Integration of surface seismic, microseismic, and production logs for shale gas characterization: Methodology and field application

2013 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. SB37-SB49 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Henry Alzate ◽  
Deepak Devegowda
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Fracturing ◽  
Seismic Data ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Reservoir Characterization ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Field Application ◽  
Predictive Tool ◽  
Horizontal Drilling ◽  
Microseismic Data ◽  
Scale Characterization

Technologies such as horizontal drilling and multistage hydraulic fracturing are central to ensuring the viability of shale oil and gas resource development by maximizing contact with the most productive reservoir volumes. However, characterization efforts based on the use of well logs and cores, although very informative, may be associated with substantial uncertainty in interwell volumes. Consequently, this work is centered around the development of a predictive tool based on surface seismic data analysis to rapidly demarcate the most prolific reservoir volumes, to identify zones more amenable to hydraulic fracturing, and to provide a methodology to locate productive infill wells for further development. Specifically, we demonstrate that surface seismic attributes such as [Formula: see text]/[Formula: see text] crossplots can successfully be employed to quantitatively grade reservoir rocks in unconventional plays. We also investigate the role of seismically inverted Poisson’s ratio as a fracability discriminator and Young’s modulus as an indicator of total organic carbon richness and porosity. The proposed predictive tool for sweet spot identification relies on classifying reservoir volumes on the basis of their amenability to fracturing and reservoir quality. The classification scheme is applied to a field case study from the Lower Barnett Shale and we validate these results using production logs recorded in four horizontal wells and microseismic data acquired while fracturing these wells. The integration of seismic data, production logs, and microseismic data underscores the value of shale reservoir characterization with a diverse suite of measurements to determine optimal well locations and to locate hydraulic fracture treatments. A key advantage of the methodology developed here is the ease of regional-scale characterization that can easily be generalized to other shale plays.

Applications of quantitative prestack seismic analysis to unconventional resource play characterization in the Permian/Delaware Basin

2019 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 106-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Phuong Hoang ◽  
Arcangelo Sena ◽  
Benjamin Lascaud
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Fracturing ◽  
Seismic Data ◽  
Reservoir Characterization ◽  
Seismic Analysis ◽  
Seismic Inversion ◽  
Reservoir Properties ◽  
Yield Attributes ◽  
Horizontal Drilling ◽  
Delaware Basin ◽  
Unconventional Resource

The characterization of shale plays involves an understanding of tectonic history, geologic settings, reservoir properties, and the in-situ stresses of the potential producing zones in the subsurface. The associated hydrocarbons are generally recovered by horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing. Historically, seismic data have been used mainly for structural interpretation of the shale reservoirs. A primary benefit of surface seismic has been the ability to locate and avoid drilling into shallow carbonate karsting zones, salt structures, and basement-related major faults which adversely affect the ability to drill and complete the well effectively. More recent advances in prestack seismic data analysis yield attributes that appear to be correlated to formation lithology, rock strength, and stress fields. From these, we may infer preferential drilling locations or sweet spots. Knowledge and proper utilization of these attributes may prove valuable in the optimization of drilling and completion activities. In recent years, geophysical data have played an increasing role in supporting well planning, hydraulic fracturing, well stacking, and spacing. We have implemented an integrated workflow combining prestack seismic inversion and multiattribute analysis, microseismic data, well-log data, and geologic modeling to demonstrate key applications of quantitative seismic analysis utilized in developing ConocoPhillips' acreage in the Delaware Basin located in Texas. These applications range from reservoir characterization to well planning/execution, stacking/spacing optimization, and saltwater disposal. We show that multidisciplinary technology integration is the key for success in unconventional play exploration and development.

