Interpretable Predictive Modeling of Tight Gas Well Productivity with SHAP and LIME Techniques

Accurately predicting well productivity is crucial for optimizing gas production and maximizing recovery from tight gas reservoirs. Machine learning (ML) techniques have been applied to build predictive models for the well productivity, but their high complexity and low interpretability can hinder their practical application. This study proposes using interpretable ML solutions, SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) and Local Interpretable Model-agnostic Explanations (LIME), to provide explicit explanations of the ML prediction model. The study uses data from the Eastern Sulige tight gas field in the Ordos Basin, China, containing various geological and engineering factors. The results show that the gradient boosting decision tree model exhibits superior predictive performance compared to other ML models. The global interpretation using SHAP provides insights into the overall impact of these factors, while the local interpretation using SHAP and LIME offers individualized explanations of well productivity predictions. These results can facilitate improvements in well operations and field development planning, providing a better understanding of the underlying physical processes and supporting more informed and effective decision-making. Ultimately, this study demonstrates the potential of interpretable ML solutions to address the challenges of forecasting well productivity in tight gas reservoirs and enable more efficient and sustainable gas production.