PETROLEUM EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT

Volume 43, Issue 3, June 2016

Online English edition of the Chinese language journal
Cite this article as: PETROL. EXPLOR. DEVELOP., 2016, 43(3): 490498.

RESEARCH PAPER

Determination of dynamic reserves of fractured horizontal

wells in tight oil reservoirs by multi-region material balance
method
WEI Yi1, 2, *, RAN Qiquan1, 2, LI Ran1, 2, YUAN Jiangru1, 2, DONG Jiaxin1, 2
1. National Energy Center of Tight Oil and Gas, Beijing 100083, China;
2. PetroChina Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Development, Beijing 100083, China

Abstract: To overcome the deficiencies of the material balance method, according to strong heterogeneity of tight oil reservoirs, the
flow region of fractured horizontal well is divided into high permeable zone and low permeable zone, which are equivalent to radial
composite percolation model. Based on parallel plane theory, multiple media of each zone are equivalent as a continuous medium, and
with the integral method, the multi-region material balance to calculate the dynamic reserves for the fractured horizontal well of tight oil
reservoirs is proposed base on the nonlinear seepage mechanism of tight oil reservoirs, and the corresponding pressure distribution equation and material balance equation for the two zones have been established. In view of the actual production performance, this method considers the pressure mutation and fluid exchange at the interface of two zones. The computational results of an example show that this
method can work out the dynamic reserves within a single well control, the dynamic reserves of high permeable zone and low permeable
zone, and the recharge rate from the low permeable zone to the high permeable zone in different production time accurately, which provides a
basis for selection of well production and appropriate working system, and deployment and adjustment of development well pattern.
Key words: tight oil; fractured horizontal well; pressure distribution; dynamic reserves; multi-region; material balance method

Introduction
Dynamic reserves are the total fluid volume under standard
conditions which can effectively flow in the reservoir pore
volume using the existing developing technologies of the present stage[1]. For an oil and gas reservoir already put into development, dynamic reserve is one of the key indicators to
evaluate development situation. Currently, the methods[17]
calculating dynamic reserves mainly include transient well
testing, production decline, production cumulating and material balance methods. Among these methods, the material
balance method is more effective and accurate. Conventional
material balance method[8] assumes that rock and fluid properties do not change with space, the flow state of fluid in porous
media reaches equilibrium in no time and the producing degree of the reservoir is even. Under these assumptions, the
amount of output at different formation pressures can be calculated, according to the balance of underground oil and gas
volume. This method is suitable for the reservoirs with high
permeability and conductivity, but for highly heterogeneous
complex low permeability reservoirs, the reserves calculated
by this method often can't reflect the dynamic reserves of a

single well or the whole reservoir[89]. For such reservoirs, in

recent years, many researchers have modified the conventional material balance method[27], and proposed the zoning
material balance concept and idea, but their studies were
mostly based on gas reservoirs.
Now the development mode of horizontal well + staged
fracturing is widely used to achieve effective production of
tight oil resources at home and abroad. When using this mode,
fractures of different scales are formed in the tight oil reservoirs, and multi-scale fractures couple with the matrix, making the percolation mechanism very complex, the reservoir
heterogeneity is very strong in the control area of a single
fractured horizontal well, so the conventional material balance
cant accurately predict the dynamic reserves. Existing partition material balance method also can't accurately predict the
dynamic reserves of a single fractured horizontal well under
the control of multi-coupling media in tight oil reservoirs.
Based on nonlinear percolation mechanism in the
multi-media of tight oil reservoirs, considering the effect of
starting pressure gradient, stress sensitivity and other factors,
a new method, that is, material balance of two-zone recharge

Received date: 12 Jun. 2015; Revised date: 25 Mar. 2016.

* Corresponding author. E-mail: weiyi1980@petrochina.com.cn
Foundation item: Supported by the National High Technology Research and Development Program (863 Program), China (2013AA064902).
Copyright 2016, Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration and Development, PetroChina. Published by Elsevier BV. All rights reserved.

