Performance of multiple fractured horizontal wells with consideration of pressure drop within wellbore

Abstract In this paper, we proposed a novel model for multiple fractured horizontal wells (MFHW) with consideration of pressure drop in the wellbore. To begin with, we proposed an analytical model incorporating with turbulent flow in wellbore, Darcy's flow in reservoir and hydraulic fractures, and effect of stress-sensitivity of permeability. Then, the model was solved by used mathematical methods of line source function, Pedrosa's substitution, and Newton-Raphson algorithm. After that, based on the solution, pressure transient behavior of the MFHW was obtained. Finally, model validation and sensitivity analysis were conducted. Results of validations show that there are good matches among our results, analytical results and numerical results. According to results of sensitivity analysis, we find that the pressure depletion decreases as fracture volume increases, and their effect on pressure depletion becomes weaker when increasing the pressure drops within wellbore. The pressure depletion increases with the increase of Reynolds number and relative pipe roughness; it decreases with the increase of reservoir-wellbore constant. The effects of Reynolds number, reservoir-wellbore constant, and relative pipe roughness on pressure behavior become stronger as fracture parameters increase, especially for fracture number. It is also found that the relative pipe roughness mainly affects the flow regimes at the early time, including bilinear flow and formation linear flow, while Reynolds number and reservoir-wellbore constant can influence all the flow regimes. This work provides some guidelines on understanding the effects of wellbore hydraulics on well performance in the tight gas reservoirs.