SPE 159687

Productivity Index and Inflow performance of Hydraulically Fractured

Formations
S. Al Rbeawi, SPE, D. Tiab, SPE, University of Oklahoma

Copyright 2012, Society of Petroleum Engineers

This paper was prepared for presentation at the SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition held in San Antonio, Texas, USA, 8-10 October 2012.
This paper was selected for presentation by an SPE program committee following review of information contained in an abstract submitted by the author(s). Contents of the paper have not been
reviewed by the Society of Petroleum Engineers and are subject to correction by the author(s). The material does not necessarily reflect any position of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, its
officers, or members. Electronic reproduction, distribution, or storage of any part of this paper without the written consent of the Society of Petroleum Engineers is prohibited. Permission to
reproduce in print is restricted to an abstract of not more than 300 words; illustrations may not be copied. The abstract must contain conspicuous acknowledgment of SPE copyright.

Abstract
Productivity index and inflow performance of horizontal wells intersecting multiple hydraulic fractures are of great
importance. This importance comes from the fact that the fracturing process has become a common stimulation technique in
the petroleum industry. However, few models for the productivity index and inflow performance have been presented in the
literatures due to the complexity governing this topic.
This paper introduces a new technique for estimating the pseudo-steady state productivity index of horizontal wells
intersecting multiple hydraulic fractures. Based on the instantaneous source solutions for the diffusivity equation, seven
analytical models have been derived for different source solutions. Four of them represent the effect of the formation height
and fracture height (the vertical direction), while the other three represent the solution for the horizontal plane. For vertical
hydraulic fractures, the four solutions of the vertical direction, representing the pseudo-skin factor, are almost neglected. The
three horizontal plane solutions are the main parameters that control the productivity index and inflow performance of the
fractured formations. In this technique, the horizontal wells are acting in finite reservoirs where the pseudo-steady state flow
is expected to develop. Reservoir geometry, reservoir properties, and fracture dimensions were considered in this technique.
The number of fractures and the spacing between them were also investigated in this study. A new analytical model for
estimating the required number of hydraulic fractures has been introduced in this study based on the reservoir drainage area
and the surface area of fractures.
The models have been used to establish several plots to estimate the shape factor group based on the number of fractures
and the half fracture length. This group is one of the main terms in the productivity index model. Several plots for the shape
factor of fractured formations have been introduced in this study. The results obtained from the new technique have been
compared with the results from previous models. Several numerical examples will be included in the paper.
Introduction
Hydraulic fracturing is an important stimulation technique that has been widely used in conventional and unconventional
oil and gas reservoirs all over the world. The technique involves the creation of a fracture or fracture system in porous
medium to 1) increase the contact area between reservoir matrix and the wellbore, 2) overcome wellbore damage, 3) improve
oil and gas productivity in low permeability and tight gas reservoirs, 4) enhance the connectivity of naturally fractured
reservoirs, and 5) facilitate the production from shale gas reservoirs. During the last two decades, horizontal wells with multistage hydraulic fractures have become a common applied completion technology in the petroleum industry. Because of the
large reservoir contact area connected to the wellbore, hydraulic fractures can greatly improve a wells productivity.
The productivity index is a critical parameter in the oil and gas production process and its management. Regardless of
the type of formation and the type of wellbore, the index is defined as the amount or volume of reservoir fluids that can be
produced daily by one psi pressure drop at the sand face. For a horizontal well with multiple hydraulic fractures, the
productivity index is influenced by several factors such as the number of fracture, the spacing between them and the fracture
dimensions. Reservoir permeability and reservoir fluid properties have great influence on the productivity index as well as
the geometry of the drainage area. Several models have been introduced during the last two decades for the productivity
index of fractured formations. The high cost of the fracturing process and the serious need for a technique that can help in
evaluating the benefits of the continuously increasing number of fractures are the two motivating factors to develop the
productivity index models for fractured formations.
Raghavan and Joshi (1993) presented a method to evaluate the productivity of wells with hydraulic fractures. A general

