The Influence of Vertical Fractures Intercepting Active and Observation Wells on Interference Tests

Abstract
This paper reviews pressure behavior at an observation well intercepted by a vertical fracture. The active well was assumed either unfractured or intercepted by a fracture parallel to the fracture at the observation well. We show that a vertical fracture at the observation well has a significant influence on the pressure response at that well, and therefore wellbore conditions at the observation well must be considered. New type curves presented can be used to determine the compass orientation of the fracture plane at the observation well. Conditions are delineated under which the fracture at the observation well may influence an interference test. This information should be useful in designing and analyzing tests. The pressure response curve at the observation well has no characteristic features that will reveal the existence of a fracture. The existence of the fracture would have to be known a priori or from independent measurements such as single-well tests.

This publication has 7 references indexed in Scilit: