The Characteristics of Fracturing Fluid Distribution after Fracturing and Shut-In Time Optimization in Unconventional Reservoirs Using NMR

Abstract

Post-fracturing shut-in, as an important means of improving the energy efficiency of fracturing fluid, has been widely used in the development process of unconventional reservoirs. The determination of the shut-in duration is key to the effectiveness of shut-in measures. However, the distribution characteristics of the fracturing fluid during the post-fracturing shut-in period in unconventional reservoirs, such as the Chang 7 reservoir, were not clear, and the shut-in duration needed further optimization. Therefore, this paper employed low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technology to study the distribution characteristics of the fracturing fluid during the post-fracturing shut-in period in unconventional reservoirs and optimized the shut-in duration. The study showed that the Chang 7 reservoir had a complex pore structure and relatively low porosity and permeability. During the shut-in process, the filtrate was distributed in pore throats with radii ranging from 0.0012 μm to 0.025 μm. Pore throats with radii ranging from 0.003 μm to 0.07 μm acted as dynamic pore throats in the process of imbibition displacement. When the shut-in duration for the Chang 7 segment was 7 days, the growth rate of the retained volume of fracturing fluid filtrate was the highest. When the shut-in duration was 10 days, there was no oil displacement in the medium and large pores, and the retained volume of filtrate was lower than that at 7 days shut-in, indicating that an optimal shut-in duration would be 7 days. This study can provide theoretical and technical support for the development of unconventional reservoirs.