SPE 159687

and rigorous model was provided in their study for the productivity index as a function of reservoir variables and numbers of
radials of fractures. Guo and Evans (1993) proposed a new analytical model for the productivity index of fractured
formations. They stated that the transient flow period cant be used to estimate the productivity index since the drainage area
is variable during oil and gas production. Therefore the dynamic productivity index based on the uniform fracture flow rate
distribution would be used for this purpose. Their most important finding was the negligible impact of the fracture half length
on the productivity index during the pseudo-steady state. Li et al (1996) developed a model to predict the performance of
fractured formations and examined it for two case studies. They investigated the effects of the number of fractures and
fracture half length on the productivity of the wells.
Valko and Economides (1998) suggested the use proppant number, proportional to the fracture permeability and
propped volume and conversely proportional to the reservoir permeability and reservoir volume. This number can be used to
estimate the productivity index corresponding to the fracture conductivity in pseudo-steady state flow. Larsen (1998, 2001)
introduced several analytical models for the productivity of fractured and non-fractured deviated wells in commingled
reservoirs. Fokker et al (2003) presented a novel approach to determine the productivity of complex wells. They stated that
their model is applicable for the finite-conductivity wells, well interference, non-homogenous reservoirs, and hydraulically
fractured formations. Sadrpanah et al (2006) studied the impact of the fracturing process on the deliverability of a well. Their
study has been conducted on a pilot plant where two fracture systems and four fractures were used to enhance the production.
The performance of the horizontal wells associated with multiple hydraulic fractures depends on the penetration ratio in
two directions. The first one is the vertical direction where the height of fracture does not need to be equal to the height of the
formation. The second is the horizontal direction where the fracture wings are designed to propagate; however it is not
common that the fracture tips reach the boundaries. Demarchos et al (2006) investigated the effect of the drainage shape and
flow regimes in transversely fractured wells on the productivity. The concept of proppant number, developed by Valko and
Economides, has been also used by Demarchoes et al. Guo et al (2006) presented a new model to predict fractured horizontal
wells production. The model combined the shape of formed fractures and the fluid peculation mechanism together.
The productivity and the drainage area of fractured horizontal wells in tight gas reservoir and shale plays are of great
importance in the petroleum industry. The importance comes from the high cost of both the completion techniques for these
wells and the fracturing process that may include more than twenty stages. Medeiros et al (2008) discussed the performance
of the fractured horizontal wells in heterogeneous and tight gas formations. They documented in their study the production
characteristics and flow regimes in which the long transient periods may govern the productivity. Guo and Yu (2008) stated
that the horizontal wells drilled in the direction of the minimum horizontal stress allow multiple transverse hydraulic
fractures to enhance well productivity in low permeability oil and gas reservoirs. Two case studies have been investigated in
their argument using three analytical models for three expected flow regimes. Grieser et al (2009) used a 3-D four phase
nonisothermal multiwall black oil and pseudo compositional simulator that allows placement of multiple transverse fractures
to predict production outcome from horizontal completions in the Barnett Shale. Zhang et al (2012) approached a method to
predict the total inflow performance and associated productivity index under two-phase flow conditions. The approach can be
used to determine the number of fracture stages required for a horizontal wells extending in a two-phase solution-gas drive.
Mathematical Modeling
The hydraulic fracturing process aims to greatly increase the contact area between the wellbores and the pay zones. The
production rate from fractured formations is a function of the total surface area of the hydraulic fractures. For a constant
production rate, the pressure drop at any point in fractured formations depends on several parameters: permeability,
homogeneity, isotropy, formation drainage area configuration, reservoir fluid properties, and fracture dimensions. Total
production rate from all hydraulic fractures and total pressure drop at the wellbore are the two items required for estimating
the productivity index. The worthy and successful fracturing process has to significantly improve the productivity index of
the formation. Therefore, the productivity index is a critical parameter in oil and gas production from fractured formation
because of the high cost of the single stage fracturing process. Generally, the simple model for the productivity index can be
written as:

q
P

(1)

For constant sandface production rate, the pressure drop is the main parameter that affects the productivity index.
Pressure drop can be modeled using the instantaneous source solutions as:
t

P( xm , ym , zm , t, z f , h f , x f , h)

q
Sxyz ( xm , ym , zm , t
c0

, z f , h f , x f , h)d

(2)

In dimensionless form, the pressure drop of multi-stages hydraulically fractured finite formation can be written as (Al
Rbeawi and Tiab 2012):

SPE 159687

tD

x fD y fD

PD
1

2
1
N

0
2

exp(

4
x fD

n 1

m2

4
h fD

y 2fD

m 1N 0

1
exp(
n

n2

x 2fD

4
yD

) (cos( m (

) sin(

n x fD
2

) cos( n

x wD
n xD
) cos(
)
2
2

y wD 2 Ns D
y
)) cos( m ( D
2

h fD
1
l2 2 D
exp(
) sin( l
) cos( l z wD ) cos( l z wD ) d
2
hxfD
2
1 l

y wD 2 Ns D
)))
2

(3)

The above model represents the sum of the pressure drop due to transient period and the pressure drop due to pseudosteady state. It can be written as:

PD

t DA
A

x fD y fD

2 t DA

XD

YD

ZD

X D YD

X DZD

X D YD Z D d

PDi

PDa

(4)

kx
ct A
4 xe ye

(5)
(6)

In equation (4), PDi is the dimensionless pressure drop from initial reservoir pressure to average reservoir pressure that
represents the transient period. It can be written as:

PDi

2 t DA

(7)

PDa is the dimensionless pressure drop between average reservoir pressure and reservoir pressure at any point and any
time. This pressure drop represents the pseudo-steady state. It can be written as:

PDa

x fD y fD
2

X D YD Z D

X DYD

X D Z D YD Z D

X DYD Z D d

(8)

The model given in equation (8) can be solved for long time pseudo-steady state. It can be written as follows:

PDa

C HF

Sp

(9)

CHF is defined as the shape factor group.

