Open Access

ARTICLE

Large-Volume Hydraulic Fracturing in Tight Gas Reservoirs: High-Efficiency Stimulation and Geological Adaptability Assessment

Bo Wang¹, Fuyang Wu², Zifeng Chen², Libin Dai¹, Yifan Dong¹, Xiaotao Gao³, Zongfa Li^2,*

1 Changqing Oilfield Sulige South Operation Branch Company, Ordos, Inner Mongolia, 016200, China
2 School of Petroleum Engineering, Yangtze University, Wuhan, 430100, China
3 Changqing Training Center, Qingyang, 745217, China

* Corresponding Author: Zongfa Li. Email:

(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Multiphase Fluid Flow Behaviors in Oil, Gas, Water, and Solid Systems during CCUS Processes in Hydrocarbon Reservoirs)

Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing 2025, 21(11), 2701-2719. https://doi.org/10.32604/fdmp.2025.067298

Received 29 April 2025; Accepted 06 August 2025; Issue published 01 December 2025

Abstract

Tight gas reservoirs are often characterized by pronounced heterogeneity and poor continuity, resulting in wide variability in production enhancement and net present value (NPV) for different geological parameter combinations (see e.g., the Ordos Basin). The conditions governing geological adaptability remain insufficiently defined. To address these challenges, this study integrates large-volume hydraulic fracturing, numerical production simulation, and economic evaluation to elucidate the mechanisms by which large-scale fracturing enhances fracture parameters in tight gas formations. The analysis reveals that, for identical proppant and fluid volumes, increasing the fracturing injection rate leads to longer and taller fractures. Over the same production period, this results in a more rapid decline in average reservoir pressure and a higher cumulative gas output. Through simulations conducted at varying injection rates across 11 production wells in the target block, the study demonstrates that large-volume fracturing can effectively connect otherwise isolated tight gas pockets, enlarge the drainage area, and substantially boost individual well production. A comparative assessment of simulation outcomes and economic performance shows that large-volume fracturing significantly improves gas recovery and NPV compared to conventional smaller-scale treatments. The study identifies the key geological indicators that influence differences in production enhancement and economic returns between small-and large-volume fracturing strategies. Based on these findings, a decision matrix is developed (utilizing a trapezoidal membership function) to evaluate the geological suitability of large-volume fracturing in tight gas reservoirs. This matrix is applied to the 11 target wells, with the evaluation results aligning well with those obtained from numerical simulations.

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Keywords

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