SPE

SPE 10043

Society of Petroleum Engineers

Evaluation Of Hydraulic Fracturing By Transient Pressure

Analysis Methods

by Heber Cinco, * University of Mexico and PEMEX

*Member SPEAIME

Copyright 1982, Society of Petroleum Engineers

Thi,~ paperwas presented at the International Petroleum Exhibition and Technical Symposium of the Society of Petroleum Engineers held in

Bejlng, China, 1826 March, 1982. The matenal IS subject to correction by the author. Permission to copy is restricted to an abstract of not
more than 300 words. Write SPE, 6200 North Central Expressway, Dallas, Texas, 75206 USA. Telex 730989

Production of either wells completed in

low permeability reservoirs or damaged wells
has been possible because of hydraulic frac
turing. The estimation of both the geometrIc
and flow characteristics of a fracture repre
sent a useful information for the calibration
of fracture design methods and permits
well flow behavior.
Transient pressure well test analysis
has been used with success to estimate well
conditions and reservoirs parameters.
ventional methods of interpretation are
on radial flow
. This is a limitation
when applied to fractured wells because they
exhibit other type of flow at different times
in a test.
Several a'lthors have presented different
to calculate both reservoir and
These methods include
(lip vs l.r-t), the
(lip vs
, the semilog
(lip vs
t) and type curve matching.
Among these techniques, the type curve method
deserves special attention because it allows
both the analysis of pressure data and the
detection of different flow regimes.

Transient pressure
techniques
have been proved to be an excellent formation
evaluation tool.
Interpretation of wellbore
Ids
values of forma
and
to detect
some heterogeneities in the reservoir. These
were deve
initially,
for
low conditions and later modified to
take into consideration different types of
flow geometry.

turing stands as on of the most effective

stimulation methods because its application
allows production of wells to be
It was recognized early that wells
intercepted by a fracture have different flow
behavior than unfractured wells, consequently,
application of
analysis methods
based on
theory to these cases
can yield erroneous results.
Many studies l 45 have been published to
examine different flow situations for
tured wells. Table 1 presents a summarv
of these publications.
Initlally, most
works 1 - 10 dealt with steady state flow toward
fractured wells; both horizontal and vertical
fractures were considered and the main objec
tive was to determine the effect of a fractur
on well productivity.
The first
the unsteady-state
flow behavior
wells was present
ed
Dyes et al
They investigated the effect a a vertical fracture on the semi log
line and concluded that the
line is affected when a
ture extends over fifteen percent of the
drainage radius.
Later, Prats l3 showed that a well
intersected by an infinite conductivity ver
tical fracture exhibits an effective wellbore
radius equal to one half of the fracture
length; this conclusion was reached before by
Muskat 1.
Russell and Truitt l

studied the tran

of

wai::,
At the same time, stimulation techniques
were deve
to increase the
of both damaged wells or wells producing
low permeability r~servoirs. Hydraulic frac
639

reservoir
the fracture

EVALUATION OF HYDRAULIC FRACTURING BY TRANSIENT PRESSURE ANALYSIS METHODS

a correction factor for the kh values

ed from semilog graph for cases when the
ture penetration is high.
This method was
extended by Raghavan et a1 21
Lee 16 used a numerical simulator
the effect of both vertical and
tal
conductivity fractures and
ed correlations to estimate reservoir
fracture parameters.

to
horizon
present
and

The unsteady-state linear flow

to fractured wells by
and Millheim and Cichowicz 18 They
pointed out that a graph of wellbore
p
versus the square root of time
wf
straight line whose slope is
portional to the fracture
is
called "linear flow

SPE

10043

The effect of closed external boundaries

on the behavior of finite conductivity frac
tUre was studied by Barker and Ramey34. They
showed that at
values of producing
time this type systems reaches pseudo-steadystate flow conditions and demonstrated that
the use of type curves 33 , available at that
time can lead, in some cases, to a
problem.
Scott 35
"the
time power
sure data for small
of time.
He showed
pressure behav
ior of a well
by a finite conduc
vertical fracture can be approximated
of a time power being the
dependent on the fracture conductiv
Experience has shown that wells
a low
permeability reservoir,
bottomhole pressure.
have beeen
Agarwall et al
an
infinite conductivity fracture and the later
the finite fracture conductivity
case.
Type curves are given in these works
to estimate both formation and fracture
characteristics from analysis of flow rate
data.

Wattenbarger and Ramey 1 9 studied the

transient flow behavior towards a gas well
by an infinite conductivity fra~
included non-Darcy flow in the
formation and concluded that this effect
increases the
of the linear flow
straight line.
also indicated
the non-Darcy flow causes an extra pressure
drop which is flow rate dependent.
A numerical simulator to study produc
tion of wells intercepted by a finite conduc
tivity
fracture was
by
Sawyer et al
They showed
assump
tion of infinite fracture conductivity can
lead to serious errors when
well
performance.

The
wellbore
on fractured
has
by Ramey and
Raghavan 2
Cinco and
Type curves are
now available
when wellbore
storage ends in a test.

