Study on the optimal design of volume fracturing for shale gas based on evaluating the fracturing effect—A case study on the Zhao Tong shale gas demonstration zone in Sichuan, China

Abstract Hydraulic fracturing is the key technology in development of shale gas reservoirs, and it mainly adopts volume to communicate hydraulic fractures with natural increase drainage area. In view difficulty characterizing complex created by multistaged horizontal wells immaturity optimization design methods, this study first evaluated stimulation effect based on treatment data microseismic data. Then, fracture characteristics after frac were considered, a post-frac simulation was studied discrete network (DFN) model monitoring as constraints. Finally, from results, an optimal method for proposed evaluation effects. The National Shale Gas Demonstration Zone Zhaotong, Sichuan Basin used example wells. results show that (1) optimizing design, interval range 50–70 m, liquid single stage 1800–2200 m 3 , amount sand 80 m~120 t, slurry rate 10–12 /min. (2) Two different schemes implemented two same platform, production optimized scheme 14.7% greater than original scheme. Therefore, evaluating can better guide subsequent