Enhancing Horizontal Wells Production Efficiency Using Multi-Scale Geomechanics and Fracture Flow Model in Unconventional Resources

Abstract

The Yingxiongling shale oil play has achieved breakthrough progress, with the predicted Estimated Ultimate Recovery (EUR) of Well Chaiping-1 exceeding 40,000 tons, indicating significant development potential. However, challenges such as "great thickness, unclear sweet spot enrichment patterns, strong heterogeneity, and unclear controlling mechanisms for producibility persist in the Yingxiongling shale oil. A targeted three-dimensional development strategy and corresponding technical solutions for such ultra-thick reservoirs have yet to be established. Guided by the integrated geology-engineering approach, this study conducts detailed three-dimensional geological modeling and reservoir evaluation within the well-controlled favorable area. It completes a refined 3D geomechanical model and engineering quality assessment for the same area. The research aims to clarify the heterogeneous spatial distribution patterns of shale oil and establish characterization methods, understand shale oil mobility and the conditions for its effective production, and ultimately formulate a three-dimensional development strategy for ultra-thick reservoirs. Through this research, a set of three-dimensional development models and optimization methods tailored for the ultra-thick shale oil reservoirs in Yingxiongling will be established, including sweet spot optimization, target interval selection, stimulation strategies, and well placement patterns, thereby effectively guiding the large-scale production development of Yingxiongling shale oil.