Effect of sand lens size and hydraulic fractures parameters on gas in place estimation using 'P/Z vs Gp method' in tight gas reservoirs

Abstract

Low permeability and complexities of rock formation in tight gas reservoirs make it more complicated to predict well production performance and estimate gas recovery. To produce from the unconventional reservoirs in the case that formation rock is not sensitive to damage caused by liquid invasion, hydraulic fracturing is the most common stimulation treatment to improve the production to the excepted economically rate. In term of reservoir geometry, tight sand formations are normally consisted by the stacks of isolated lenses of sand bodies that are separated by impermeable layers (e.g. shale). Each sand lens varies in shape and size and acts as a trap for original hydrocarbon accumulations. The sand lenses parameters such as length and width can play important role in controlling gas recovery from hydraulically fractured tight gas reservoirs. This study shows the effect of drainage pattern of the lenticular sand bodies on production performance, gas in place (GIP) estimation using P/Z vs Gp method, and ultimate gas recovery in tight gas formations.Numerical simulation approaches are used in order to understand the effect of hydraulic fracture parameters and also attribution of sand lens size and shape to the drainage pattern and gas recovery in hydraulically fractured tight sand gas reservoirs. The results highlighted that in tight gas reservoirs, sand lens size in the direction perpendicular to hydraulic fracture wings has the major impact on gas recovery. Drainage of gas from the reservoirs is controlled by the sand lens width, and the size of sand lenses in the direction parallel to the hydraulic fracture wings does not have significant effect on gas recovery. The drainage area of the tight gas reservoirs is limited to the area perpendicular to the hydraulic fractures wings, and therefore P/Z vs Gp method may underestimate the value of GIP calculated for the lenticular/elliptical shape sand lenses.