Analysis of the use of cluster hydraulic fracturing in low-permeability reservoirs

The article analyzes and compares the innovative method of inflow intensification with the traditional one. Cluster hydraulic fracturing is an economically viable alternative to conventional hydraulic fracturing. Instead of creating a continuous proppant bundle, it forms separate clusters of proppant in the crack, which leads to the formation of additional conductive channels and increased permeability. The main advantage is a significant reduction in costs: less proppant, fluid, and surgery time are required. The technology is based on pulsed liquid injection alternating between pure liquid and liquid with proppant, which allows the formation of an optimal cluster structure. Unlike the uniform distribution of proppant in traditional hydraulic fracturing, cluster hydraulic fracturing creates “pillars” of proppant that keep the crack open. When designing a cluster hydraulic fracturing, it is necessary to take into account the distance between clusters and the density of proppant bundles. To assess the effectiveness of the technology, the productivity coefficient was used, which was reduced to the effective thickness of the reservoir. The productivity coefficient of each well was calculated based on daily production data using the Vogel correlation (for conditions below saturation pressure). The results demonstrate that the cluster hydraulic fracturing provided stable production for two years, comparable to neighboring wells. This fact, in turn, confirms the presence of channels, since the uniform distribution of proppant usually leads to significant production losses. Based on the analysis and the results obtained, cluster hydraulic fracturing appears to be a promising alternative to traditional hydraulic fracturing. It demonstrates improved performance and ensures more efficient well completion. Its advantages include: reducing the cost of the operation by reducing the volume of proppant used and reducing the number of process stops due to the availability of clean liquid injection intervals.