Quantifying Hydraulic Fracture Geometry and Morphology in a Multi-Cluster, Multi-Stage, Hydraulically Fractured Well Using Volume-to-First-Response Analysis

Abstract

Abstract This study presents a novel analytical framework aimed at replicating hydraulic fracturing geometry at the cluster level within a multi-cluster, multi-stage, hydraulically fractured well. The fundamental Sneddon's equation is utilized to develop a mathematical solution that quantifies poroelastic stress shadow effects, taking into account both inter and intra-stage and intra-stage stress shadowing effects. The proposed approach integrates the fundamental solution of a blade-like fracture in the Perkins-Kern-Nordgren (PKN) model to determine fracture geometry, considering fluid partitioning between clusters resulting from stress shadowing and cluster competition. The Volume-to-First-Response (VFR) parameter obtained from fracturing diagnostics, such as Fiber Optics or Sealed Wellbore Pressure Monitoring serves as the basis for replicating the fracture geometry at the cluster level. The application of the proposed methodology is demonstrated using an example of a horizontal well that is monitored by Sealed Wellbore Pressure Monitoring in the Montney Formation, located in the region of the Northeast British Columbia, Canada. The proposed method offers a rapid and efficient approach to utilize the VFR parameter for replicating hydraulic fracturing geometry on a cluster-by-cluster basis, capturing the fracture half-length and fracture height.