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Transition zone diagnosis in finite fractured reservoirs

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Abstract

A major part of world hydrocarbon resources is located in fractured reservoirs. The identification of fractured reservoir parameters is essential for their optimal production. The Warren-Root model is one of the most fundamental models for fluid flow in fractured reservoirs. The simplified assumption of the Warren-Root model is not applicable for a finite reservoir, and transition zone cannot be detected in finite fractured reservoirs. In this study, the significance of the fractured reservoir boundary effect in the Warren-Root equation is investigated. Also, the numerical solutions of the Warren-Root model are proposed for all types of boundary conditions. Results show that in some cases, it is impossible to diagnose the transition zone in fractured reservoirs from dimensionless curves due to the transition zone and boundary effect interference. This interference is specifically observed in finite fractured reservoirs and it is a function of the interprosity parameter (λ) and reservoir dimensionless radius (rDe). This functionality is presented and discussed in the cases of constant production rate and constant pressure production conditions. The proposed equations are applicable to all types of boundary conditions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Petroleum Engineering, Faculty of Petroleum, Gas and Petrochemical Engineering, Persian Gulf University, Bushehr, Iran

    Parviz Zahedizadeh, Zohre Safari, Azita Ghaderi & Reza Azin

Authors
  1. Parviz Zahedizadeh
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  2. Zohre Safari
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  3. Azita Ghaderi
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  4. Reza Azin
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Correspondence to Reza Azin.

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Highlights:

• Effects of different boundary conditions on fractured reservoir production curves are investigated.

• In some specific conditions, the reservoir boundary effect interferes with the transition zone, which is due to the reservoir boundary limitation.

• Two relationships are presented to diagnose interference conditions at different inner and outer boundary conditions.

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Zahedizadeh, P., Safari, Z., Ghaderi, A. et al. Transition zone diagnosis in finite fractured reservoirs. Comput Geosci 24, 1483–1496 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10596-019-09917-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10596-019-09917-5

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