WEI Yi et al. / Petroleum Exploration and Development, 2016, 43(3): 490498

is proposed to calculate the dynamic reserves of a single fractured horizontal well in tight oil reservoirs. Taking a single
well as a study object, we can divide the percolation zone into
high permeable zone and low permeable zone, take the multi-media of each zone as a continuous medium, and build the
relevant nonlinear percolation model of each zone. Considering the pressure mutation and fluid exchange at the interface of two percolation zones, the pressure distribution
equation of each zone can be built using integration method.
The type of reservoir can be determined according to formation pressure, and thus, material balance equation of each
zone for saturated and unsaturated reservoirs have been built.
Therefore, the dynamic reserves of each zone, and the recharge rate from low permeable zone to high permeable zone
at different time can be determined. Finally, the dynamic reserves of the fractured horizontal well in tight oil reservoirs
can be calculated.

1. The dynamic reserves model of fractured

horizontal well
1.1.

Research ideas

For tight oil reservoirs, wells are often placed in sweet

spots with abundant natural fractures, so when staged fracturing is implemented, natural fractures would open and connect
with artificial hydraulic fractures into a complex fracture
network, allowing the fluid in the matrix to flow to the fractures in the shortest distance, and then flow into the wellbore
along the fracture network, which improves the total permeability in the zone controlled by a single well, and greatly
increase the effective producing degree of the reservoir[1012].
Based on the complex fracture network produced by hydraulic fracturing, MONGALVY and others divided the
drainage area of a single well into two parts, namely, effective
stimulated reservoir volume including the fracture network
(ESRV) near the wellbore and the unstimulated volume in the
surrounding of the effective stimulated reservoir volume
(UnSRV)[13]; and the whole fracture network was divided into
two sets of fracture systems: the fracture network with high
conductivity around the wellbore, the fracture network unsupported or poorly supported in ESRV.
When there is limited data available, it is generally difficult
to get accurate ESRV border. Therefore, in this study, the partitioning model of the single well drainage area has been built
based on the rectangular area formed by the end faces of the
horizontal well and tip of artificial hydraulic fractures (Fig. 1).
In the rectangular area, Zone 1 mainly consists of high conductivity fracture network (supported fracture network) near
the wellbore in the ESRV and matrix, with high permeability,
it is named as high permeable Zone 1. Outside the rectangular
area, Zone 2 contains the unsupported or poorly supported
fracture network in the ESRV and relevant matrix, low in
permeability, it is named as low permeable Zone 2.
As the pore and fracture media in the two zones are different, and the relevant parameters are various, so the area con-

Fig. 1.
well.

Sketch map of drainage area of a fractured horizontal

trolled by a single well has strong heterogeneity. But in the

same percolation zone, the average physical property parameters are similar, and in the interface between the two zones,
the physical property parameters change drastically. The
drainage area of a single well is theoretically the rectangular
area, so it is difficult to establish the corresponding unstable
percolation model. In order to make the model building and
solving easier, the two percolation zones are equivalent to a
corresponding radial flow area based on the equivalent of
multi-media (Fig. 2), and the drainage area of a single well is
also equivalent to a radial flow area, with the oil well located
in the center of high permeable Zone 1.
In the early stage of development, reserves in the high permeable region is first produced. As development goes on, the
pressure wave propagates to the border of the high permeable
Zone 1 (time T0), and the fluid in the low permeable Zone 2
begins to flow. Under the driving of pressure gradient, fluid in
Zone 2 begins to recharge and flow to Zone 1, and the reserves in Zone 2 is started to produce. With the propagation of
the pressure wave, the produced area in Zone 2 gradually increases too, but the produced area in Zone 1 remains unchanged. In the actual typical production performance curve,
the production in the early stage is higher and then declines
sharply, with a rapid output of fluid in high permeable zone
and slow recharge in low permeable zone. At the late stage of
production, the production keeps stable with the continuous

Fig. 2. Sketch map of equivalent radial percolation model of

single well.

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supply of low permeable zone, but the yield is lower as the

recharge rate is very slow.
During development, the pressures of the two zones are
significantly different. The percolation equations of the high
and low permeable zones are established respectively, to
characterize the pressure distribution of each zone. Then the
dynamic reserves of high permeable zone and low permeable
zone are calculated. Finally, the total dynamic reserves of a
single well are got.
1.2.

