Method for measuring individual fracture near-wellbore characteristics in a commingled multi-fractured well

Abstract

A system and method for determining near-wellbore fracture characteristics of an isolated portion of a hydraulically fractured well are provided. A valve located in a string extending to the isolated portion of the well is utilized to reduce the wellbore storage effects of fluid in the string on pressure measurements within the isolated zone of the wellbore.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for quantitatively determining near-wellbore characteristics of a hydraulic fracture in a hydraulically fractured wellbore in a hydrocarbon-containing formation, comprising:
 (a) fluidly and substantially hermetically isolating a selected zone within the wellbore to form an isolated zone within the wellbore, wherein a portion of the wellbore is located within the isolated zone, and wherein the portion of the wellbore located within the isolated zone contains a hydraulic fracture therein;   (b) inducing fluid flow from or into the portion of the wellbore located within the isolated zone through a string extending into and fluidly coupled to the portion of the wellbore located within the isolated zone;   (c) measuring an induced flow rate of fluid from or into the portion of the wellbore in the isolated zone while inducing fluid flow from or into the isolated zone;   (d) measuring a flowing pressure within the portion of the wellbore located in the isolated zone or within a portion of the string fluidly coupled to the portion of the wellbore in the isolated zone while inducing fluid to flow from or into the portion of the wellbore in the isolated zone;   (e) subsequent to inducing fluid flow from or into the portion of the wellbore in the isolated zone, rapidly preventing the flow of fluid between the portion of the wellbore located in the isolated zone and the string or between a portion of the string extending from adjacent the isolated zone away from the isolated zone and the portion of the wellbore in the isolated zone together with a portion of the string extending into the isolated zone that is fluidly coupled to the portion of the wellbore in the isolated zone;   (f) measuring a non-flowing pressure within the portion of the wellbore located in the isolated zone or within a portion of the string fluidly coupled to the portion of the wellbore in the isolated zone immediately subsequent to preventing the flow of fluid;   (g) analyzing the measured flow rate, the measured flowing pressure, and the measured non-flowing pressure to determine near-wellbore fracture characteristics of the fracture contained in the portion of the wellbore located within the isolated zone.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein fluid flow is induced from or into the portion of the wellbore located within the isolated zone, the flowing pressure is measured, and the flow rate is measured each for a period of at most 12, or at most 8, or at most 3 hours, and wherein the non-flowing pressure is measured subsequent to preventing the flow of fluid for a period of at most 12, or at most 8, or at most 3 hours. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wellbore storage coefficient of fluid prevented from flowing between the portion of the wellbore located in the isolated zone and the string or between a portion of the string extending from adjacent the string away from the isolated zone and the portion of the wellbore in the isolated zone together with a portion of the string that is fluidly coupled with the portion of the wellbore in the isolated zone is at most 0.1 L/MPa. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein fluid flow is prevented between the portion of the string extending from adjacent the isolated zone away from the isolated zone and the portion of the wellbore in the isolated zone together with the portion of the string fluidly coupled with the portion of the wellbore in the isolated zone within 50, or within 25, or within 10, or within 5 meters of the isolated zone or immediately adjacent the isolated zone. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising measuring the pressure within the wellbore at one or more locations adjacent the isolated zone subsequent to preventing the flow of fluid. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the well is a deviated well. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the string is a coiled tubing or a jointed pipe. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon-containing formation is incapable of producing hydrocarbons absent stimulation. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 selecting one or more additional zones within the wellbore of the well;   repeating steps (a)-(g) for each additional selected zone,   wherein for each additional selected zone fluid flow is induced from or into the portion of the wellbore located within the additional selected isolated zone, the flowing pressure is measured, and the flow rate is measured each for a period of at most 12, or at most 8, or at most 3 hours, and wherein the non-flowing pressure is measured subsequent to preventing the flow of fluid for a period of at most 12, or at most 8, or at most 3 hours.   
     
     
         10 . A system for quantitatively determining near-wellbore characteristics of a hydraulic fracture in a hydraulically fractured wellbore of a well in a hydrocarbon-containing formation, comprising:
 a string formed of coiled tubing or jointed pipe, the string being structured and arranged for deployment in the wellbore of the well;   an isolation mechanism comprised of a first adjustable packing element and a second adjustable packing element, wherein the first adjustable packing element is coupled to a first portion of the string and is spaced from the second packing element which is coupled to a second portion of the string, the isolation mechanism being structured and arranged to reversibly fluidly and substantially hermetically isolate a portion of the wellbore to form an isolated zone of the wellbore upon adjusting the first and second adjustable packing elements in the wellbore, wherein the isolated zone is located between the spaced first and second adjustable packing elements;   an aperture in a portion of the string located between the first and second adjustable packing elements, the aperture being positioned to fluidly couple the interior of the string with the portion of the wellbore within the isolated zone formed by the first and second adjustable packing elements;   a valve positioned to control fluid flow between the portion of the wellbore within the isolated zone and the string or between a portion of the string extending from adjacent the isolated zone away from the isolated zone and the portion of the wellbore in the isolated zone together with a portion of the string fluidly coupled with the portion of the wellbore in the isolated zone when deployed in the wellbore, the valve being positioned to control fluid flow either between the portion of the wellbore within the isolated zone and the interior of the string through the aperture or through the interior of the string adjacent the first adjustable packing element;   a zone pressure sensor coupled to the string or to the first or second adjustable packing element and positioned to hydraulically communicate with the portion of the wellbore within the isolated zone isolated by the isolation mechanism.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising an artificial lift system positioned within the string outside the space between the first and second adjustable packing elements. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a multiphase flow meter positioned within the string outside the space between the first and second adjustable packing elements. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising a toe-side pressure sensor coupled to the string or to the second adjustable packing element and positioned outside of the string adjacent the second adjustable packing element outside the space between the first and second adjustable packing elements. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising a heel-side pressure sensor coupled to the string or to the first adjustable packing element and positioned outside of the string adjacent the first adjustable packing element outside the space between the first and second adjustable packing elements. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising at least one actuating system for separately activating and deactivating the artificial lift system and the valve.