S p is defined as the pseudo-skin factor.
Shape Factor group for fractured formations
The dimensionless pressure of multi-stage fractured formations can be approximated for long time to the following
model:

PD

2 t DA

1
ln
2

The term 1 ln
2

4A
C A r f2

(10)

4 A in equation (10) is the shape factor group because it contains the shape factor for fractured
C A r f2

formations (C A ) . From equation (8), it can be recognized that seven instantaneous solutions exist. Four of these solutions
( Z D , X D Z D , YD Z D , X DYD Z D ) represent the effect of the vertical penetration of fractures. While the three solutions
( X D , YD , X DYD ) represent the effect of the reservoir drainage area in the horizontal plane where the shape factor of
fractured formations is determined by this area. Therefore, the shape factor group from equation (8) can be written as:
x fD y fD D
(11)
C HF
X D YD X DYD d D
2
0
For long time approximation (pseudo-steady state), the group can be defined as:

SPE 159687

16
3 3
x fD
x fD y fD

C HF

n 1

4
Ny 2fD

4
3
Nx fD

n x fD
1
sin(
) cos( n
3
n
2

N 1m

y
1
(cos( m ( D
2
1 m
1

n 1 m 1N 1

n(

n 2 x 2fD
4

x wD
n xD
) cos(
)
2
2
y wD 2 Ns D
y
)) cos( m ( D
2

y wD 2 Ns D
)))
2

y wD 2 Ns D
y
)) cos( m ( D
2
n x fD
m 2 y 2fD
x
n xD
) cos( n wD ) cos(
)
) sin(
2
2
2
4
(cos( m (

yD

y wD 2 Ns D
)))
2

(12)
The results of the shape factor group given in equation (12) are plotted in Fig.(1) and Fig.(2) for two half fracture length

( x fD 1.0) and ( x fD 0.5) . These plots are established for different reservoir configurations and different numbers of
vertical hydraulic fractures. They are designed for fully penetrating ratio (h fD 1.0) . The spacing between fractures depends
on the number of fractures that intersect the horizontal wellbore ( s D

s / ye

y D / 2n ) .
It can be seen that the shape factor group has a linear relationship with ( y fD ) for almost all the values of fracture half

length when reservoir configuration is close to rectangular with extremely long length ( y fD

0.5) . The slope of the lines on

log-log plot is (-1). Another linear relationship can be seen between the shape factor group and the length of drainage area for
all half fracture length when the reservoir length is extremely short ( y fD 0.5) . The slope of the lines on log-log plot in this
case is (1).

xfD=1.0, hfD=1.0
1.0E+02

Single fracture
Two fractures

Fracture shape factor group, CHF

Four fractures
Eight fractures
Sixteen fractures

1.0E+01

1.0E+00

1.0E-01
1.0E-02

1.0E-01

yfD

Figure 1: Shape factor group for different vertical hydraulic fractures.

1.0E+00

SPE 159687

xfD=0.5, hfD=1.0
1.0E+02

Single fracture
Two fractures

Fracture shape factor group, CHF

Four fractures
Eight fractures
Sixteen fractures

1.0E+01

1.0E+00

1.0E-01
1.0E-02

1.0E-01

1.0E+00

yfD

Figure 2: Shape factor group for different vertical hydraulic fractures.

Number of fractures
Hydraulic fracturing is an effective technique to increase the productivity of formations. The number of fractures is
among several parameters that have great influence on the deliverability of the fractured formations. The productivity index
of these formations highly depends on the number of hydraulic fractures. Therefore, determining the required number of
hydraulic fractures is of great importance because of the high cost of the fracturing process.
By the multi-regression analysis for the results of the shape factor groups that consider different reservoir configurations
and different numbers of fractures with different fracture dimensions, the number of fractures can be calculated as:

CHF

1.42
nx fD y fD

(13)

Equation (12) can be solved for real parameters:

200 JB xe ye
hx 2f k y

(14)

Shape factor
Shape factor for fractured formation can be calculated from the shape factor group given in equation (10):

C HF

1
ln
2

4A
C A r f2

In equation (15), the term

(15)

(rf ) represents the effective wellbore radius of the fractured formation. It has been found that

the estimation of this parameter is difficult for a wide range of configurations especially for reservoirs with high ratio
between the length and width of the horizontal boundaries. However, the following simple model can be used to calculate the
effective wellbore radius:

rf2

4nx f s

(16)

The calculated value of the shape factor group given in equation (12) can be used to calculate the shape factor for
fractured formation using equation (15). The results for several vertical hydraulic fractures are shown in Fig.(3) and Fig.(4).
It is easy to recognize that the shape factor value increases as the reservoir length parallel to the wellbore
decreases ( ye ) . The shape factor value for a small number of fractures is smaller than the shape factor value for a large
number of fractures. These two facts indicate the impact of the reservoir geometry on the value of shape factor for different

SPE 159687

numbers of fractures. For square shape reservoirs, the shape factor value is expected to be in its maximum value. Therefore,
the productivity index for square configuration reservoir is the maximum productivity index.

xfD=1.0, hfD=1.0
1.0E+02

1.0E+01

1.0E+00

1.0E-01

CA

1.0E-02

1.0E-03

1.0E-04

1.0E-05

Single fracture
Two fractures

1.0E-06

Four fractures
Eight fractures

1.0E-07

Sixteen fractures
1.0E-08
1.0E-02

1.0E-01

1.0E+00

yfD

Figure 3: Shape factor for different vertical hydraulic fractures.

xfD=0.5, hfD=1.0
1.0E+02

1.0E+01

1.0E+00

1.0E-01

CA

1.0E-02

1.0E-03

1.0E-04

1.0E-05

Single fracture
Two fractures

1.0E-06
1.0E-02

1.0E-01

Four fractures 1.0E+00

Eight fractures

1.0E-07

Sixteen fractures
1.0E-08

yfD

Figure 4: Shape factor for different vertical hydraulic fractures.