Gringarten, Ramey and

2S reexam
ined the solutions for transient flow for
fractured wells and study three models:
infinite conductivity vertical fracture
uniform flux vertical
and uniform
flux horizontal fracture
It was demon
strated that these cases exhibit three flow
; initially there is a linear flow
and after a transition flow the system
reaches a
flow.
They introduced
the type curve
as a
tool
and a method to
both formation and
fracture parameters.
This work was extended
by Cinco et al 7, Raghavan et al~~ and
and Hadinoto 3 ) to
the effect
inclined fractures, partial
penetration and constant pressure outer
boundary, respectively.
Later, it was demonstrated by Cinco et
a1 33 that the infinite fracture conductivity
assumption is not valid when pressure
the fracture is considerable, that is, when
the dimensionless fracture
less that 300.
A finite fracture
model was
for these cases and
indicated that this type of
does not exhibit the linear flow
, and
as a consequence, the linear flow graph
analysis is not reliable.
Simi
conclu
sions were
by Ramey et al 1 andAgarwall et

Flow restrictions within or around a frac

ture can affect dramatically the effective
ness of a fracture.
This s
studied by several authors 5 ,
43,44,45
It was shown that fracture
causes an extra pressure drop
of a well.
Type curves for
data
this case has
Raghavan 2 , Cinco-Ley and
It is well known that Darcy's Law is not
valid for high velocity flow rates; this can
occur when fluids flow
a fracture.
Guppy et al 41
showed that
wells
affected by non-Darcy flow within the frac
ture exhibit an apparent
which
is flow rate
They concluded that
estimation of
true fracture conductivity
at least two tests with different
In 1981, Cinco and
If
presented
a general theory for the transient flow
towards a vertically fractured well.
found that in addition to the linear and
pseudoradial flow
; a fracture with
intermediate or low
exhibits the
"bilinear flow periOd" and pressure data when
versus the fourth root of time
ld
line whose slope is
to the square root of fracture con

640

SPE 10043

HEBER CINCO-LEY

to ture and it is limitated by a lower and an

ductivity.
New type curves were
upper impermeable boundaries. The transient
problem in data ana
overcome the
behavior for this system can include
lysis.
flow periods as indicated in Fig. 4; in
, there us a linear flow within the In the next section, a descrption of flow
fracture, that can be followed by the bilin
models used today for transient pressure
ear flow then a linear flow in the formation
is in fractured wells is
may be present and eventually the pseudoradial
flow period is reached.
Modern methods of
models for fractured wells:
a)
b)
c)
d)

consider four

Infinite conductivity vertical fracture

Uniform flux vertical fracture,
Uniform flux horizontal fracture and
Finite conductivity vertical fracture.

In some cases, three different

outer boundary conditions are used;
infinite reservoir, closed or constant
sure conditions.

Modified versions of the these models

have been presented too,
are the cases of
damaged fractures 29, 32, 4 , 5 (Fig. 5 and 6)
and heterogeneous fractures 4o ,43.

of
is,
pr~

may correspond

A vertical fracture is considered to

an infinite conductivity (pressure
along the fracture is negligible) and
length x . The fracture
thef formation and produces from a
square reservoir whose side is 2xe as
shown in Figure. 1. This model assumes that
flow into the wellbore is only through the
fracture. As mentioned before, this system
exhibits a linear flow period and a
radial flow period.
The flux di
the fracture varies with time;
ly a uniform flux takes place, as time
increases, the flux changes and becomes con
stant when the pseudo-radial flow is estab
lished.

This model is similar to the infinite

conductivity vertical fracture in several
(Fig. 1). The difference between
systems occurs at the boundary cond~
tion at the fracture.
The uniform flux frac
ture has a constant flux and a variable pres
the fracture; it also exhibits
pseudoradial flow

The
of this model is shown in
Figure
a horizontal circular frac
ture of
in an infinite slab reser
voir is
The fluid extraction
from the reservoir occurs at the fracture
face through a uniform flux distribution.
This system also exhibits linear and pseudor
dial flow periods.

There are
of analysis for
each flow regime;
,
flow data
must be analyzed with a graph of
versus
~, for bilinear flow data the 6p versus
4ft-graph must be used and the semilog graph
(6p versus log t) must be applied to data on
the pseudo-radial flow period.
The general solution for the pressure
behavior in a reservoir is expressed in terms
of dimensionless variables. For fractured
wells the
variables are used:
Dimensionless Pressure Drop.
Oil well:
kh 6 P
141. 2 qSlJ

(1)

Gas well:
(2)

Dimensionless Time
4

2.637 x 10; ? : -kt

-lJ C X
t f

(3)

(4)

rhllctr
I
,t-'
W2
4

2.637 x 10
lJc r

kt

(5)

Dimensionless Fracture Conductivity

(6)

Figure 3 shows a vertical fracture in

an infinite slab reservoir. The fracture
has a permeability k f l a width
and a half
length x . The formation is
f
totally In a vertical direction
641

EVALUATION OF HYDRAULIC FRACTURING BY TRANSIENT PRESSURE ANALYSIS METHODS

Fracture Skin Factor

SPE 10043

From this graph the product hf(kfb )

f
can be estimated as follows:

V2

Fluid Loss Damage:

Oil well:
lib

(~_ 1)
k
s

44.1 qBp

(7 )

(12)

Choked Fracture:

Gas well:

'Trx k

(13)

(8)

The bilinear flow ends at:

Next a discussion is presented on the

basis and application of each method of
analysis.

~
0.1
Debf ~ (k b)

(6p versus \It)

This method was developed for finite
conductivity vertical fractures of small
storage capacity and is based on the bilinear
flow theory. This behavior is a result
the superposition of two linear flows; one
flow is incompressible and occurs within the
fracture and the other is a compressible flow
in the formation.
A bilinear flow exists
when the flow into the wellbore is due to the
expansion of the system in the formation and
fracture
effects have not yet affected
the well

:::: 0.0205

for

)D > 3

(14-a)

I~ k fb f} DJ -1 . 5

for 1.6 <

-1.53

(14-b)

)D < 3

and
4.55
D

(14-c)

The dimensionless wellbore pressure

change for a test can be
as:
2.45

P wD

1/4

Sometimes the bilinear flow straight

line does not intercept the origin because
there is an extra pressure drop caused by a
flow restriction within the fracture in the
of the wellbore (choked fracture).

(9 )

or:
Oil well:

of the

44.1

6p
hf

(10)

line portion of
when non-Darcy flow
fracture. The pres
sure
still obeys the bilinear flow and can be calculated by using
an effective dimensionless fracture conducti
tY(kfbf}D effective instead of (kfbf}D.

