A new semi-analytical method for calculating well productivity near discrete fractures

For a double-fracture-well system, strong interference between fractures will reduce the increment of the productivity index associated with the second fracture if two parallel fractures are very close. If the distance is larger, the effect of fractures on the productivity index can be ignored. The closest fracture to the vertical well contributes the most to the productivity. The second, further fracture contributes relatively little (less than 9% for parallel fractures and less than 25% for orthogonal fractures). This paper provides insight into factors affecting the productivity index of a discrete well-fracture system.