Pseudo-Skin factor
The pseudo-skin factor for multiple hydraulic fractures can be found from the instantaneous solutions that include the
vertical direction. It represents the effect of vertical penetration of fractures on pressure behavior of fractured formations.
Therefore, the pseudo-skin factor can be written as:

Sp

x fD y fD
2

YD Z D
0

ZD

X DZD

X DYD Z D d

(17)

SPE 159687

In dimensionless form, the pseudo-skin factor is:

4
3

SP

x fD y fD
2

2
fD xfD l 1

h h

16
x fD h fD

4
Nh fD

l h fD
1
sin(
) cos(l z wD ) cos(l z D )
3
l
2

1
2

l 1 n 1

nl (

n x

2
fD

l
)
2
hxfD

l(

1
m 2 y 2fD

m 1 l 1 N 1

sin(

l h fD

n x fD
2

) cos(n

(cos(m (

yD

l
)
2
hxfD

4
2

sin(

l h fD
xwD
n xD
) cos(
) sin(
) cos(l z wD ) cos(l z D )
2
2
2

y wD
2

NsD

n 1 m 1 l 1 N 1

nl (

yD

ywD
2

NsD

)))

) cos(l z wD ) cos(l z D )
sin(

16
4
Nx fD h fD

)) cos(m (

n x
4

2
fD

1
m 2 y 2fD
4

n x fD
2

(cos(m (

xwD
n xD
)
) cos(
2
2
ywD NsD
y
)) cos(m ( D
2

) cos(n
yD

l
)
2
l h fD
hxfD
sin(
) cos(l z wD ) cos(l z D )
2

ywD
2

NsD

)))

(18)
The pseudo-skin factor in the above model represents the effect of the partial penetration in the vertical direction and the
location of the horizontal wellbore. For full penetration ( h fD 1) , the instantaneous source solution in the vertical direction
converges to zero when the wellbore extends at the mid-point of formation height. Therefore, the pseudo-skin factor for fully
penetrating fractures is:
S p 0.0
(19)
Four vertical fractures, xfD=1.0
1.0E-01
hfD=0.75
hfD=0.5

Pseudo-skin factor, Sp

hfD=0.25

1.0E-02

1.0E-03
1.0E-02

1.0E-01

yfD

Figure 5: Pseudo-skin factor for vertical penetration ratio.

1.0E+00

SPE 159687

The partial penetrating ratio in the vertical direction may increase the value of the pseudo-skin factor rather than leave
the value equals to zero. However, this value is small, so that it can be neglected. The effect of the partial penetration ratio in
the vertical direction on the value of the pseudo-skin factor can be seen in Fig.(5). The pseudo-skin factor significantly
increases as the penetration ratio (h fD ) decreases. Therefore, the productivity index is expected to be affected by the vertical
penetration ratio. It increases to the maximum value when the vertical penetration ratio is

(h fD

1) and decreases slightly

when the fractures do not fully penetrate the formation. The full penetration fractures provide the maximum surface area for
the reservoir fluid to flow toward the wellbore.
Fig.(6) and Fig.(7) show there is no impact for the vertical penetration ratio on the shape factor group and the shape
factor respectively. This fact can be explained as the shape factor group and the shape factor are considering reservoir
drainage area configuration rather than fracture geometry.
Four vertical fractures, xfD=1.0
1.0E+02

Fracture shape factor group, CHF

hfD=1.0, 0.75, 0.5, 0.25

1.0E+01

1.0E+00

1.0E-01
1.0E-02

1.0E-01

1.0E+00

yfD

Figure 6: Shape factor group for vertical penetration ratio.

Four vertical fractures, xfD=1.0

1.0E+01

1.0E+00

1.0E-01

CA

1.0E-02

1.0E-03

1.0E-04

1.0E-05
hfD=1.0, 0.75, 0.5, 0.25
1.0E-06
1.0E-02

1.0E-01

yfD

Figure 7: Shape factor for vertical penetration ratio.

1.0E+00

SPE 159687

The asymetricity of the wellbore location with respect to the formation height may increase the value of the pseudo-skin
factor. The pseudo-skin factor for symmetrical wellbore ( zwD 0.5) has inconsiderable value so that ( S p 0.0) .
However, the pseudo-skin factor increases as the horizontal wellbore extends asymmetrically

( zwD

0.5) in the formation

as shown in Fig.(8). Therefore, it is reasonable to say that the maximum value of productivity index comes from the
symmetrical wellbore rather than the asymmetric ones.
Fig.(9) and Fig.(10) show the impact of the asymetricity on the shape factor group and the shape factor respectively. It
can be seen that the asymetricity has no influence on the shape factor group and the shape factor. This fact can be explained
as the shape factor is a function of the reservoir drainage area that is not affected by the location of the wellbore.
Four vertical fractures, xfD=1.0, hfD=1.0
1.0E-01

Pseudo-skin factor, Sp

1.0E-02

1.0E-03
zwD=0.5
zwD=0.25 or 0.75
1.0E-04

1.0E-05

1.0E-06
1.0E-02

1.0E-01

1.0E+00

yfD

Figure 8: Pseudo-skin factor for asymetricity.

