Hydraulic Fracturing Optimization of Offshore Horizontal Well Based on the Optimal Proppant Index

Abstract

Recently, there has been an increased interest in optimizing horizontal multi-frac completion technologies used to complete offshore low permeability reservoirs in Western South China Sea, but the high-risk and high operating costs are the key problems to hold back the application of this technology, so the impact of economic factors should be taken into full account before fracturing design. This paper shows an new optimization approach of fracturing design by considering the relationship between economic aspects, reservoir size and fracturing treatment size, each fracturing stage of horizontal well is approximated by a rectangular drainage areas and the unified fracture design method is used to calculate the dimensionless productivity index, and an Optimal Proppant Index Function is established with maximization of economic profit as the objective function, while the Optimal Proppant Index Function is determined, the optimal fracture volume and parameters would be obtained.