Auxiliary models

The size and physical parameters of the equivalent radial

flow area have to be calculated after the two percolation zones
are equivalent to a comprehensive radial model. In addition,
for tight oil reservoirs, starting pressure gradient, stress sensitivity and other factors should be taken into account.
1.2.1.

Equivalent scope of percolation zones

Assuming the high permeable Zone 1 is a rectangle percolation zone, with the length of the horizontal section length,
and width of the hydraulic fracture length, so the area and the
equivalent drainage radius R1 of the high permeable Zone 1
are constant. Based on the area equivalence, we can get the
expression of R1:

R1

2 xF L

(1)

The drainage radius re(t) of the low permeable Zone 2 is

defined as the extending distance from the end face of horizontal section and hydraulic fractures, which, related to the
zone permeability, starting pressure gradient, pressure sensitivity, formation pressure and so on, is not steady and changes
with time and pressure. Therefore, the equivalent drainage
radius R2 of the low permeability Zone 2 related to re(t) is also
non-steady and changes with time and pressure. Based on the
area equivalence, the expression of R2 is

R2 t
1.2.2.

2 xF re t L 2re t

(2)

K1

K F nbF K f dDL bf K m d dDL bf nbF

d

(3)

(4)

The expression of the equivalent permeability and porosity

of the low permeable Zone 2 are:
K 2 K m K f K m DL bf
(5)

2 m f m DL bf
1.2.3.

(6)

Starting pressure gradient

Tight oil reservoirs mainly contain nano-micron pore

throats, so fluid flow in this kind of reservoir shows lowspeed non-Darcy flow characteristics and is strongly affected
by starting pressure gradient. With the decrease of permeability, starting pressure gradient increases.
Through a large number of experimental data regression,
the reservoir starting pressure gradient shows an exponential
relationship with permeability:
Gi = aK i-b
(7)
The analysis of nonlinear seepage experimental data shows
that starting pressure gradient in different fields have similar
variation trend with permeability, namely, in exponential relationship, But the coefficients a and b of the relationship are
different for different fields. In practical application, the corresponding relationship of a reservoir should be obtained
based on the experimental data of the actual reservoir or similar reservoirs.
1.2.4.

Stress sensitivity

With formation pressure decreases, matrix porosity, natural

fractures and hydraulic fracture deform to various degrees.
Matrix porosity shrinks; with crushing or failure of proppants,
fractures deform or close. These deformations result in the
change of reservoir properties, and in turn impacting fluid
flow.
Analysis of large amount of experimental data shows that
the exponential formula proposed by Gorbunov has the highest correlation[19]. Its permeability stress sensitivity formula
caused by matrix and fracture deformation respectively are:

K F K F0 e F ( pe pi )

pe pi
K m K m0 e m

Equivalence of physical property parameters

On the basis of parallel plate theory, equivalent continuum

model of tight oil reservoirs is built by using seepage mechanics theory. Suppose that fractures of each zone are uniform, parallel to each other, same in direction, and all vertical,
and the fractures completely cut through in the horizontal and
vertical directions[1418].
The flowing media in the high permeable Zone 1 include
hydraulic fractures, natural micro-fractures and matrix, while
the flowing media in the low permeable Zone 2 are composed
of natural fractures and matrix. Based on the principle of
equivalent percolation resistance and hydroelectric similarity,
the equivalent permeability and porosity of the high permeable Zone 1 are:

F nbF f dDL bf m d dDL bf nbF

(8)

Both matrix and fracture have a certain degree of stress

sensitivity, therefore, equivalent permeability of high permeable Zone 1 and low permeable Zone 2 change with the
change of formation pressure. Substituting Formula (8) into
Formulas (3) and (5), the relationship between equivalent
permeability and formation pressure can be obtained, K1(p1),
K2(p2).
1.3.

Pressure calculation model of two zones

Formation pressure has a great influence on dynamic reserves. In the development process, formation pressures in
different zones of tight oil fractured horizontal wells are different. Nonlinear seepage flow models are established for
high permeable zone and low permeable zone, the pressure

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WEI Yi et al. / Petroleum Exploration and Development, 2016, 43(3): 490498

distribution equations are calculated.

