Deep Insights for Optimizing Hydraulic Fracturing Designs to Maximize Productivity in Horizontal Wells within Unconventional Reservoirs

This study investigates the impact of various reservoir and fracture parameters on the productivity of horizontal wells using Schlumberger's PIPESIM software to conduct a comprehensive numerical simulation. The parameters analyzed include fracture length, width, porosity, permeability, and number of fractures. A series of simulations is conducted to systematically examine the effects of each parameter. The results show that fracture half-length and permeability have the greatest positive impact on well productivity, with the optimal fracture length being 4921.3 ft and the optimal fracture permeability being 1000 md. These two factors enhance the reservoir's ability to efficiently absorb and transport fluids, thus enhancing production rates. Additionally, fracture width and porosity show a moderate impact on productivity, highlighting their role in fluid flow dynamics. Interestingly, the number of fractures exhibits a nonlinear relationship with productivity, indicating that increasing the number of fractures initially leads to higher production rates; however, diminishing returns occur after a certain threshold is reached. The optimal number of fractures is 250, beyond which diminishing returns occur. These results provide valuable insights for improving hydraulic fracturing designs to maximize productivity in horizontal wells, especially in unconventional reservoirs, and to support more informed decision-making in field applications.