Shale, Quakes, and High Stakes: Regulating Fracking-Induced Seismicity in Oklahoma, USA and Lancashire, UK

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Miriam R. Aczel ◽  
Karen E. Makuch
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Hydraulic Fracturing ◽  
Shale Gas ◽  
Seismic Activity ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Oil And Gas Industry ◽  
High Volume ◽  
The United States ◽  
Horizontal Drilling ◽  
Induced Seismic Activity

High-volume hydraulic fracturing combined with horizontal drilling has “revolutionized” the United States’ oil and gas industry by allowing extraction of previously inaccessible oil and gas trapped in shale rock [1]. Although the United States has extracted shale gas in different states for several decades, the United Kingdom is in the early stages of developing its domestic shale gas resources, in the hopes of replicating the United States’ commercial success with the technologies [2, 3]. However, the extraction of shale gas using hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling poses potential risks to the environment and natural resources, human health, and communities and local livelihoods. Risks include contamination of water resources, air pollution, and induced seismic activity near shale gas operation sites. This paper examines the regulation of potential induced seismic activity in Oklahoma, USA, and Lancashire, UK, and concludes with recommendations for strengthening these protections.

Predicting the azimuth of natural fractures and in-situ horizontal stress: A case study from Sichuan Basin, China

Geophysics ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-97
Author(s):  
kai lin ◽  
Bo Zhang ◽  
Jianjun Zhang ◽  
Huijing Fang ◽  
Kefeng Xi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Fracturing ◽  
Seismic Data ◽  
Sichuan Basin ◽  
Horizontal Stress ◽  
Seismic Attributes ◽  
Seismic Events ◽  
Natural Fractures ◽  
Microseismic Data ◽  
Maximum Horizontal Stress

The azimuth of fractures and in-situ horizontal stress are important factors in planning horizontal wells and hydraulic fracturing for unconventional resources plays. The azimuth of natural fractures can be directly obtained by analyzing image logs. The azimuth of the maximum horizontal stress σH can be predicted by analyzing the induced fractures on image logs. The clustering of micro-seismic events can also be used to predict the azimuth of in-situ maximum horizontal stress. However, the azimuth of natural fractures and the in-situ maximum horizontal stress obtained from both image logs and micro-seismic events are limited to the wellbore locations. Wide azimuth seismic data provides an alternative way to predict the azimuth of natural fractures and maximum in-situ horizontal stress if the seismic attributes are properly calibrated with interpretations from well logs and microseismic data. To predict the azimuth of natural fractures and in-situ maximum horizontal stress, we focus our analysis on correlating the seismic attributes computed from pre-stack and post-stack seismic data with the interpreted azimuth obtained from image logs and microseismic data. The application indicates that the strike of the most positive principal curvature k1 can be used as an indicator for the azimuth of natural fractures within our study area. The azimuthal anisotropy of the dominant frequency component if offset vector title (OVT) seismic data can be used to predict the azimuth of maximum in-situ horizontal stress within our study area that is located the southern region of the Sichuan Basin, China. The predicted azimuths provide important information for the following well planning and hydraulic fracturing.

On Liability Issues Concerning Induced Seismicity in Hydraulic Fracturing Treatments and at Injection Disposal Wells: What Petroleum Engineers should know

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.. Hall ◽  
A.. Dahi Taleghani ◽  
N.. Dahi Taleghani
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Fracturing ◽  
Seismic Activity ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
The United States ◽  
Legal Liability ◽  
Seismic Events ◽  
Public Attention ◽  
Horizontal Drilling ◽  
Public Data ◽  
Induced Seismic Activity

