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The reduction in well spacing for multi-fractured horizontal wells (MFHWs) and the increase in infill drilling exacerbate the risk of fracture communication. This presents substantial challenges for the rate transient analysis of the parent–child well system. This study proposes an improved two-phase straight-line analysis method to evaluate the linear flow parameters of multiple communicating MFHWs in shale gas reservoirs. Considering shale gas adsorption–desorption mechanisms, nonuniform length of fractures, stress-dependent effects, and matrix shrinkage effects, two-phase productivity equation is established within the dynamic drainage area (DDA). Subsequently, we develop a three-well square root of time plot based on DDA correction and propose a rigorous workflow for evaluating linear flow parameters in single-well, two-well, and three-well systems. The straight lines on the parent well's square root of the time plot exhibit varying degrees of jumps, depending on the frequency of fracture communication. After communication, it is necessary to adjust the cumulative production and production time of the parent well to accurately recalculate the average pressure within the drainage area. Numerical simulations are employed to generate a series of cases under different reservoir conditions to validate the accuracy of the proposed model. The results show that the model estimates fracture half-lengths with errors within 8%, meeting the precision requirements for field applications. Additionally, the method exceeds numerical simulations in computational speed. Two field case studies in the WY Basin, China, further illustrate the effectiveness and practicality of the proposed method, providing theoretical support for hydraulic fracturing construction design and development planning.
Bai et al. (Tue,) studied this question.