1.3.1. Before the pressure wave spreads to the boundary
of high permeable Zone 1
Before the pressure wave propagates to the boundary of
high permeable Zone 1, t is less than or equal to T0, and pressure wave propagation distance R(t) is less than or equal to R1.
At this time, only fluid in high permeable Zone 1 flows, while
fluid in low permeable Zone 2 doesnt flow. The non-steady
flow equation is:

1 p1
1 p1
G1
r
r r r
1 t

(9)

Its inner boundary conditions:

q
p1

r G1
2
K

r rw
1 hrw

(10)

p1 r r pw

(11)

Its outer boundary conditions:

p1 r R t pe

(12)

To simplify the solving process of the unsteady seepage

model, only the approximate solution is calculated. Suppose
that the pressure distribution in the agitated region (i.e., the
range where pressure wave spreads to) can be represented by
the logarithm of coordinates and the exponential polynomial
expressions. The integral calculus method[20] is used to seek
the approximate solution for the non-steady flow in the radial
plane of tight oil. Given the complexity of the calculation,
according to the precision requirements (ignoring higher order
terms), the pressure distribution in high permeable Zone 1 is
expressed as:

p1 (r, t ) a0 ln

R t

a1 a2

R t

rw r R(t )

(13)

Substituting Formula (13) into Formulas (10) to (12),

namely, the three boundary conditions, the coefficients a0, a1
and a2 can be solved, which are

r
G1rw ln w pe pw

R t
a q G r rw 2hK1
1 w
0 2hK1
rw
rw
r
R t
1 w
ln

R
t
R
t
R

G1rw ln w pe pw

2
hK
R

1
a1 pe
r
r
r
w

ln w 1 w

R t R t
R t

G1rw ln w pe pw

2
hK
R
t
1

a
2
rw
r
r

ln w 1 w

R
t
R
t
R

to the actual production data or the simulated productivity

pattern.
Before the pressure wave spreads to the boundary of Zone 1,
namely, t is smaller than T0, the pressure at the boundary R(t)
is pe, p1(R(t),t)=pe. Combining with the actual production data
or the simulated productivity pattern, the production q at any
time t can be obtained.
Substituting q(t) into equation p1(R(t),t) pressure wave
propagation distance R(t) when t is smaller or equal to T0 can
be calculated.
According to the formation pressure equation p1(r,t), the
average formation pressure at the drainage area when t is
smaller or equal to T0 can be calculated.

p1

Rt

rw

p1dr

(15)

1.3.2. After the pressure wave spreads to the boundary of

high permeable Zone 1

After the pressure wave spreads to the boundary of high

permeable Zone 1, t is larger than T0, pressure wave propagation distance R(t) is greater than R1. At this time, fluid in the
low permeable Zone 2 begins to flow from Zone 2 to Zone 1.
As the pressure wave spreads, the area of Zone 2 increases.
At the interface of the two zones, reservoir properties and
fluid properties change drastically, and fluid exchange happens[2122]. In the development process, the formation pressure
distribution of high permeable Zone 1 and low permeable
Zone 2 are different, therefore, the seepage model of them are
built respectively to calculate the pressure distribution.
(1) High permeable Zone 1
Its unsteady seepage equation is the same as Formula (9),
and the inner boundary conditions are the same as Formulas
(10) and (11).
The outer boundary conditions, namely, the continuous
conditions at the interface are:
p1 r R A t
(16)
1

B t
K1 1 G1

r R1

(17)

The pressure distribution in high permeable Zone 1 can be

calculated by the integral calculus method:

p1 (r , t ) a0 ln

r
r
a1 a2
R1
R1

(rw r R1 )

(18)

Substituting Formula (18) into Formulas (10), (16) and (17),

namely, the three boundary conditions, the coefficients a0, a1
and a2 can be solved, which are

(14)
Substituting a0, a1 and a2 into Formula (13), the formation
pressure equation p1(r,t) can be achieved.
When r=R1, p1(R1,T0)=pe. The value of q at T0 can be
solved with Formula (13). T0 value can be obtained according
493

