Research and application of real-time monitoring technology for low permeability reservoir fracturing process based on the wide-field electromagnetic method

Abstract Addressing the technical challenge of real-time monitoring of the spatial distribution of fracturing fluid during hydraulic fracturing in low-permeability reservoirs, this study takes Well X in the Quan 63 fault block of the Changqing Oilfield as a case example. It systematically investigates the application of the Wide-Field Electromagnetic Method (WFEM) for real-time monitoring of the fracturing process. By constructing a multi-frequency electromagnetic signal transmission and high-precision receiving system, continuous dynamic monitoring of the entire fracturing operation was achieved. The results demonstrate that this method can effectively capture the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of the fracturing fluid and quantitatively describe the geometric parameters of fracture propagation. Monitoring data indicate that the fracture propagated preferentially along an azimuth of N73°E. The total fracture half-length reached 301 m, with the maximum half-length on the western side being 147 m and on the eastern side 154 m. The fracture width was 39 m, the maximum height was 21 m, and the total stimulated reservoir volume (SRV) was estimated at 74, 092 m 3 . Comparison with microseismic monitoring results verified the reliability of the method, showing relative errors in fracture length and azimuth of less than 6% and 5%, respectively. The WFEM provides a novel technical approach for the real-time monitoring and optimization of fracturing processes in low-permeability reservoirs, holding significant engineering application value.