Effect of near-wellbore fracture geometry on fracture execution and post-treatment well production of deviated and horizontal wells

The near-wellbore fracture geometry is important to hydraulic fracture exec ution and the subsequent post-treatment well performance. A fracture from a n arbitrarily oriented well "cuts" the wellbore at an angle and this limits the communication between the wellbore and reservoir. The stress concentra tion around the wellbore further complicates the near-wellbore fracture geo metry. The fracture width at the wellbore can be much smaller than the maxi mum width, or it may even close when the fracturing pressure decreases belo w some critical value. The limited communication path may cause a "screenou t" during fracture execution or large reduction in the subsequent productio n because of choked fracture effects. This paper first discusses fracturing conditions for an optimal communication path between the wellbore and the reservoir. The near-wellbore fracture geometry is then determined. The effe cts of this fracture geometry on fracture execution and production are disc ussed. Critical fracturing pressures are also calculated for different well bore orientations and in-situ principal stress magnitudes. Guidelines are p rovided to enhance the success of fracturing treatments.