B t rw R1
B t
q
q

rw
a0

K1 R1 rw 2hK1
K1
2hK1rw

B t
B t

G1 R1

rw
(19)
a1 A t
K1
2hK1
K1

a B t G R q B t r
1 1
w
2 K1
K1
2hK1

Substituting a0, a1 and a2 into Formula (18), the formation

WEI Yi et al. / Petroleum Exploration and Development, 2016, 43(3): 490498

pressure distribution equation in high permeable Zone 1 p1(r,t)

can be obtained.
According to the formation pressure equation p1(r,t), the
average formation pressure in high permeable Zone 1 when t
is larger than T0 can be calculated, which is
R1

p1 p1dr
rw

(20)

Substituting p1(r,t) into Formula (11), we get:

r
r
r 2
r
R
q
A t B t w ln w 1 w pw
ln w
2hK1 R1
K1 R1 K1 K1 R1
q
q rw

(21)
G1 R1 G1rw
2hK1 2hK1 R1
(2) Low permeable Zone 2
Its unsteady seepage flow equation is

1 p2
1 p2
G2
r
r r r
2 t

ment when time t is greater than T0 can be got:

p2

r R2 t

pe

p2

0
r G2

r R2 t

q2 Ct 2

(22)

r
r
a1 a2
(R1 r R2 )
R2 t
R2 t

q2
(24)

(27)

By substituting Formula (27) into Formulas (23), (25), (26),

and solving them, the coefficients a0, a1, a2can be got:

B t

R
At
G2 R1 ln 1 pe

R2 t
K2

a B t G R R1
2 1
0 K
R
R
R
R
t

1
1
2
2

ln
1 1

R
t
R
t
R

2
2
2 t

B t

A t
G2 R1 ln 1 pe

K
R
2 t
2

a1 pe
R
R
R

1 ln 1 1 1

R2 t R2 t
R2 t

B t

R
A t
G2 R1 ln 1 pe

K
R
2 t
2

a
2
R1
R1
R

ln
1 1

R
t
R
t
R
2
2
2 t

(31)
(32)

The supply of the low permeable Zone 2 is:

(23)

The pressure distribution in the low permeable Zone 2 is

represented by integral method:

(30)

The average pressure drop is:

p2 pe p2

(26)

(29)

That is the amount of liquid produced in the unit time is

equal to the change of the liquid elastic reserves in the Zone 2
in the time interval.
Here, the pore volume in the controlled area is:

2hR1

2hR1
p

K 2 2 G2
B t

r
r R1

(33)

By substituting Formulas (31) and (32) into Formula (30),

in the period when t is greater than T0, Formula (30) is integrated to get:

p2 (r , t ) a0 ln

d
V2 t p2
dt

V2 t R2 2 t R12 2 h

The inner boundary condition, i.e. continuous conditions at

the interface:
p2 r R A t
(25)

K 2 2 G2
B t
r
r R1

p2 dr

It can be seen from Formula (2) that the outer boundary radius R2 changes with the drainage radius re of the low permeable Zone 2, and relationship between re and R2 with time can
be obtained based on the material balance equation.
The expression of the material balance equation is:

The outer boundary condition:

p2

R2 t

R1

T0

q2 dt Ct 2 R2 2 t R12 2 h pe p2

(34)

Substituting Formula (29) into Formula (34), then combining with Formula (33), the outer boundary radius R2(t) and
the oil drainage radius re(t) at different times can be obtained.
Substituting p2(r,t) into Formula (24), we can get:
R1

R1 ln R t R2 t R1 R
R
R
2
1
A t B t
1 ln 1

R1 R2 t
K 2 K 2 R2 t

R
R
G2 R1 ln 1 R2 t R1 G2 R1 ln 1 pe (35)
R2 t
R2 t

By combining Formula (21) and Formula (35), the expression of A(t) and B(t)are obtained, which are substituted into
Formula (19) and Formula (28) to get the solutions of a0, a1,
a2, a0, a1 and a2, then they are separately substituted into
Formula (18) and Formula (27), the formation pressure distribution equation of high permeable Zone 1 p1(r,t) and low
permeable Zone 2 p2(r,t) are obtained. Then substituting the
two pressure distribution equations separately into Formula
(20) and Formula (29), eventually the average formation
pressure in each zone at any time can be obtained, which can
be used to predict dynamic reserves of each zone.

