Integrated wellbore-reservoir-geomechanics modeling for enhanced interpretation of distributed fiber-optic strain sensing data in hydraulic-fracture analysis

Abstract

Fiber-optic distributed strain sensing (FO-DSS) has been successful in monitoring strain changes along horizontal wellbores in hydraulically fractured reservoirs. However, the mechanism driving the various FO-DSS responses associated with near-wellbore hydraulic fracture properties is still unclear. To address this knowledge gap, we use coupled wellbore-reservoir-geomechanics simulations to study measured strain-change behavior and infer hydraulic fracture characteristics. The crossflow among fractures is captured through explicit modeling of the transient wellbore flow. In addition, local grid refinement is applied to accurately capture strain changes along the fiber. A Base Case model was designed with four fractures of varying properties, simulating strain change signals when the production well is shut-in for 10 d after 240 d of production and reopened for 2 d. Strain-pressure plots for different fracture clusters were used to gain insights into inferring fracture properties using DSS data. When comparing the model with and without the wellbore, distinct strain change signals were observed, emphasizing the importance of incorporating the wellbore in FO-DSS modeling. The effects of fracture spacing and matrix permeability on strain change signals were thoroughly investigated. The results of our numerical study can improve the understanding of the relation between DSS signals and fracture hydraulic properties, thus maximizing the value of the dataset for fracture diagnostics and characterization.