Four vertical fractures, xfD=1.0, hfD=1.0

1.0E+02
zwD=0.75 or 0.25

Fracture shape factor group, CHF

zwD=0.5

1.0E+01

1.0E+00

1.0E-01
1.0E-02

1.0E-01

yfD

Figure 9: Shape factor group for asymetricity.

1.0E+00

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SPE 159687

Four vertical fractures, xfD=1.0, hfD=1.0

1.0E+01

1.0E+00

1.0E-01

1.0E-02

CA

1.0E-03

1.0E-04

1.0E-05

1.0E-06

1.0E-07

zwD=0.75, 0.5, 0.25

1.0E-08
1.0E-02

1.0E-01

1.0E+00

yfD

Figure 10: Shape factor for asymetricity.

Half Fracture Length

Fracture half length has two different impacts on the productivity index of fractured formations:
1- Formation with long Length ( y fD 0 .1) : The productivity index is conversely proportional with the fracture half
length. When the fractures are fully penetrating the formation, i.e. fractures tips reach the horizontal boundary
parallel to the wellbore (reservoir length), reservoir fluid will not be able to flow toward the inner fractures and the
flow of fluid will only be to the outermost fractures.
2- Formation with long Length ( y fD 0 .1) : The productivity index is proportional with the fracture half length since
the most flow of fluid will be from the drainage areas between fractures.
Two fractures, Sp=0.0, Sm=0.0

Productivity index, Jp

1.0E+01
xfD=0.1

xfD=0.2

xfD=0.3

xfD=0.4

xfD=0.5

xfD=0.6

xfD=0.7

xfD=0.8

xfD=0.9

xfD=1.0

1.0E+00

1.0E-01

1.0E-02
1.0E-02

1.0E-01

1.0E+00

yfD

Figure 11: Pseudo-productivity index for different half fracture length.

Fig.(11) and Fig.(12) show the pseudo-productivity index for two and sixteen hydraulic fractures respectively. The
pseudo-skin factor can be defined as:

SPE 159687

Jp

C HF

11

1
Sp Sm

(20)

Sixteen vertical fractures, Sp=0.0, Sm=0.0

Productivity index, Jp

1.0E+02

1.0E+01

1.0E+00

1.0E-01

1.0E-02
1.0E-02

xfD=0.1

xfD=0.2

xfD=0.3

xfD=0.4

xfD=0.5

xfD=0.6

xfD=0.7

xfD=0.8

xfD=0.9

xfD=1.0
1.0E-01

1.0E+00

yfD

Figure 12: Pseudo-productivity index for different half fracture length.

Spacing between fractures

The spacing between fractures has a considerable effect in the productivity of the fractured formations. The uniform
spacing between fractures along the length of the wellbore is determined by the number of fractures and the length of the
reservoir. The reduction in the spacing between fractures causes increasing in the shape factor group, which means reduction
in the productivity index. Fig.(13) shows the effect of the spacing between fractures in the fracture shape factor group for ten
vertical fractures. Fig.(14) shows the shape factor for different spacing between ten vertical fractures.
Ten vertical fractures, xfD=0.5, hfD=1.0
1.0E+02

SD=0.005
SD=0.01
SD=0.02

Fracture shape factor group, C HF

SD=0.04
SD=0.05
1.0E+01

1.0E+00

1.0E-01
1.0E-02

1.0E-01

yfD

Figure 13: Shape factor group for different spacing between fractures.

1.0E+00

12

SPE 159687

Ten vertical fractures, xfD=0.5, hfD=1.0

1.0E+02

1.0E+01

Fracture shape factor, CA

1.0E+00

1.0E-01

1.0E-02

1.0E-03

1.0E-04

SD=0.005
SD=0.01

1.0E-05

SD=0.02
1.0E-06

SD=0.04
sD=0.05

1.0E-07
1.0E-02

1.0E-01

1.0E+00

yfD

Figure 14: Shape factor for different spacing between fractures.

Productivity Index
The productivity index can be written as:

CJ p

C HF

C
Sp Sm

(21)

where

kxk y h

(22)

141 . 2 B

S m is the mechanical skin factor.

Two fractures, Sp=0.0, Sm=4.0

Productivity index, Jp

1.0E+00
xfD=0.1

xfD=0.2

xfD=0.3

xfD=0.4

xfD=0.5

xfD=0.6

xfD=0.7

xfD=0.8

xfD=0.9

xfD=1.0

1.0E-01

1.0E-02
1.0E-02

1.0E-01

yfD

Figure 15: Mechanical skin factor for two vertical fractures.

1.0E+00

SPE 159687

13

The mechanical skin factor negatively affects the productivity index. It increases the resistance of the formation to the
flow of fluid from the drainage area close to the fractures. Fig.(15) and Fig. (16) show the effect of the mechanical skin factor
on the pseudo-productivity index for two and sixteen hydraulic fractures.
Sixteen vertical fractures, Sp=0.0, Sm=4.0

Productivity index, Jp

1.0E+00
xfD=0.1

xfD=0.2

xfD=0.3

xfD=0.4

xfD=0.5

xfD=0.6

xfD=0.7

xfD=0.8

xfD=0.9

xfD=1.0

1.0E-01
1.0E-02

1.0E-01

1.0E+00

yfD

Figure 16: Mechanical skin factor for sixteen vertical fractures.