(28)
The formation pressure distribution equation p2(r,t) in the
low permeable Zone 2 is obtained by substituting the coefficient a0, a1 and a2 into Formula (27) .
By the formation pressure equation p2(r,t), the average
formation pressure in the low permeable Zone 2 at any mo-

1.4. Dynamic reserve prediction model of Zone 1 and

Zone 2

Assuming that the cumulative production of a fractured

horizontal well is Np, the dynamic reserves of high permeable
Zone 1 are N1 and the dynamic reserves of low permeable
Zone 2 are N2. Firstly, the reservoir type is identified by the

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average formation pressure pi of each zone, that is, if the

reservoir is saturated or unsaturated, because different reservoir types require different material balance equations [1,10].
1.4.1.

Unsaturated oil reservoirs

For the unsaturated oil reservoir, that is, when the pe or pi

is greater than pb, only elastic drive needs to be considered,
the material balance equation of the high permeable Zone 1
and the low permeable Zone 2 are respectively:

C S Cf1
N p Bo1 N1 Boi Co1 w wi
pe p1 N c Bo1
1 S wi

C S Cf2
N c Bo2 N 2 Boi Co2 w wi
pe p2
1 S wi

1.4.2.

(36)
(37)

Saturated oil reservoirs

For the saturated reservoir, namely when the pe or pi is

less than pb, the oil production energy mainly depends on the
driving effect generated by separation and expansion of dissolved gas, and the elastic expansion effect generated by reservoir bound water and rock due to formation pressure drop
should be considered too, so the material balance equation of
the high permeable Zone 1 and the low permeable Zone 2 are
respectively:

N p Bo1 Rp1 Rs1 Bg1 N1 Rsi Rs1 Bg1

Boi Ct1 pe p1 N c Bo1 Rsi Rs1 Bg1

(38)

N c Bo2 Rp2 Rs2 Bg2 N 2 Rsi Rs2 Bg2

Boi Ct2 pe p2

(39)

where

C t i Co i

Cw S wi Cfi
1 S wi

(40)

When t is greater than T0, low permeable Zone 2 begins to

supply Zone 1, the cumulative supply is:
t

N c q2 t dt
T0

(41)

Substituting Formula (33) into Formula (41) and combining

the previous expression of B(t), the expression of cumulative
supply Nc of the low permeable Zone 2 can be obtained.
The dynamic reserve prediction model of the two zones can
be obtained by substituting the expression of average formation pressure of high permeable Zone 1 and low permeable
Zone 2 into the corresponding material balance equations.

2.

In this reservoir, there is a fractured horizontal well named

G1-H, with horizontal section of 1 000 m long. There formed
10 artificial cracks with half-length of about 230 m in the well
after fracturing. It has been put into production for around one
year, the initial production was up to 19 t/d, so far, its cumulative output has reached 0.36104 t. Through historical matching, inversion parameters demonstrate that the reservoir is
fracture-pore type with lots of natural fractures, and the conductivity of artificial crack is about 0.126103 m2cm.
The reservoir of Well G1-H has an initial permeability of
0.06103 m2, total compressibility of 1.9103 MPa1, net
pay thickness of 7.5 m, original formation pressure of 38 MPa
and saturation pressure of 29 MPa. The formation oil has a
viscosity of 0.5 mPas, and the crude oil has a density of 0.84
g/cm3 on ground.
2.1.

Equivalent parameters

With induced fracture, natural fracture and matrix, the high

permeable Zone 1 of the well has an equivalent permeability,
K1, of 0.93103 m2, and equivalent radius R1 of 382.65 m.
With natural fracture and matrix only, the low permeable
Zone 2 has an equivalent permeability K2 of 0.09103 m2;
its equivalent radius R2 is the outer boundary of Zone 2, which
is an unstable value changing with time (Fig. 3), and increases
constantly after the pressure wave spreads beyond Zone 1
boundary.
2.2.