Abstract The rates of oil and natural gas production in the United States have increased dramatically during the past decade, largely due to the use of hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling. This has benefitted the U.S. economy and generated hopes that the “shale revolution” could be replicated elsewhere. At the same time, however, public concern has grown regarding potential adverse impacts that fracing or other operations like gas flooding, waterflooding, waste disposal, and other production processes may have. One of the main public concerns relates to induced seismic events – that is, man-made earthquakes. Geologists have concluded that a variety of human activities can induce seismic events. Such operations include the operation of injection disposal wells, though a relatively small fraction of such wells are suspected of inducing seismic activity. Further, available public data shows that, on very rare occasions, hydraulic fracturing itself has caused tangible seismic activity. Although such events have been uncommon, they have attracted significant public attention and strengthened the opponents of oil and gas development. Further, although seismic events induced by oil and gas activity appear to have caused little damage, the potential legal liability could be substantial if such an event ever caused significant damage. Accordingly, industry should give increased attention to minimizing the likelihood of such events. The paper provides context for this issue by briefly reviewing information regarding recent cases of induced seismic activity, current technology for monitoring these events, and the inherent limitations in measurements and interpretation involved in using these techniques. This paper also discusses techniques that operators can use to reduce the likelihood of induced seismic events at hydraulic fracturing sites and at injection disposal wells. These include use of pretreatment geomechanical analyses to assess the likelihood of significant seismic events and, in appropriate circumstances, to guide a modification in perforation clusters design to reduce the likelihood of nearby fault reactivations. Finally, the article provides additional context by discussing relevant laws, including regulatory responses to suspected events of induced seismic activity and the possible legal theories for imposing liability for such events. The new regulations will compel operators to take certain actions and the potential for legal liability may incentivize additional action.

Design of Horizontal Wellbore in Dadas Shales of Turkey by Considering Wellbore Stability and Reservoir Geomechanics

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sukru Merey ◽  
Can Polat ◽  
Tuna Eren
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Fracturing ◽  
Horizontal Well ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Horizontal Wells ◽  
Horizontal Stress ◽  
Wellbore Stability ◽  
Horizontal Drilling ◽  
Horizontal Wellbore ◽  
Reservoir Geomechanics ◽  
Maximum Horizontal Stress

Abstract Currently, many horizontal wells are being drilled in Dadas shales of Turkey. Dadas shales have both oil (mostly) and gas potentials. Thus, hydraulic fracturing operations are being held to mobilize hydrocarbons. Up to 1000 m length horizontal wells are drilled for this purpose. However, there is not any study analyzing wellbore stability and reservoir geomechanics in the conditions of Dadas shales. In this study, the directions of horizontal wells, wellbore stability and reservoir geomechanics of Dadas shales were designed by using well log data. In this study, the python code developed by using Kirsch equations was developed. With this python code, it is possible to estimate unconfined compressive strength in along wellbore at different deviations. By analyzing caliper log, density and porosity logs of Dadas shales, vertical stress of Dadas shales was estimated and stress polygon for these shale was prepared in this study. Then, optimum direction of horizontal well was suggested to avoid any wellbore stability problems. According to the results of this study, high stresses are seen in horizontal directions. In this study, it was found that the maximum horizontal stress in almost the direction of North-South. The results of this study revealed that direction of maximum horizontal stress and horizontal well direction fluid affect the wellbore stability significantly. Thus, in this study, better horizontal well design was made for Dadas shales. Currently, Dadas shales are popular in Turkey because of its oil and gas potential so horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing operations are being held. However, in literature, there is no study about horizontal wellbore designs for Dadas shales. This study will be novel and provide information about the horizontal drilling design of Dadas shales.

Creating Value for the High-Saline Bakken Produced Water by Optimizing its Viscoelastic Properties and Proppant Carrying Tendency with High-Viscosity Friction Reducers

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olusegun Stanley Tomomewo ◽  
Michael Daniel Mann ◽  
Abdulaziz Ellafi ◽  
Hadi Jabbari ◽  
Clement Tang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Fracturing ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Produced Water ◽  
High Viscosity ◽  
Base Case ◽  
Bakken Formation ◽  
Horizontal Drilling ◽  
Produce Water ◽  
Environmental Footprints ◽  
Reservoir Conditions