(11)

The effective fracture conductivity is

a fuction of the dimensionless flow rate qD
which is defined as follows:

(kfb f )

Gas well:
6m(p)

444 75 q T

hf(kfb f ) 1/2(pc t k)

II 4

1/4

Oil well
These equations indicate that the pre
sure change is both
to hf(kfbf)~2 and directly proportional to
fourEh root of time. According to Eqs. 10
and 11. a graph of 6p (or 6m(p)} versus
4/1: gives a straight line passing through
the origin of slope rn bf as indicated in Fig.~

Gas well:

also indicates that after

the
line portion the curve could be
concave
or downwards depending upon
the dimensionless fracture conductivity.

Figure 8 gives the

between
(kfbf}D' (kfbf}D effective and qD.

642

qD

qD

(15)

::::

==

1 6

4.64 x 10

(16 )
b

p i
f h

HEBER CINCO-LEY

SPE 10043

The bilinear flow can be detected

using a
log
if the bilinear
straight
passes through the origin.

(21)
where Af represents the fracture area.

A graph of log
) versus log
t
yields a straight ine of
equal to
one quarter for pressure data on the bilinear
flow
(Fig. 9).

The straight line

. 7 is distorted
when wellbore storage
are present as
indicated on Fig. 10.
The end of wellbore
effects if the bilinear flow still
is
by 44 :

From previous
that a graph of
yields a

see

It
s

inversely proportional to

is
The

line passes through the origin as indicated

in Fig. 11.
The fracture area hX can be calculated
f
from the
as follows:
Oil well:

(17)
4.064 q B /---~--
m
-I kc t
l

of the bilinear flow method

to
fracture characteristics requires
that formation propertion be known as can be
seen from Eqs.12 and 13.

Gas well:

(23)

(l-.p versus It)

is based on the linear flow
can be
to both the frac
flow
formation linear
Unfortunately, the first case
occurs at very early time to be of
use; however it can be used in the

If the fracture height is determined,

then the fracture half length may be estimat
ed.
The linear flow period is exhibited by
vertical fractures whose dimensionless conduc
tivity (kfbf)D is greater than 300.

The formation linear flow is exhibited

by highly conductive fractures independently
of their inclination.
This means that verti
cal, inclined and horizontal fractures showthis behavior.
The dimensionless pressure
vertical fracture is

The beginning of the formation linear

flow depends on the fracture conductivity,
and is given by:

for a
(24 )

(18)

and the end of this flow period occurs at

'v

or:
For oil wells:

Llp

(22)

0.016

(25)

From these two pOints (kfbf}D can be

estimated as follows
(26)

(19)
where

For gas wells:

and tblf

are given in real

variables.
l-.m(p)

Sometimes the straight line on F

. 11
does not intercept the origin because
pressure behavior is affected by a flow re
striction in the system (choked fracture or
fluid loss
).
For these cases, the
linear flow
is still valid and a damage
can be estimated.

(20)

Equations 19 and 20 can be extended to

fractures of any inclination by using the
followirl(J .!..<;:;.J..o.'-.J..'U."."

643

SPE 10043

EVALUATION OF HYDRAULIC FRACTURING BY TRANSIENT ;PRESSURE ANALYSIS METHODS

OJ.1 well:

The linear flow graph does not apply to

finite conductivity vertical fracture whose
dimensionless conductivity is less than 300.

kh

If wellbore
affects the test the
early time behavior is
and the
linear flow straight line may not be seen or
the wrong portion of data is used to defined
the straight line portion as shown in Fig.12.
The use of type curves can improve the aE
plication of this technique as indicated in a
following section.

(30)

jJ

Gas well:
1637 qT

kh

(31)

and the skin factor:

The log-log graph can be used to detect

linear flow if the straight line on the linear Gas well:
flow graph passes through the origin (there
is not an extra pressure drop due to fracture
damage or flow restriction). A graph of log
S
1.151
6p (or 6m(p) versus log t (Fig. 13) yield,
a half slope straight line for pressure data
in the linear flow period.

(6P~

+ 3.2275

k
- log (lJC
r 2)
t w

J
"I

(32)

(6p versus log t).

Gas well:

This type of analysis is based on the

radial flow theory.
It was mentioned before
that eventually of type of fractured wells
will exhibit a pseudo-radial flow
the fracture penetrates
one third of the drainage radius.

Cm(:"

- log

+ 3.2275J

For this flow period, a graph of 6p (or

6m(p
versus log t yields a straight line
whose slope is inversely proportional to the
formation conductivity kh (Fig. 14).

(33 )

The effective wellbore radius can be

calculated from:

The pseudo-radial dimensionless pressure

can be expressed as:
(27)

1.151

r'

rw e

-5

( 34)

The pseudoradial flow period for a finite

conductivity fracture begins at:
t Dbs : : : 5 exp [0.5

or:

(35)

Oil well:

~Og
- 3.2275 + 0.87

t + log

sJ

( 28)

The external boundary can distort the

semilog straight line if the fracture penetra
tion is beyond one third of the drainage
radius. Russell abd Truitt 15 and Raghavan et
a1 21
graphs to correct the values
of
different cases of fracture penetr~
tion.

Gas well:
6m (p)

163: gT [10 9 t + log

h

- 3.2275 + 0.87

sJ

It is not
to estimate the frac
ture parameters
the semilog analysis
because during this flow period the fracture
acts as a skin.

(29)

From a semi log graph we obtain the slope

m and (6p)l hr or (6m(p1 hr to estimate the
formation conductivity.

A graph of log 6p (or 6n(p

versus
t has been used as a diagnostic tool.
It is
known that wellbore storage effects, linear
flow and bilinear flow can be detected from
pressure data with a
by identi

644

HEBER CINCO-LEY

SPE 10043

fication of straight lines of unity, half

and quarter slopes,

1.

Infinite conductivity vertical fracture

in a square reservoir 25 (Fig. 16)

A flat pressure curve concave upwards

on this graph can indicate the presence of
fracture flow restriction (Fig. 15) or wrong
val u e s
0 f
either initial pressure or
flowing pressure depending upon the
of
test.