Average formation pressure of each zone

Through history matching, it is predicted Well G1-H can

produce 1.87104 t of oil cumulatively after 10 years of production (Fig. 4). Then based on the production performance,
by the pressure distribution equation of each zone, the average
formation pressure change pattern of high permeable Zone 1
and low permeable Zone 2 can be determined. Fig. 5 shows
that the pressure wave spreads to Zone 1 boundary about 960
days into production, pressure of Zone 1 near wellbore drops
rapidly, and pressure of Zone 2 away from the wellbore declines slowly.
Based on reservoir, fluid and fracturing parameters of Well
G1-H, a double-media model of the fractured horizontal well
was established, then according to zoning standard of

Application example

In this paper, a tight Jurassic oil pool in Sichuan basin was

selected as an example for dynamic reserve prediction of
fractured horizontal well. This pool is a tight limestone one,
where the reservoir is extensively oil-bearing, complicated in
lithology, poor in physical property, with multi-scale porethroat system and fractures, and hydrocarbon-bearing property
not controlled by the structure. Affected by these factors, the
reservoir shows strong heterogeneity.

Fig. 3. Variation curve of equivalent radius R2 of Well G1-H

with time.

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matching, the pressure distribution after 10 years of production was numerically simulated and calculated by using the
models presented in this paper (Figs. 6 and 7). Comparison of
the results of them show they are very close, which proves
that the method of taking the single well permeable zone as a
radial percolation model has certain feasibility and accuracy.
2.3.

Fig. 4. Curve of history matching and productivity prediction of

Well G1-H.

Fig. 5. Variation curve of average reservoir pressure of each

zone in Well G1-H.

Dynamic reserves

According to average formation pressure of each time step,

the reservoir type of each time step was determined. Then by
using the different material balance equation of each zone
under saturated or unsaturated condition, the dynamic reserves
changing with time (Fig. 8) and recharge rate from low permeable Zone 2 to high permeable Zone 1 (Fig. 9) were obtained. The two figures show that fluid of Zone 2 begins to
flow to Zone 1 after about 960 days of production and the
supply quantity increases, eventually it is predicted that after
10 years of production, the cumulative recharge will reach
0.97104 t and dynamic reserves will be 15.80104 t.
The dynamic reserves of Well G1-H after 10 years of production calculated by conventional material balance method
are 10.20104 t. When using volumetric method to calculate
the geological reserves of single well, the control area of Well
G1-H is the sum of elliptic seepage area of 10 induced fractures considering mutual interference between fractures, by

Fig. 6. Reservoir pressure distribution after 10 years of production of Well G1-H.

Fig. 8. Comparison of Well G1-H reserves predicted by different methods.

Fig. 7. Comparison of each zone pressure calculating by multi-region model and numerical simulation.

multi-region material balance method, the single well control

area was divided into two permeable zone. After history

Fig. 9. Variation curve of cumulative recharge of low permeable

Zone 2 in Well G1-H.

496

WEI Yi et al. / Petroleum Exploration and Development, 2016, 43(3): 490498

this method, the controlled reserves after 10 years of well

G1-H production would attain 23.56104 t (Fig. 8). Through
comparison, it can be seen that the calculation result by volumetric method is static geological reserve within single well
control area, while dynamic reserve is the crude oil reserve
that can effectively flow, so controlled reserves by volumetric
method is the largest. Meanwhile, since considering the recharge rate from the low permeable zone and fluid exchange
at the interface of two zones, dynamic reserves by
multi-region material balance method is larger than the one by
conventional material balance method.
In sum, the multi-region material balance method in this
paper combines the actual production performance, considers
strong heterogeneity of tight oil reservoirs and drastic pressure
change and fluid exchange at the interface of two zones, so
this method is more consistent with actual situation, and it can
be used to predict dynamic reserves in the single well control
area more accurately.

3.

tight oil reservoirs.

