Open Access

ARTICLE

A Dynamic IPR Framework for Predicting Shale Oil Well Productivity in the Spontaneous Flow Stage

Sheng Lei^1,2,3, Guanglong Sheng^1,2,3,*, Hui Zhao^1,2,3

1 College of Petroleum Engineering, Yangtze University, Wuhan, 430100, China
2 Western Research Institute, Yangtze University, Karamay, 834000, China
3 State Key Laboratory of Low Carbon Catalysis and Carbon Dioxide Utilization, Yangtze University, Wuhan, 430100, China

* Corresponding Author: Guanglong Sheng. 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(12), 3011-3031. https://doi.org/10.32604/fdmp.2025.073802

Received 25 September 2025; Accepted 11 December 2025; Issue published 31 December 2025

Abstract

This study investigates the unsteady flow characteristics of shale oil reservoirs during the depletion development process, with a particular focus on production behavior following fracturing and shut-in stages. Shale reservoirs exhibit distinctive production patterns that differ from traditional oil reservoirs, as their inflow performance does not conform to the classic steady-state relationship. Instead, production is governed by unsteady-state flow behavior, and the combined effects of the wellbore and choke cause the inflow performance curve to evolve dynamically over time. To address these challenges, this study introduces the concept of a “Dynamic IPR curve” and develops a dynamic production analysis method that integrates production time, continuity across multi-stage state fields, and the interactions between tubing flow and choke flow. This method provides a robust framework to characterize the attenuation trend of reservoir productivity and to accurately describe wellbore flow behavior. By applying the dynamic IPR approach, the study overcomes the limitations of conventional methods, which are unable to capture the temporal variations inherent in shale reservoir production. The proposed methodology offers a theoretical foundation for improved production forecasting, optimization of choke size, and analysis of wellbore tubing characteristics, thereby supporting more effective operational decision-making across different stages of shale reservoir development.

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Keywords

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