2.

Uniform flux

3.

Uniform flux horizontal fracture in an

infinite slab reservoir 25 (Fig. 18).

4.

Finite conductivity vertical fracture in

an infinite slab reservoir 44 (Figs. 19,
20 and 21).

5.

Fluid loss damaged and choked fractures

(Figs. 23 and 24)

6.

Infinite conductivity vertical fracture

with wellbore storage (Fig. 25).

7.

Uniform flux vertical fracture with

wellbore storage 29 (Fig. 25).

8.

F ini te conducti vi ty vertical fracture

with wellbore storage 26 (Fig. 27, Bi
linear Flow)

A log-log
is used with a type cur
to apply the type curve matching technique.
The use of type curves
major
step in the pressure
curve gives the pressure behavior
in dimensionless form for a
different conditions of
This method of interpretation
the
of logarithmic
scales, that is,
shape of the curve of
real data is the same as the shape of the
dimensionless pressure behavior curve, both i
logscale, since the real variables are
proportional to the dimensionless

The type curve matching

applied as follows:

is

1.

Choose a type curve according to the

case expected to be match.

2.

Plot the pressure data obtained in a

test as 6p versus t, on the same scale
as the type curve. Use a traCing paper
placed over the type curve and draw the
major grid lines and label the axis.

3.

4.

5.

Slide the tracing

the grids
one of

45

Although the application of the type

curve matching method represents a mean to
estimate the reservoir and fracture parame
ters, it is also, as mentioned before, anexcellent diagnostic tool because different
types of flow can be identified in a test.
In addition the beginning and end of each
flow period can be established.

of the ap
matching method

An excellent
plication of the
was given by

fracture in a
(Fig. 17)

with data,
, until the data

Choose a matching point for both the

horizontal and vertical axes and read
the corresponding values on each axis
(6p)M' (t)M' F 1 (t D)M'
(PWD)M) and
the value of any parameter for the curve
matched.
Use the definitions of the dimensionless
variables of the type curves to estimate
the reservoir and fracture parameters.

Due to the uniqueness problem encounter

ed sometimes with this technique, care and
should be excersized in its a
aplication.
Experience has shown that the type curve
results and must
method produces
be used in combination with the
methods of analysis to obtain a
evaluation.
It should be mentioned that in the case
of low
reservoirs fracture
parameters can be estimated also by analyzing
production data because wells are produced
essentially at constant bottomhole pressure.
It is desirable to have prefrac inforna
tion regarding the reservoir and well
characteristics.
This makes the analysis
easier and more confident.

There are several type curves developed

for pressure transient analysis of fractured
wells.
Some of them present the non-unique
ness problems because the curves for differ
ent cases have a similar

Recent publications indicate that the

trend in the development of methods of
analysiS of
data for fractured
wells
the computer as a basic tool,
since the numbers of cases available to
match the pressure data is increasing
erably.

out that
Gringarten et al 47 have
is possible when
a better
or converge to a
curves
this feature, the following
line.
type curves are recomended:

Advances in
for
tures wells have been
. Today
many methods are available to characterize

645

EVALUATION OF HYDRAULIC FRACTURING BY TRANSIENT PRESSURE ANALYSIS METHODS

Slope of Linear Flow Straight Line

pSi/1/2 hr

hydraulic fractures.
The following remarks
this work:

can be drawn from

m(p)

Type curve analysis is an excellent diag

nostic tool for pressure data for frac tured wells.

1.

Pressure

Initial Pressure

Pi

Dimensionless Wellbore Pressure

The bilinear flow graph can be applied

to early time data of finite conductivity
vertical fractures.

4.

The Semilog graph must be used to analy

ze pressure data on the pseudoradial
flow

5.

Type curve
should be used in
combination
methods of
analysis to obtain reliable results.

Well Flow Rate STB/D, MSCF/D

qD

Dimensionless Well Flow Rate

Fracture Radius, ft

Well Radius, ft

r'

Care should be taken when analyzing data

influence by wellbore storage.

6.

NOMENCLATURE

Skin Factor

Time, hr

Reservoir Temperature, OR
Fracture half length, ft

Fracture width, ft

Damage zone width, ft

Drainage
Porosity

Formation Volume Factor, RB/STB

Effective Well Radius

Drainage area, ft2

Real Gas Pseudo Pressure, psi 2 /cp

to

2.

3.

]J

Viscosity

psi
_1

SUBSCRIPTS

Total compressibility, psi

Dimensionless Storage Constant

bf
h

Bilinear Flow

Formation Thickness, ft

Gas

Fracture Height, ft

Dimensionless

End

Fracture,

Initial

Permeability, md

Fracture Conductivity, md-ft

Fracture Permeability, md

If
k

of

Zone, md

Domensionless Fracture Conductivity

Slope of
psi/cycle

Linear Flow

Oil

Total
Based on

Vertical Permeability, md
m

SPE 10043

Line,

Slope of Bilinear Flow Straight

Line ps i/ 1/4 hr

646

Wellbore

, ft

SPE 10043

HEBER CINCO-LEY

14. Scott, J. 0.:

"The Effect of Vertical

tures on Transient Pressure Behavior of
wells",
Tech. (Dec., 1963) 1365-1369.

Muskat, M.: Flow of Homogeneous Fluids

Through Porous Media, McGraw Hill Book Co.,
Inc., New York (1937), 409.
'2.

15. Russell, D.G. and Truitt, N.E.: "Tran

sient Pressure Behavior in Vertically
Fractured Reservoirs"
Tech., (Oct.,

Crawford, P.B. and Landrum, B.L.: "Effect

of UnS'l mmetrical Vertical Fractures on
Production,
, Trans., AIME (1955)
204, 251-254.
-----

3.

