Fracture Conductivity Calculator
Calculate dimensionless fracture conductivity (FCD), effective wellbore radius, and productivity ratio using the Cinco-Ley correlation.
Input Parameters
FCD = (kf × wf) / (k × Xf)
re' = Xf × f(FCD) | FOI = ln(re/rw) / ln(re/re')
Dimensionless FCD
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Interpretation
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Effective Wellbore Radius
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Folds of Increase (FOI)
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Equivalent Skin
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Fracture Conductivity
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Productivity Ratio vs FCD (Cinco-Ley)
How this was calculated
FCD: Dimensionless fracture conductivity = (kf * wf) / (k * Xf). This ratio compares the fracture's ability to transport fluid to the formation's ability to deliver fluid to the fracture.
Cinco-Ley correlation: The effective wellbore radius re' = Xf * f(FCD), where f(FCD) is approximated using published correlations. For FCD > 10, f ~ 0.5 (infinite conductivity). For low FCD, f decreases significantly.
FOI: Folds of increase = J_frac / J_unfrac = ln(re/rw) / ln(re/re'). This represents the production increase from the fracture.
When FCD > 10: Fracture behaves as infinite conductivity. Further increases in proppant permeability or width yield diminishing returns. Lengthening the fracture is more productive.
When FCD < 0.5: Fracture is finite conductivity limited. Increasing proppant permeability, concentration, or width gives the biggest production gains.
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Book a free strategy call →Understanding Fracture Conductivity and FCD
Dimensionless fracture conductivity (FCD) is the single most important parameter governing the productivity of a hydraulically fractured well. It represents the balance between two competing flow resistances: flow within the fracture itself and flow from the reservoir into the fracture.
When FCD is high (> 10), the fracture has essentially infinite conductivity, meaning there is negligible pressure drop along the fracture. In this regime, increasing fracture length is the most effective way to improve production. When FCD is low (< 0.5), the fracture acts as a choke, and increasing proppant permeability or fracture width gives the greatest benefit.
The Cinco-Ley and Samaniego (1981) solution provides the relationship between FCD and effective wellbore radius, which allows engineers to calculate the expected productivity improvement (folds of increase) from a fracture treatment. This is the foundation of modern fracture treatment optimization.
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