Real-time evaluation of perforation cluster efficiency in hydraulic fracturing wells using relative resistance

A computer-implemented method comprising:

• accessing, by a processor, one or more pumping measurements generated by pumping a treatment fluid during a hydraulic fracturing operation of a wellbore;
• initializing, by the processor at a first time and based on the one or more pumping measurements, a minimum treatment value and a least resistance value;
• determining, by the processor and using the least resistance value and the minimum treatment value, a number of perforation holes open in the wellbore at a second time occurring after the first time;
• calculating, by the processor, a relative perforation hole count by computing a ratio between the number of perforation holes open in the wellbore at the second time over a number of perforation holes open in the wellbore at the first time;
• calculating, by the processor, a cumulative reduction in the relative perforation hole count between the first time and the second time;
• and
• predicting, by the processor and using the cumulative reduction in the relative perforation hole count, a flow distribution of the treatment fluid.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that are executable by a processing device for causing the processing device to perform operations comprising:

• access one or more pumping measurements generated by pumping a treatment fluid during a hydraulic fracturing operation of a wellbore;
• initialize, at a first time, and based on the one or more pumping measurements, a minimum treatment value and a least resistance value;
• determine, using the least resistance value and the minimum treatment value, a number of perforation holes open in the wellbore at a second time occurring after the first time;
• calculate a relative perforation hole count by computing a ratio between the number of perforation holes open in the wellbore at the second time over a number of perforation holes open in the wellbore at the first time;
• calculate a cumulative reduction in the relative perforation hole count between the first time and the second time;
• and
• predict, using the cumulative reduction in the relative perforation hole count, a flow distribution of the treatment fluid.