Crawford, P.B. and Landrum, B.L.: "Esti

mated Effect of Horizontal Fractures on
Production Capacity", paper 414-G
ed at the Annual Fall Meeting of
Petroleum Branch of AIME, San Antonio,Tx.,
Oct. 17-20, 1954.

4.

Howard, G.C. and Fast, C.R.: "Optimum

Fluid Characteristics for Fracture Exten
sion",
., API (1957)
261.

5.

van Poollen, H.K., Tinsley, J.M. and

Saunders, C.D.: "Hydraulic
Fracture Flow Capacity vs Well Productivi
ty", Trans., AIME (2958) 21
91-95.
-

6.

Tinsley, J.M., Williams, J.R., Tiner, R.

L. and Malone, W.T.: "Vertical Fracture
Height-Its Effect
tion Increase",
633-638.

7.

McGuire, W.J. and Sikora, V.J': "The

Effect of Vertical Fractures on Well Pro
ductivity",
AIME
(1960), 2
401-403.

8.

Prats, M.: "Effect of Vertical Fractures

on Reservoir Behavior-Incompressible Fluid
Case",
(June, 1961),
105-1

9.

Craft, B.C. , Holden, W.R. and Graves, E.

D. , Jr. :
,
tion,
Cliffs, N.J. (1962) , 494.

16. Le e, W. J., Jr.:

of Hydraulically
Fractured Wells With Pressure Buildup
Tests", paper SPE 1820 presented at the
SPE-AIME 42nd Annual Fall Meeting, Houston
Texas,Oct. 1-4, 1967.

17. Clark, K.K.: "Transient Pressure Testing

of Fractured Water
ection wells", J.
Pet. Tech. (June, 196 ) 639-643;
AIME, Vol. 24
18. Millheim, K.K., and Cichowicz, L.: "Test
ing and Analyzing LOW-Permeability Fractured Gas Wells",
(Feb.
1968) 193-198;
. 243.
19. Wattenbarger, R.A. and Ramey, H.J., Jr.:
"Well Test Interpretation of Vertically
Fractured Gas Wells", J. Pet. Tech. (May,
1969) 625-632; Trans, AIME, Vol. 246
2U. van

, A.F. and Meyer, L.J.:

"Analysis
Buildup Curves Obtained After
well Treatment",
(April,
1971) 513-524;
. 251.

10. Mao, M.L.: "Performance of vertically

Fractured Wells with Finite-Conductivity
Fractures", Ph. D. Dissertation, Stanford
University, Stanford, Ca., (1977).
11. Hartsock, J. H. and Warren, J.E.:
liThe Effect of Horizontal Hydraulic
Fracturing on Well Performance",
(Oct., 1961) 1050-1056.

1964),1159-1170.

21. Raghavan, R., Cady, G.C. and Ramey, H.J.,

Jr.: "Well Test Analysis for Vertical
Fractured Wells", J. Pet. Tech. (Aug.,
1972) 1014-1020; Trans.,AIME, Vol. 253.
22. Sawyer, W.K., Locke, C.D. and Overbey, W.
K., Jr.: "Simulation of a Finite-Capacity
Vertical Fracture in a Gas REservoir", pa
per SPE-4593 presented at the 48th
Annual Fall Meeting of SPE of AIME, Las
Vegas, Nevada, Sept. 3~-Oct. 3, 1973.
23. Gringarten, A.C. and Ramey, H.J., Jr.:
"Unsteady State Pressure Distributions
Created by a Well With a Si
Infinite
Conductivity Vertical Fracture", Soc.Pet.
Eng. J. (Aug., 1974) 347-360;
AIME, Vol. 257.
L4. Gringarten, A.C. and Ramey, H.J., Jr.:

"Unsteady State Pressure Distributions

Created by a Well l'Y"ith a Single Horizontal
Fracture, Partial Penetration or Restrict
eO. Entry", Soc. Pet. Eng. J. (Aug. ,1974)
413-426;
., AIME, Vol. 2

12. Dyes, A.B., Kemp, C.E. and Caudle, B.H.,:

"Effect of Fractures on Sweep-out
Pattern", Trans., AIME (1958) 21
,245249.
13. Prats, M., Hazebroek, P. and Strickler,
W.R.: "Effect of Vertical Fractures on
Reservoir Behavior-Compressible-Fluid
Cas e" ,
. J. (J un e , 1962 )
87-94.

25. Gringarten, A.C., Ramey, H. J., Jr., and

Raghavan, R.: "Applied Pressure Analysis
for Fractured Wells", J. Pet. Tech. (July
1975) 887-892; Trans., AIME, Vol. 259.

647

10
26.

EVALUATION OF HYDRAULIC FRACTURING BY TRANSIENT PRESSURE ANALYSIS METHODS

SPE 10043

37. Raghavan, R. and Hadinoto, N_: "Analysis

of Pressure Data for Fractured Wells:
the Constant-Pressure Outer Boundary",
Soc.
(April, 1978) 139 150;
. 265.

, H.J., Jr., and Gringarten, A.C.:

of High-Volume Vertical Fractures
on Geothermal Steam'Well Behavior", Proc.
Second United Nations
im on the Use
and Development of
Energy,
San Francisco, May. 20-29, 1975.

