DOI: 10.5176/2251-3361_GEOS12.39
Authors: Sung Jun Lee and Kun Sang Lee
Abstract: Unconventional shale gas resource has become a very
significant base throughout the worldwide. Potential shale gas
resource is huge and production has been increased over the last
few years. In this study, extensive numerical simulations were
conducted to compare productivity of shale gas reservoirs with
nonuniform configuration of hydraulic fractures. Nonuniform
multiple hydraulic fractures are characterized by various
fracture spacing and half-length. Dual permeability model with
logarithmically-spaced local grid refinement technique is applied
to represent a system of natural fractures, shale matrix, and
hydraulically-fractured horizontal well in shale gas reservoirs.
Nonuniform fracture spacing leads to the overlap of gas drainage
areas and lower productivity. Nonuniform fracture half-length
also affects decline of cumulative gas production. For best
productivity, equally-spaced fractures of uniform half-length are
recommended.
Keywords: shale gas; hydraulic fracture; fracture spacing;
fracture half-length
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