Application
Table-1 includes the required data of the formation, reservoir fluid properties, and the fracture dimensions. The measured
production rate of the well was 128 STB/D for pressure drawdown of 1323 psi (Li et al 1996 and Guo and Yu 2008).
Table-1: Formation, fluid and fractures data.

Pay zone thickness

Reservoir permeability
Average reservoir pressure
Oil viscosity
Horizontal wellbore length
Wellbore radius
Skin factor
Fracture length
Fracture No. 1
Fracture No. 2
Fracture No. 3
Fracture No. 4
Estimated fracture width
Fracture permeability
Drainage Area
Bottom hole flowing pressure
Measured flow rate
Formation volume factor

y fD

0.135

x fD

0.64

sD
yD

0 .2
y wD

0.25

39 ft
7.5 md
2602 psi
4.8 cp
1820 ft
0.19 ft
0
246 ft
246 ft
246 ft
246 ft
0.9 in
30000 md
16 acres
1279 psi
128 STB/D
1.084 res-bbl/STB

14

SPE 159687

x D xwD 0 .0
z D z wD 0.5
hxfD 0 .135
h fD

1 .0
Fig.(17) shows the plot of CHF that has been generated for the above conditions. It can be found that:

C HF

4 .1

Using equation (22):

0 .398
Since the formation is fully penetrated by the fractures

be ( S m

(S p

0 .0) and the mechanical skin factor is found to

0 .0 ) :

Using equation (21):

0.097 STB/D/psi

The measured productivity index is (0.0967). Therefore, the error percent is less than (0.5%).To check the number of
fractures, equation (15) can be used:

4 fractures
The calculated number of fractures is identical with the existed fractures in the field.

Figure 17: Shape factor group for the case study.

Conclusions
1- Shape factor for fractured formations can be calculated from the pseudo-steady state pressure response when the
effect of the pressure pulse reaches the boundaries.
2- The productivity index for fractured formation can also be calculated from the pseudo-steady state pressure model
using long time approximation.
3- An analytical model for the number of the required hydraulic fractures has been proposed.
4- A shape factor group has been developed in this study for the shape factor and productivity index calculations.

SPE 159687

15

5- The pseudo-skin factor for fractured formations can be neglected since it has inconsiderable value.
6- The asymmetricity - the location of the wellbore with respect to the formation height - and the vertical penetration
ratio have no impact on the shape factor of fractured formations. However both of them affect the value of the
pseudo-skin factor.
7- The productivity index increases as the number of fractures and the spacing between them increases.
Nomenclatures
B
formation volume factor, res-bbl/STB
CA shape factor, dimensionless
CHF shape factor group, dimensionless
h
formation height, ft
hf
fracture height, ft
ct
total compressibility, psi-1
J
productivity index, dimensionless
Jp
Pseudo-productivity index, dimensionless
kx
permeability in the X-direction, md
ky
permeability in the Y-direction, md
kz
permeability in the Z-direction, md
n
number of fractures
P pressure difference, psi
Q
total flow rate, STB/D
q
fracture flow rate, STB/D
rf equivellent wellbore radius
s
spacing between fractures, ft
Sp pseudo-skin factor, dimensionless
Sm mechanical skin factor, dimensionless
t
time, hrs
xe reservoir half width, ft
xf fracture half length, ft
ye reservoir half length, ft
Greek Symbols
porosity
viscosity, cp
diffusivity
References
Al Rbeawi, S. and Tiab, D., 2012. Effect of penetrating Ratio on Pressure Behavior of Horizontal Wells with MultipleInclined Hydraulic Fractures. SPE 153788 presented at the SPE Western Regional Meeting held in Bakersfield,
California, USA, 21-23 March, doi:10.2118/153788-PA.
Demarchos, A., Porcu, M., and Economides, M., 2006. Transversely Multi-Fractured Wells: A Recipe for Success. SPE
102263 presented at the 2006 SPE Russian Oil and Gas Technical Conference and Exhibition held in Moscow, Russia, 36 October. doi: 10.2118/102263-MS.
Fokker, P., Verga, F., Egberts and P., 2005. New Semi analytical Technique to Determine Horizontal Well Productivity
Index in Fractured Reservoirs. SPE Reservoir Evaluation & Engineering, 123-131, SPE 84597, doi:102118/84597-PA.
Grieser, B., Shelley, B. and Soliman, M., 2009. Predicting Production Outcome From Multi-Stage, Horizontal Barnett
Completions. SPE 120271 presented at the 2009 SPE Production and Operation Symposium held in Oklahoma City,
Oklahoma, USA, 4-8 April. doi:10.2118/120271-MS.
Guo, B. and Yu, X., 2008. A Simple and Accurate Mathematical Model for Predicting Productivity of Multifractured
Horizontal Wells. SPE 114452 presented at the CIPC/SPE Gas Technology Symposium 2008 Joint Conference held in
Calgary, Canada, 16-19 June. doi: 10.2118/114452-MS.
Guo, J., Zeng, F. and Xu, Y., 2006. A New Model to Predict Fractured Horizontal Well Production. Paper 20006-076
presented at the 57th Annual Technical Meeting of Canadian Petroleum Society held in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, 13-15
June. doi: 10.2118/2006-076.
Guo, G., Evans, R., 1993. Pressure-Transient Behavior and Inflow Performance of Horizontal Wells Intersecting Discrete
Fractures. SPE 26446 presented at the 66th SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition held in Houston, Texas,
USA, 3-8 October. doi: 10.2118/26446-MS.
Larsen, L., 1998. Productivity of Fractured and Nonfractured Deviated Wells in Commingled Layered Reservoir. SPE
Journal, 191-1998, SPE 38912. doi:10.2118/38912-PA.

