Modeling of hydraulic fracture performance with consideration of contamination factors

UDK: 622.276.66.004.58

DOI: 10.24887/0028-2448-2025-11-98-101

Key words: hydraulic fracturing, filter cake, hydrodynamic simulation, reservoir development

Authors: V.A. Krasnov (Rosneft Oil Company, RF, Moscow); A.E. Fedorov (RN-TECHNOLOGIES LLC, RF, Moscow); I.R. Safiullin (RN-TECHNOLOGIES LLC, RF, Moscow;); N.A. Onegov (RN-TECHNOLOGIES LLC, RF, Moscow; Ufa State Petroleum Technological University, RF, Ufa); V.O. Zolotogorov2 S.S. Tsybin (RN-TECHNOLOGIES LLC, RF, Moscow; Ufa State Petroleum Technological University, RF, Ufa); D.K. Sagitov (Ufa State Petroleum Technological University, RF, Ufa); M.S. Antonov (RN-TECHNOLOGIES LLC, RF, Moscow; Ufa State Petroleum Technological University, RF, Ufa)

The article under consideration presents an approach to account for the impact of hydraulic fracture contamination on well production performance. Application of this approach enhances the predictive accuracy of hydrodynamic models through refinement of the fracture's flow characteristics. Following hydraulic fracturing operations, during well cleanup and production, the fracturing gel is not entirely removed from the fracture, reducing the pore volume of the proppant pack and consequently decreasing its permeability. The presence of residual gel (gel contamination factor) arises from increased polymer concentration within the fracture due to fluid filtration (fracturing gel dehydration) into the formation during the hydraulic fracturing operation. The increase in polymer concentration was calculated using a concentration factor which is the ratio of injected fluid volume to its final volume within the fracture, calculated per grid cell in the «RN-GRID» hydraulic fracturing simulator. In subsequent hydrodynamic simulator calculations aimed at assessing well productivity, the fracturing gel was modeled as a non-Newtonian fluid exhibiting yield stress behavior. This approach enables high-accuracy modeling of fracture contamination and its cleanup dynamics. Simulation results demonstrated that applying this methodology ensures alignment between actual and predicted well performance. Further model development will incorporate the effects of reverse flow and mechanical degradation of polymers.

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