Generally Applicable Method For Calculation Of The Matrix-fracture Fluid Transfer Rates

Abstract

Abstract The paper presents a practical method for calculating the matrix-fracture fluid transfer correctly, applicable under expansion, solution gas, capillary and gravitational drives and their combinations, considering water, gas and oil as displacing agents. The method is an improvement of the Reiss (1973) formulation based on time-depending recovery functions. Reiss could not consider depletion drive in combination with water and gas displacement. Kazemi et al. (1976) extended the Warren-Root shape factor approach to multi-phase cases, but without satisfying the conditions under which the single-phase solution is correct. Since that continuous efforts were made for improvement including diversification and making the shape factor time-dependent. Many publications demonstrated that these efforts are futile. Su et al. (2013) clearly postulated "a change of focus to the improvement of the transfer function would be a path to explore". The paper is an attempt in this sense with encouraging results. The suggested approach determines on fine gridded single matrix block (SMB) models recovery curves. Those are used directly in dual continuum models.