16

SPE 159687

Larsen, L., 2001. General Productivity Model for Wells in Homogenous and Layered Reservoirs. SPE 71613 presented at the
2001 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition held in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, 30 September-3 October.
doi:10.2118/71613-MS.
Li, H., Jia, Z. and Wei, Z., 1996. A new Method to predict Performance of Fractured Horizontal Wells. SPE 37051 presented
at the 1996 SPE International Conference on Horizontal Well Technology held in Calgary, Canada, 18-20 November.
doi:10.2118/37051-MS.
Medeiros, F., Ozkan, E. and Kazemi, H., 2008. Productivity and Drainage Area of Fractured Horizontal Wells in Tight Gas
Reservoirs. SPE Reservoir Evaluation & Engineering, 902-911, SPE 108110. doi:10.2118/108110-PA.
Raghavan, R., Joshi, S., 1993. Productivity of Multiple Drain holes or Fractured Horizontal Wells. SPE Formation
Evaluation, 11- 16, SPE 21263, 3 October-2 November. doi: 10.2118/21263-PA.
Sadrpanah, H., Charles, T. and Fulton, J., 2006. Explicit Simulation of Multiple Hydraulic Fractures in Horizontal Wells.
SPE 99575 presented at the SPE Annual Conference and Exhibition held in Vienna, Austria, 12-15 June.
doi:10.2118/99575-MS.
Valko, P. and Economides, M., 1998. Heavy Crude Production from Shallow Formations: Long Horizontal Wells Versus
Horizontal Fractures. SPE 50421 presented at the SPE International Conference on Horizontal Wells Technology held in
Calgary, Alberta, Canada, 1-4 November, doi: 10.2118/50421-MS.
Zhang, H., Han, G., Houeto, F., Lessard, R., Wang, W. and Li, J., 2012. New Methods to Predict Inflow Performance of
Multiply Fractured Horizontal Wells under Two-Phase Condition and Optimize Number of Fracture Stages. SPE 152837
presented at the North Africa Technical Conference and Exhibition held in Cairo, Egypt, 20-22 February, doi:
10.2118/152837-MS.
Appendix - Models Derivation
Consider a horizontal well penetrates several vertical transverse hydraulic fractures in a finite reservoir as shown in Fig.
A-1. Each fracture is considered as a single plane of length ( 2 x f ), width (

w ), and

height ( h f ). The spacing between

fractures is (s). If we assume that all fluid withdrawal will be through the fractures, the unsteady state pressure drop created
by production from fractures at any point in the reservoir ( xm , ym , zm ) is:
t

P ( xm , y m , z m , t , z f , h f , x f , h)

q
S xyz ( xm , ym , z m , t
c0

, z f , h f , x f , h)d

(A-1)

where;

S xyz ( xm , ym , zm , t , h f , x f , h) is the instantaneous source function that can be determined as follows:

S xyz ( xm , ym , z m , t , z f , h f , x f , h) S x ( x, t ) S y ( y, t ) S z z , t

(A-2)

q is the fluid withdrawal per unit fracture surface area per unit time can be determined as follows:

Q
2 nx f h f

(A-3)

Figure A-1: Horizontal well intersected by multiple hydraulic fractures.

S x ( x, t )

can be written as follows:

SPE 159687

17

xf

S ( x, t )

4 xe
xf

xe

xf
n 2 xt
xw
x
) sin( n
) cos(n
) cos(n
)
2
4 xe
2 xe
2 xe
2 xe

1
exp(
n 1 n

(A-4)

S y ( y, t ) can be written as follows:

N
1
2 ye

S ( y, t )

1
N

exp(

m2 yt

4y

m 1N 0

2
e

)(cos(

2 Ns

yf
2 ye

) cos(

2 Ns

yf
2 ye

))

(A-5)

S z ( z , t ) can be written as follows:

hf

S ( z, t )

4h
hf

1
exp(
1 l

2 2

hf
zf
l zt
z
) sin(l
) cos(l
) cos(l
)
2
h
2h
h
h

(A-6)

Substituting Eqs. (A-4), (A-5), and (A-6) in Eq. (A-2) first and then substitute Eqs. (A-2) and (A-3) in Eq. (A-1) gives
the pressure drop in dimensionless form as:

x fD y fD

PD
1

2
1
N

tD

1
0
2

exp(
m 1N 0

4
h fD

4
x fD

1
exp(
n 1 n

m2

y 2fD

n2

)(cos(m (

4
yD

x 2fD

) sin(

n x fD
2

) cos(n

xwD
n xD
) cos(
)
2
2

ywD 2 Ns D
y
)) cos(m ( D
2

h
1
l2 2 D
exp(
) sin(l fD ) cos(l z wD ) cos(l z wD ) d
2
hxfD
2
1 l

ywD 2 NsD
)))
2

(A-7)

where:

xD
x fD
xwD
yD
y fD
ywD
hxfD
h fD

zwD
zD

x
xe
xf
xe
xw
xe
y
ye
xf

(A-8)