jb. Agarwal, R.G., Carter, R. D. and Pollock,

27. Cinco-Ley, H., Ramey, H.J., Jr., and
C.B.: IIEvaluation and
of Per
Il1.1i ller r F. G.: "Unsteady-State Pressure
formance of Low
Wells
Distribution Created by a Well With an
Stimulated by Massive
Fractur
Inclined Fracture", paper SPE 5591
ingH, J. Pet. Tech. (Harch, 1979) 362presented at the 50th Annu21 Technical
372; Trans., AIME, Vol. 27
Conference and Exhibition of SPE of AIME,
Dallas, Sept. 30-0ct. 3, 1975.
39. Bandyopadhyay, P. and Hanley, E. J.,:
"An Improved Pressure Transient Method for
2t;.
and Sawyer, W.K.: "Constant
Evaluating Hydraulic Fracture Effective
ection Test in a Fractured
ness in Low Permeability Reservoirs ll , ~a
Match Using Numerical
per
presented at the Congreso Panamerica
Curve Analysis", paper
no de Ingenierla de Petr6leo, Mexico
at the 50th Annual
March 19-23, 1979.
Fall Technical Conference and Exhibition
of SPE of AIME, Dallas, Texas, Sept. 2840. Narasinharll, T. N. and Palen, W.A.: "A
Oct. 1, 1975.
Pur~ly Numerical Approach for Analyzing
Fluld Flow to a Well Intercepting a Verti
29. Raghavan, R.: "Some Practical Considera
cal Fracture", paper SPE 7983 presented at
tions in the Analysis of Pressure Data",
the California Regional Meeting of SPE of
(Oct., 1976)
AIME, Ventura, California, April 18-20,
1979.
30. Holditch, S.A. and Morse, R.A.: "The
Effects of Non-Darcy Flow on the Behavior
, H., Ramey, H.J.,
of Hydraulically Fractured Wells", ~ Pet. 41. Guppy, K. H.,
Jr. and Samaniego-V., F.: IINon Darcy Flow
Tech. (Oct., 1976) 1169-1179.
in Gas Wells with Finite Conductivity Ver
tical Fractures", paper SPE 8281 presentee:
31. Ramey, H.J., Jr., Barker, B., Arihara, N.,
at the 54th Annual Fall Technical Confer
Mao, M. L. and Marques, J.K.: "Pressure
ence and Exhibition of SPE of AIME Las
Transient Testing of Hydraulically Frac
Vegas, Nevada, Sept. 23-26, 1979. '
tured Wells", paper presented at American
Topical Meeting, Golden, Co.,
42. CinCO-Ley, H., Brigham, W.E., Economides
14,1977.
M., Miller, F.G., Ramey, H.J., Jr.,
,
Barelli, A. and Manetti, G.: "A Parallele
32. Cinco-Ley, H. and Samaniego-V., F.:
piped Model to
the Pressure Behav
"Effect of l'Vellbore Storage and Damage on
ior of Geothermal Steam Wells Penetrating
the Transient Pressure Behavior of verti
Vertical Fractures", paper SPE 8231 presen
cally Fractured Wells", paper SPE 6752
ted at the 54th Annual Fall Technical Con
presented at the 52nd Annual Fall Techni
ference and Exhibition of SPE of AIME,
cal Conference and Exhibition of SPE ofLas Vegas, Nevada, Sept. 23-26, 1979.
AlME, Denver, Co., Oct. 9-12, 1977.

33. CinCO-Ley, H., S0maniego-V., F. and Domin 43. Bennett,C. 0., Rosato, N. D., Reynolds,
A. C., Jr. and Raghavan, R.: "Influence
guez N.: "Transient Pressure Behavior for
of Fracture
and Wing Length
a Well with a Finite Conductivity Vertical
on the Response of Vertically Fractured
Fracture",
. J. (Aug., 1~'i'8)
Wells", paper SPE 9886 presented at the
253-264.
SPE-DOE Low Permeability
, Den
ver, Co., May. 27=29, 198 .
34. Barker, B. and Ramey, H.J., Jr.: "Tra!:!-.
sient Flow to Finite Conductivity Verti
44.
, H. and Samaniego-V., F.: II Tran
cal Fractures", paper SPE 7489 presented
sient Pressure
for Fractured
at the 53rd Annual Technical Conference
Wells" ,
(Sept., 1981)
and Exhibition of SPE of AlME, Houston,
1749Texas, Oct. 1-3, 1978.
3~.

Scott, J.O.: "A New Method for Determin

ing Flow Characteristics of Fractured
Wells Application to Gas Wells in Tight
Formations ll , paper 78T-2, AGA 1978 Trans
mission Conference, Montreal, T-279-186~

3b. Raghavan, R., Uraiet, A. and Thomas, G.W.

"Vertical Fracture
Effect on Tran
sient Flow Behavior", Soc. Pet. Eng. J.
(Aug. 1978) 265-277.

45. Cinco-Ley, H. and Samaniego-V., F.: "Tran

sient Pressure Analysis: Finite Conductiv
ity Fracture Case Versus Damaged Fracture
Case", paper SPE 10179 presented at the
56th Annual Fall Technical Conference and
Exhibition of SPE of AIME, San Antonio,
Texas, Oct. 5-7, 1981.

648

TABLE 1-RESERVOIR FLOW MODELS FOR FRACTURED WELLS

AUTHORS

TYPE OF FLOW

TYPE OF MODEL

TYPE OF SYSTEM

Muskat (1937)

Steady-State

Analytical

V-F, I-C, F-C

Crawford and
Landrum (1955)

Steady-State

Electrical (R)

Unsymmetrical V-F,
I-C

Electrical (R)

H-F, I-C

Crawford and
Landrum (1954)

Howard and Fast

(1947)

Steady-state

Electrical (R)

V-F, F-C

van Poollen et ai,

(1958)

Steady-State

Electrical (R)

V-F, H-F, F-C

Tinsley et al.
(1959)

Steady-State

Electrical (R)

V-F, F-C, (Partial

Penetration)

McGuire and Sikora

(1960)

State

Electrical (R-C)

V-F, F-C (Finite

Reservoir)

Prats

Steady-State

Analytical

V-F, F-C (Damage)

Craft et al
(1962)

Steady-State

Analytical

V-F, F-C

Dyes et al (1958)

Unsteady-State

Electrical (R)

V-F, I-C

Prats (1962)

Unsteady-State

Analytical

V-F, I-C (Finite

Reservoir)

Scott (1963)

Unsteady-State

Heat Flow

V-F, I-C

Russell and Truitt

(1964 )

Unsteady-State

Numerical

V-F, I-C (Finite

Reservoir)

