacing intensifies the infill zone depletion and lowers the infill well development potential, while the breakdown pressure is decreased which can facilitate future infill well fracturing. The poroelastic effect of parent well spacings on the infill zone is not monotonic.