Nomenclature
a, bexperimental coefficients;
bfopening of natural fracture, m;
bFopening of induced fracture, m;
Bgigas volume factor;
Boiinitial oil volume factor;
Bo1, Bo2oil volume factor of Zone 1 and Zone 2;
Cfirock compressibility, Pa1;
Coioil compressibility, Pa1;
Ctitotal compressibility, Pa1;
Cwwater compressibility, Pa1;
dwidth of fracture-developed zone, m;
DLlinear density of fractures, m;
Gistarting pressure gradient, Pa/m;
hnet pay thickness, m;
Kfpermeability of natural fracture, m2;

Conclusions

KFpermeability of induced fracture, m2;

In view of strong heterogeneity of tight oil reservoirs, the

flow region of a fractured horizontal well can be divided into
high and low permeable zone, which are equivalent to radial
composite percolation models. Multiple media of each zone
are equivalent as a kind of continuous medium, based on parallel plane theory and nonlinear seepage mechanism, equivalent continuous medium models of tight oil reservoirs are
established, which could be used to obtain the equivalent parameters of permeability and porosity.
Based on the nonlinear seepage mechanism of tight oil reservoirs, considering starting pressure gradient and pressure-sensitive effect, nonlinear seepage flow model of each
zone are respectively established. Then taking into account
drastic pressure change and fluid exchange at the interface of
two zones, the pressure distribution equation of each zone are
deduced by the integral method. According to average formation pressure, the reservoir type of each zone can be determined, the different material balance equations of each zone
under the condition of saturated or unsaturated are established.
By combining these equations, dynamic reserves of single
fractured horizontal well and recharge rate from low permeable zone to high permeable zone in different production time
can be obtained.
The calculation results of an example show that during the
practical development period, cumulative recharge from low
permeable zone to high permeable zone is large, pressure of
high permeable zone drops more quickly than low permeable
zone. Comparison shows that the multi-region material balance method in this paper is more consistent with tight oil
reservoir characteristics, so it can be used to predict dynamic
reserves in the single well control area more accurately, which
provides a basis for selecting well production, appropriate
working system and adjusting development well pattern, and
is helpful for realizing economic and effective development of

KF0initial permeability of induced fracture, m2;

Kmpermeability of matrix, m2;
Km0initial permeability of matrix, m2;
Kipermeability, m2;
Lhorizontal section length, m;
ninduced fracture number;
Nidynamic reserves, m3;
Nccumulative recharge from low permeable Zone 2 to high
permeable Zone 1, m3;
Npcumulative production, m3;
pbsaturation pressure, Pa;
peoriginal formation pressure or pressure of supply boundary,
Pa;
Dp2 average pressure drop, Pa;

pwwellbore pressure, Pa;

piformation pressure, Pa;

pi average pressure, Pa;

qtotal flow rate of single fractured horizontal well, m3/s;
q2recharge rate from low permeable Zone 2 to high permeable
Zone 1, m3/s;

497

rany radius from well axis, m;

resupply radius, m;
rwwellbore radius, m;
Rpiproduction gas-oil ratio, m3/m3;
Rsioriginal solution gas-oil ratio, m3/m3;
Rsisolution gas-oil ratio of each zone, m3/m3;
R(t)pressure wave spreading distance, m;
Riequivalent radius of each zone, m;
tproduction time, s;
T0the moment when pressure wave spreads to Zone 1 boundary, s;
Swioriginal water saturation, f;
V2(t)pore volume of pressure wave spread range of Zone 2, m3;
xFhalf-length of induced fracture, m;
Ffracture deformation coefficient, Pa1;

WEI Yi et al. / Petroleum Exploration and Development, 2016, 43(3): 490498

mmatrix deformation coefficient, Pa1;

dynamic reserves in the early stage of heterogeneous gas res-

ipressure conductivity coefficient, m2/s;

ervoir development. Natural Gas Industry, 2002, 22(Supp.):

8790.

oil viscosity, Pas;

fporosity of natural fracture, f;

Fporosity of induced fracture, f;
mporosity of matrix, f;
iporosity of each zone, f.

[10] WU Qi, XU Yun, WANG Xiaoquan, et al. Volume fracturing

Subscript:

[11] WU Qi, XU Yun, ZHANG Shouliang, et al. The core theories

technology of unconventional reservoirs: Connotation, optimization design and implementation. Petroleum Exploration
and Development, 2012, 39(3): 352358.

idifferent formation zone, i=1 representing high permeable

and key optimization designs of volume stimulation technology for unconventional reservoirs. Acta Petrolei Sinica, 2014,

Zone 1, i=2 representing low permeable Zone 2.

35(4): 706714.

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