During the refracturing process in aging wells, fractures often propagate towards the cement sheath, leading to communication between the casing and the cement sheath, or between the cement sheath and the wellbore wall. This phenomenon makes it challenging to ensure the efficacy of fracturing stimulation. To tackle this issue, the extended finite element method was employed to develop a fracture propagation model that considers the integrity of cementing quality. The impacts of cement sheath thickness and fracture spacing on the external channeling flow of the fracturing fluid were further investigated. Based on quantitative evaluation data of cementing quality and fracturing design and construction data from the horizontal well refracturing test area in the Changqing Oilfield, data analysis methods were utilized to identify the primary controlling factors of channeling outside the horizontal well refracturing pipe. Subsequently, a prevention and control chart was formulated aimed at mitigating channeling outside repeated fracturing pipes. The results indicate that cementing quality and fracture spacing are the main controlling factors for channeling outside refractory pipes. Specifically, fracture sections with spacing less than 30 m and sound amplitudes exceeding 5 mV represent sufficient conditions for pipe channeling during horizontal well refracturing in the target area. Following the application of the pipe channeling prevention control chart, the segment loss rate at the refracturing site decreased by 5.2%. These research findings hold significant implications for guiding optimal refracturing design.

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Simulation of External Pipe Channeling Flow and Anti-channeling Control Method in Refracturing of Horizontal Wells

  • Jia-wei Ren,
  • Xiao-hu Bai,
  • Jun-bin Chen,
  • Tao Zhou,
  • Bo Kang,
  • Jun Bu

摘要

During the refracturing process in aging wells, fractures often propagate towards the cement sheath, leading to communication between the casing and the cement sheath, or between the cement sheath and the wellbore wall. This phenomenon makes it challenging to ensure the efficacy of fracturing stimulation. To tackle this issue, the extended finite element method was employed to develop a fracture propagation model that considers the integrity of cementing quality. The impacts of cement sheath thickness and fracture spacing on the external channeling flow of the fracturing fluid were further investigated. Based on quantitative evaluation data of cementing quality and fracturing design and construction data from the horizontal well refracturing test area in the Changqing Oilfield, data analysis methods were utilized to identify the primary controlling factors of channeling outside the horizontal well refracturing pipe. Subsequently, a prevention and control chart was formulated aimed at mitigating channeling outside repeated fracturing pipes. The results indicate that cementing quality and fracture spacing are the main controlling factors for channeling outside refractory pipes. Specifically, fracture sections with spacing less than 30 m and sound amplitudes exceeding 5 mV represent sufficient conditions for pipe channeling during horizontal well refracturing in the target area. Following the application of the pipe channeling prevention control chart, the segment loss rate at the refracturing site decreased by 5.2%. These research findings hold significant implications for guiding optimal refracturing design.