Hydraulic Fracture Closure Detection Techniques: A Comprehensive Review

Mohamed Adel Gabry (), Ibrahim Eltaleb, Amr Ramadan, Ali Rezaei and Mohamed Y. Soliman
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Mohamed Adel Gabry: Petroleum Engineering Department, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77023, USA
Ibrahim Eltaleb: ODSI-Energy, Houston, TX 77006, USA
Amr Ramadan: Petroleum Engineering Department, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77023, USA
Ali Rezaei: Formerly SLB, Houston, TX 77056, USA
Mohamed Y. Soliman: Petroleum Engineering Department, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77023, USA

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 17, 1-31

Abstract: This study reviews methods for detecting fracture closure pressure in both unconventional and conventional reservoirs using mathematical models and fluid flow equations. It evaluates techniques such as the Nolte method, tangent method, and compliance method. The investigation relies on observing changes in fluid flow regimes from preclosure to postclosure using fluid flow equations to examine the postclosure flow regime effect on the G function. Reverse calculations model pressure decline across synthesized flow regimes, facilitating a detailed investigation of the closure process. The analysis reveals that the tangent method is sensitive to postclosure fluid flow, while the compliance method is less effective in reservoirs with significant tortuosity or natural fractures. This paper recommends assessing natural fractures’ characteristics and permeability to identify the source of leak-off before selecting a technique. It proposes integrating various methods to comprehensively understand subsurface formations, combining their strengths for accurate fracture closure identification and a better understanding of subsurface formations. The new proposed workflow employs the continuous wavelet transform (CWT) technique for fracture closure detection, avoiding physical model preassumptions or simplifications to confirm the results. This approach offers guidance on selecting appropriate methods by integrating different techniques.

Keywords: fracture closure; hydraulic fracture; reverse engineering; tangent method; compliance method (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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