(1961)

V-F - Vertical Fracture

I-C Infinite Conductivity

H-F F-C -

Horizontal Fracture
Finite Conductivity

649

(Damage~

I-F-Inclined Fracture
U-F-Uniform Flux

TABLE 1-(continued)

AUTHORS

TYPE OF FLOW

TYPE OF HODEL

TYPE OF SYSTEM

Lee (1967)

Unsteady-State

Numerical

V-F, H-F, F-C

Clark (1968)
Millheim and
Cichowicz (1968)

Unsteady-State

Analytical

V-F, I-C (Damage, Linear

Flow)

Wattenbarger and
Ramey (1969)

Unsteady-State

Numerical

V-F, I-C (Gas Reservoir

Turbulence)

van Everdingen
and Meyer (1971)

Unsteady-State

Analytical

V-F, I-C

Raghavan et al.
(1972)

Unsteady-State

Numerical

V-F, I-C (Finite

Reservoir)

Sawyer et al
(1973)

Unsteady-State

Numerical

V-F, F-C (Gas Reservoir)

Gringarten and
Ramey (1974)

Unsteady-State

Analytical

V-P, I-C

Analytical

H-F, U-F

Gringarten and
Ramey (1974)
Gringarten et al
(1975)

Unsteady-State

Analytical

V-F, U-F

Ramey and Gringarten

(1975)

Unsteady-State

Numerical

V-F, I-C (Wellbore

Storage)

Cinco et al (1975)

Unsteady-State

Analytical

I-P, U-F

Locke and Sawyer

(1975)

Unsteady-State

Numerical

V-F, I-C (Constant

Pressure)

Raghavan (1976)

Unsteady-State

Analytical

V-F, U-F (Wellbore

Storage)

650

TABLE 1-(continued)

AUTHORS

TYPE OF FLOW

TYPE OF MODEL

TYPE OF SYSTEM

Holditch and
Morse (1976)

Unsteady-State

Numerical

V-F, F-C (Gas Reservoirs)

Unsteady-State

Numerical

V-F, F-C

Unsteady-State

Analytical

V-F, F-C (Wellbore

Storage, Damage)

Analytical

V-F, F-C

Ramey et al

(1977)

Cinco and Samaniego

(1977)
Cinco et al

(1978)

Barker and Ramey

(1978)

Unsteady-State

Numerical

V-F, F-C (Finite

Reservoir)

Scott (1978)

Unsteady-State

Analytical

V-F, F-C

Raghavan et al
1978)

Unsteady-State

Analytical

V-F, U-F (Partial

Penetration)

Raghavan and
Hadinoto (1978)

Unsteady-State

Analytical

V-F, U-F, I-C (Constant

Pressure Outer Boundary)

Agarwal et al
(1979)

Unsteady-State

Numerical

V-F, F-C

Bandyopadhay and
Hanley (1979)

unsteady-State

Analytical

V-F, F-C

Narasinham and
Palen (1979)

Unsteady-State

Numerical

V-F, F-C (Unsyrnrnetry,

Damage)

Guppy et al
(1979 )

Unsteady-State

Analytical

V-F, F-C (Turbulence)

Cinco et al
(1979)

Unsteady-State

Analytical

V-F, U-F (Parallelepiped

Reservoir, Partial Pen
etration)

Bennet et al
(1981)

Unsteady-State

Analytical

V-F, F-C (Unsyrnrnetry,

Heterogeneities)

Cinco and Samaniego

(1981)

Unstedy-State

Analytical

V-F, F-C (Bilinear

Flow)

Cinco and Samaniego

(1981)

Unsteady-State

Analytical

V-F, F-C, I-C

(Damage.)

Hartsock and Warren

(1961)

Pseudo-SteadyState H-F, J-C

651

---~

BOUNDARIES
CLOSED OR

FRACTURE
PLANE

CONSTANT
PRESSURE

WELLBORE
AXIS

-----11-----

1_-----'
1
....
e

~--2Xe----

1----2 X -----I.~I

Fig. 1-Vertical fracture in a square reservoir

"'/<"0<:< </I/r:/<O<:c/<o<: 0<:</<

1
h

T-ri~f ~
Zf

DRAINAGE

Fracture

kr

77777717771777777777777777

......

Fig. 2-Horizontal fracture in an infinite slab

reservoir

652

FRACTURE

WELL BORE

FRACTURE

IMPERMEABLE

BOUNDARIES

Fig. 3-Finite conductivity vertical fracture in an infinite slab reservoir

I \ III III I I
1==~-"""'.3,
I \ III III I I
(b)

(0)
FRACTURE

LINEAR

BILINEAR

FLOW

FLOW

\ I /

I I I \ III/racture

/'

II \ \ \ \I
(c)
'e

FORMATION

LlHEA~

FlIJW

PSEUDO

RADIAl

Fig. 4-Flow periods for a vertical fracture

653

QOW

DAMAGED ZONE

FRACTURE

WELL

Fig. 5-Fluid loss damaged fracture

DA.MAGED ZONE
FRACTURE

:::: ..... : ...................

..

'.

Fig. 6-lnfinite conductivity choked fracture

654

"

....

WI

..

..

L
0.

<l

o
Fig. 7-Bilinear flow graph

655

1.6

10

1000

w)
10 0 EfFEC'TlVf

Fig. a-Effective conductivity as a function of dimensionless

flow rate

Slope

lh

Log t
Fig. 9-Log-log graph for bilinear flow

656

PRESSURE BEHAVIOR WITH WELLBORE

STORAGE EFFECTS

Fig. 10-Effect of well bore storage on the bilinear flow graph

<1

Fig. 11-Linear flow graph

657

I1P

PRESSURE BEHAVIOR WITH WELLBORE

STORAGE EFFECTS

Fig. 12-Wellbore storage effects on the linear flow graph

Log t
Fig.

