A new method for production data analysis in shale gas reservoirs

For most shale gas wells, frequent shut-ins and nozzle size changing often occur, leading to significant discontinuities in production data. This study proposes a new production data analysis (PDA) method to address the abrupt change issue based on the virtual equivalent time. With the virtual equivalent time, the qualities of type curve matching and production data analysis can be improved when there are abrupt changes in production data. The mathematical model with a variable flow rate provides new definitions of normalized pseudopressure and pseudotime with consideration of the pressure dependent permeability for multi-fractured horizontal wells in shale gas reservoirs. Subsequently, the virtual equivalent time is calculated based on the average formation pressure to consider the abrupt changes of the production data, which also can reduce the time of superposition principle calculations. Duhamel's principle, Laplace transform and inversion, and Newman's method are employed to solve the PDA model, which is validated by analytical and numerical solutions. Then sensitivity analysis are performed on the dimensionless constrained axial modulus, which shows that the larger the dimensionless constrained axial modulus, the lower and later the curves. Finally, a field case study is carried out using the proposed method. The results show that by using the virtual equivalent time, the matching qualities are good, and the issue caused by abrupt changes is satisfactorily addressed. Therefore, it has great potential for estimating the formation parameters and predicting the well production performance more effectively and practically.