(A-9)
(A-10)
(A-11)

ky

ye k x
yf
ye
h
xf
hf
h
zw
h
z
h

kx
kz

(A-12)

(A-13)

(A-14)

(A-15)
(A-16)
(A-17)

18

SPE 159687

k xt
ct x 2f

tD

, where

kx
ct

(A-18)

k x k y h P ( xm , y m , z m , t , x f , h f , h )

PD

x
2
f

(A-19)

q
s
ye

sD

(A-20)

To solve the above model given in Eq. (A-7):

x fD y fD

PD

x fD y fD

In this equation,

X D YD ZD X DYD X DZD X DYDZD d

PDi PDa

(A-18)

PDi is the dimensionless pressure drop from initial reservoir pressure to average reservoir pressure. It

can be given as:

x fD y fD

PDi
while

tD

(A-19)

PDa is the dimensionless pressure droop between average reservoir pressure and reservoir pressure at any point and any

time. It is given by:

x fD y fD

PDa

X D YD ZD X DYD X DZD X DYDZD d

(A-20)

where:

4
x fD

XD

YD

n2

x 2fD

n x fD

xwD
n xD
) cos(
)d
2
2

) cos(n

4
NxfD

exp(

m2 D y 2fD
4
n

2 2

1
exp(
n

m 1n 1N 1

)(cos(m (

2
D x fD

yD

(A-21)

m 2 D y 2fD
y
ywD 2 NsD
y
exp(
)(cos(m ( D
)) cos(m ( D
4
2
m 1N 0
2 2
l h fD
4
1
l
D
exp(
)
sin(
) cos(l z wD ) cos(l z D )d D
2
h fD l 1 l
hxfD
2
2

X DYD

) sin(

1
N

ZD

1
exp(
n 1 n

ywD 2 NsD
)))d
2

ywD 2NsD
y
)) cos(m ( D
2

(A-22)

(A-23)

ywD 2NsD
)))
2

n x fD

x
n x
) sin(
) cos(n wD ) cos( D )
2
2
2

(A-24)

X DZD

YD ZD

16
x fD h fD

4
NhfD

l 1 n 1

2 2
n D x 2fD
n x fD
1
x
n xD
exp(
) sin(
) cos(n wD ) cos(
)
4
2
2
2
n
d
l h fD
1
l2 2 D
exp(
) sin(
) cos(l z wD ) cos(l z D )
2
l
hxfD
2

exp(
l 1 m 1N 1

m2

y2fD

)(cos(m (

yD

ywD 2NsD
y
)) cos(m ( D
2

l h
1
l
D
exp(
) sin( fD ) cos(l zwD ) cos(l zD )
2
l
hxfD
2

(A-25)

ywD 2NsD
)))
2

(A-26)

SPE 159687

19

X DYDZD

16
NxfDhfD

2 2
n D x2fD
n x
x
1
n x
exp(
) sin( fD ) cos(n wD ) cos( D )
n
4
2
2
2
2 2
2
m
2NsD
2NsD
y y
y y
D y fD
exp(
)(cos(m ( D wD
)) cos(m ( D wD
))) d
4
2
2
l hfD
1
l2 2 D
exp(
) sin(
) cos(l zwD) cos(l zD )
2
l
hxfD
2

n1m1l 1 N 1

(A-27)
Integrating and approximating (for long time):

16
3 3
x fD

XD

YD

ZD

4
Ny 2fD

n x fD
1
x
n xD
sin(
) cos(n wD ) cos(
)
3
2
2
2
1n

2
4hxfD
3

h fD

l 1

1
y
(cos(m ( D
2
1m

ywD 2 NsD
y
)) cos(m ( D
2

X DZD

ywD 2 NsD
)))
2

(A-29)

l h
1
sin( fD ) cos(l z wD ) cos(l z D )
3
2
l

(A-30)

ywD 2 NsD
y ywD 2 NsD
)))
)) cos(m ( D
4
1
2
2
(A-31)
3
n x fD
Nx fD n 1 m 1 N 1 n(n 2 x 2fD m2 y 2fD )
xwD
n xD
sin(
) cos(n
) cos(
)
2
2
2
n x fD
l h fD
16
1
xwD
n xD
sin(
)
cos(
n
)
cos(
)
sin(
) cos(l zwD ) cos(l z D )
2 2
4
n x fD l 2
x fD h fD l 1 n 1
2
2
2
2
nl (
)
2
4
hxfD
(cos(m (

X DYD

(A-28)

yD

(A-32)

1
2

YD Z D

4
3
Nh fD

l(

m y

m 1 l 1 N 1

sin(

2
fD

l
)
2
hxfD

4
l h fD
2

(cos(m (

yD

ywD 2 Ns D
y
)) cos(m ( D
2

(A-33)

) cos(l z wD ) cos(l z D )

sin(
X DYD Z D

16
4
Nx fD h fD

n 1 m 1 l 1 N 1

nl (

ywD 2 Ns D
)))
2

n x
4

2
fD

1
m 2 y 2fD
4

n x fD
2

(cos(m (

xwD
n xD
) cos(
)
2
2
ywD 2 NsD
y
)) cos(m ( D
2

) cos(n
yD

l
)
2
l h fD
hxfD
sin(
) cos(l z wD ) cos(l z D )
2

ywD 2 NsD
)))
2

(A-34)