Pressure transient analysis for multi-stage fractured horizontal wells considering threshold pressure gradient and stress sensitivity in tight sandstone gas reservoirs

Abstract

Tight sand gas reservoirs are characterized with low porosity and low permeability. The threshold pressure gradient (TPG) and stress sensitivity effect are particularly apparent during gas production in tight sand gas reservoirs, causing the pressure transient analysis (PTA) curves of multi-stage fracturing horizontal wells (MFHWs) in tight sand gas reservoirs to be abnormally upward and making it challenging to match current PTA models. Therefore, in this work, a new PTA model for MFHW considering TPG and stress sensitivity was established. Based on the point source function, a semi-analytical solution of the model could be obtained using the properties of series function, variable substitution, perturbation technique, Poisson superposition formula, Laplace transform, and numerical inversion. Moreover, the effects of TPG, stress sensitivity, well parameters, and fracture parameters on the PTA curves were analyzed. Overall, we believe that the results of this study can guide the pressure transient analysis of MFHWs in tight sand gas reservoirs and provide help for engineers with regard to evaluating the parameters of reservoirs and fractures more accurately.