A comprehensive approach for fracability evaluation in naturally fractured sandstone reservoirs based on analytical hierarchy process method

The tight sandstone gas reservoir in southern Songliao Basin is naturally fractured and is characterized by its low porosity and permeability. Large-scale hydraulic fracturing is the most effective way to develop this tight gas reservoir. Quantitative evaluation of fracability is essential for optimizing a fracturing reservoir. In this study, nine fracability-related factors, particularly mechanical brittleness, unconfined compressive strength (UCS), mineral brittleness, cohesion, internal friction angle (IFA), natural fracture, fracture toughness, horizontal stress difference, and fracture barrier were obtained based on a series of petrophysical and geomechanical experiments. Taking above factors into consideration, a modified comprehensive evaluation model is proposed based on analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method. The UCS and IFA were removed from the AHP model based on the results of factor correlation analysis. The transfer matrix in the weighting procedure was applied to improve the consistency of judgment matrix, and the fuzzy matrix was employed to promote the objectiveness of final decision. The fracability evaluation of four reservoir intervals in Jinshan gas field was analyzed. Field fracturing tests were conducted to verify the feasibility of the proposed evaluation model. Results showed that the tubing pressure curve is more fluctuated in the reservoir interval with more developed natural fractures, and gas production is higher in the reservoir interval with greater fracability coefficient. The field test data coincide with the results of the proposed evaluation model.