The investigation of fracture pattern effect on fluid transport and production prediction in M field

• Main Authors: Jinlin Zhang, Ruifeng Wang, Qingyan Xu, Cheng Lei, Xuanyu Yang, Xuerui Zheng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: SAGE Publishing 2021-09-01
• Series: Energy Exploration & Exploitation
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1177/01445987211015393
• ISSN: 0144-5987; 2048-4054

Due to the discontinuity and multi-scale of fracture porous media (FPM), fluid transport in the naturally fractured reservoir (NFR) is more complex than in the conventional reservoirs. Based on the embedded discrete fracture model (EDFM), the effect of fracture pattern (i.e. fracture orientation, intersection relationship, numbers and distribution) on fluid transport is investigated, and the paper also conducts research on pressure distribution and flow behavior. A series of fracture models are built to get a detailed analysis of fracture pattern influences. Results show that when the fracture orientation tends to parallel the main stream direction, the seepage flow through the fracture is more distinct and the pressure drop at two sides of fracture becomes larger. As the intersecting fracture cannot serve as part of main-stream channels, the intersection is almost invalid. In the multi-scale fracture model, the pressure drop in the large-scale fractures network is higher than in the small-scale fractures. Thus, the simulation results show that the fracture pattern has a significant impact on the seepage flow and pressure distribution. Also, this model is simulated for M field which has random natural fracture network to study the flow and transport characteristics in fractured porous media. The comprehensive simulation results the fracture patterns have impact effect on production.