13-Log~log

graph for linear flow

658

_162,6QBu

kh

log t

Fig. 14-Semilog graph

CHOKED FRACTURE
AND
0...

<:J

FLUID LOSS
DAMAGE

END OF
BILINEAR FLOW

~
o L-----------~~~~

END OF
LINEAR FLOW

FINITE
CONDUCTIVITY
FRACTUR

INFINITE CONDUCTIVITY
UNDAMAGED FRACTURE

LOG t
Fig. 1S-Log-log graph for damaged fractures

659

a:

:::>

(/)
(/)

w
a:
0...

w
a::
0

10

CLOSED
BOUNDARY

CD~

:::10.

Wa..'"
3;0
a:
(/)0
(/)

...J

CONSTANT
PRESSURE
BOUNDARY

Q
(f)

:E

o
10

DIMENSIONLESS TIME, t OXf

Fig. 16-Type curve for an infinite conductivity vertical fracture

CLt
~

t-- ZX e--1

UNIFORM-FLUX

CLOSED
BOUNDARY

CONSTANT

PRESSURE
BOUNDARY

10
DIMENSIONLESS TIME,

'ox,

Fig. 17-Type curve for a uniform flux vertical fracture

660

DIMENSIONLESS TIME,

tor f

Fig. 18-Type curve for a uniform flux horizontal fracture

10

(k f b f ) D =l(t~
~ "10 TI

.....-..a
"-t--

..0
"+-

...Y::

10

lOTI

11

a
~3

10-'11
10

0
APPROXIMATE START
OF SEMI-LOG STRAIGHT

LI NE

Fig. 19-Type curve for a finite conductivity vertical fracture

661

End of Bilinear Flow

wO
1

Beginning of Semilog
Straight Line

End of Linear Flow

Dr'

Fig. 20-Type curve for a finite conductivity vertical fracture

,2

,
I

5 6 7 B9 ,

/I

f f

t,

;!;

!,

'i

4
"

TT,
I:i
'1(1

1:',:

ii.'

,.1.1

11

,.:

.,i:

!!

ii, ,:
""
I' I:::!

l t ;
"

:;1:"

::1:

:,.

JII

I'"

II

ii

,:1

r;::

Ii::;:'

,i'

,:'

"

:,!> ',"i' !l !:
:,

.,'

I:

(\J

:"

I,
I::

',.:

"

,iJ'

..

I,'"

:'i!

,:;,::

,Ii

:1

I:

ij

l'

i.

",'

,"ii'"

";1'

ill!l:
': Ii,

"

.
.

i--

i:::,
"!tI,!;::'!,, ,!i' I"i:'
:i::,

iii

'"

",

::
....

',.

:.

11.,1.

,: ... ,

",":'

:,

"

'''I:
;

;:',:::'
;,

'I'

1.:: Ii

,i'

"

I:: I::. i::

i'"

I::
,

.~ I

,,(, """':j IT ~'

1,::1;", f!l"
';:i''I,':::"
"

~r

....

,::::
.".

;
.
i::{ ,
jl! li!!!;::':::;,I:::' 1::;""
"

t!

;. r

L-

I'

.1
i:

~
.,

i'"

'"

...

,!,/""

'II

!,

"~i.

::;::!: ':

,:

"

''''':i':',,''

:oj:

;:'T

'i'

! 11

'!

..

'"

'I'

'1'

I.:

I,

,:: ':::::1'

I:i,;:'

"'!

I"::

jil

II;,

.>'

,'d';

iii

I::::

1::::1":::,

'i :,'

.:

:;.,.':

i:

,:

!~ ::: ':"
i:'

!!

"

6 ., B 9 ,

A '5

','

"

"i

,,':

- , iii

"',"

:.:':"~:, "

';~'~, ~".""

6 7 B9 ,

!i

"I, ,i

I' :
:
L

I:,

:2

,\

I;: ~

Ii"

TI

i,

,
!

!i,'

~'~~
tl Wl'
IE]!
m
. r,
U*
r Ii!'
r:' ,

6 7 89'

I,:

I"

ii'

t+H~tH
I

In':I',

II

H+~ 1] fl

'I

4
I" ,~

!i

11:1

mt illl~:'

III

1
!Iil

"Ii"""

.. '

, ...

"

i0 3

Fig. 21-r,;.. versus (kfbf}o for a finite conductivity vertical fracture

662

FLUID LOSS DAMAGE

CHOKED FRACTURE

10 I

END OF LINEAR FLOW

Fig. 22-Type curve for damaged vertical fractures

-2;l1li



---

110-2

10-1

10

Fig. 23-Type curve for damaged vertical fractures

663

3"

5'71191

II

-I
Sf's

..

5157891

)-110
0 R SrS Ch

51171191

10

Fig. 24-r~ versus Sts or (StS)Ch for damaged fractures

10'
0..0

...

W
C!:

::>

(f)

(f)
w 10

c::
Q.

(f)
(/)

.-J

Z
0
(f)

ltJ
~

DIMENsrONLESS TIME, TO
Fig. 25-Type curve for an infinite conductivity vertical fracture with wellbore storage

664

UNIFORM-FLUX
WELL IN AN INFINITE RESERVOIR, Xe/Xf

QO

DIMENSIONLESS
STORAGE CONSTANT, C OXf
O--~

5X 10- 3
10- 2 ----:r--..-: i '

10

DIMENSIONLESS TIME. tOXf

Fig. 26-Type curve for a uniform flux vertical fracture with

well bore storage

End of Wellbore
Storage Effects

('f")

~~
Cl

4-1

..0

Cl

4-11

.2. \

-;;
II

Cl

10- 1

\~~

10- 1

____~________~______- L_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _~_ _ _ _ _ _~

10 2

10'
F 2 (t Oxf )=

10 3

(kfb f ) D 2/3

(C

Of

Y toxf
3

Fig. 27-Type curve for finite conductivity vertical fracture with wellbore storage

665

10