Abstract Since the arrival and advancement of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing (hydrofracturing) technologies, developing and producing unconventional formations like the Bakken Formation have become a mystery solved for operators in North America. This has also made unconventional reservoir assets the central focus of the oil and gas/energy industry at the state, national, and global levels. However, the produced water from these activities has high salt contents (∼110,000 to 350,000 ppm) total dissolve solids (TDS) in the Bakken Formation) and poisonous if untreated and in contact with the environment. The most common disposal method in the Bakken Formation is deep injections into disposal wells. However, there have been some fears that continuous injections, in addition to contaminating the ground water, could potentially lead to seismic activities either at the time of injection or in the near future. If treated and made fit for its respective applications, this water could be reused in the hydrofracturing process, thereby reducing operator costs of water acquisition and disposal. In addition, it could be used for power generation or to support coal mining and irrigation. Previous studies have discussed various means of improving the quality of the produced water. However, none have been able to cope with the issue of wastewater and residual oil high in TDS. This paper aims to study all relevant means that allow the Bakken Formation to produce water that can be used as an alternative based fluid for use with polymers like high viscosity friction reducers (HVFRs) to make hydraulic fracturing fluids that will be stable with reservoir conditions and able to reduce environmental footprints and operating costs. This research presents an experimental investigation using the Bakken Formation's hypersaline water with HVFRs. This work includes experimental research divided into base case scenarios that serve as a standard for comparison of the effectiveness of the other cases. The results show that the Bakken water high in TDS treated with higher dosages (4-8 GPT) of HVFRs withstand the effect of hardness, salinity, and heavy metals and remain stable at various shear rates (66-330 s−1). No treatment was done on the Bakken produced water except filtration and dilution.

Interpretation of fractures and joint inversion using multicomponent seismic data — Marcellus Shale example

2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. SE55-SE62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shukun Yuan ◽  
Michael V. DeAngelo ◽  
Bob A. Hardage
Keyword(s):  
Shale Gas ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Reservoir Characterization ◽  
Joint Inversion ◽  
Marcellus Shale ◽  
Natural Fracture ◽  
Gas Reservoirs ◽  
Horizontal Drilling ◽  
Multicomponent Seismic ◽  
Shale Gas Reservoirs

Evaluating and exploiting unconventional complex oil and gas reservoirs such as the Marcellus Shale gas reservoirs within the Appalachian Basin in Pennsylvania, USA, have gained considerable interest in recent years. Technologies such as conventional 3D seismic, horizontal drilling, and hydraulic fracturing have been at the forefront of the effort to exploit these resources. Recently, multicomponent seismic technologies have been integrated into some resource evaluation and reservoir characterization activities of low-permeability rock systems. We evaluated how multicomponent seismic technology provides value to reservoir characterization in shale gas exploration. We improved fault interpretations and natural fracture identifications by means of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] integrated interpretation. In addition, using P-P-/P-SV-joint inversion, we extracted key parameters, such as [Formula: see text] ratio and density, that improve stratigraphic interpretation and rock-property descriptions of shale gas reservoirs.

Estimating Truck Traffic Generated from Well Developments on Low-Volume Roads

2020 ◽  
Vol 2674 (10) ◽  
pp. 512-524
Author(s):  
Ioannis Tsapakis
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Fracturing ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Prediction Models ◽  
Temporal Trends ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Water Volume ◽  
Truck Traffic ◽  
Horizontal Drilling ◽  
Traffic Demand ◽  
Spatio Temporal

Recent advances in horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing technologies have allowed producers to extract oil and gas from thin reservoirs that may not be economically viable through vertical drilling. While the new hydraulic fracturing technologies have resulted in substantial economic benefits for the state of Texas, they tend to generate high volumes of truck traffic that diversely affect the transportation system. Many of the affected roads were designed and built several decades ago to meet low traffic demand levels and not heavy repetitive truck loads. The goal of this study is to enhance state agencies’ ability to determine the truck traffic associated with fracking in existing and new wells based on several well characteristics. This paper explores spatio-temporal trends in hydraulic fracturing in Texas and develops a methodology that agencies can use to estimate the amount of water and the number of trucks needed to frack and fully develop a well. The analysis revealed that fracking horizontal wells generates eight times more water and, therefore, truck traffic than vertical wells. The relationship between water volume versus well length is non-linear. The length of laterals has a very strong correlation with frack water (0.818) and sand (0.763), while the vertical well depth has a weak to negligible relationship with fracking materials. The two prediction models presented in the paper produced statistically similar results with average errors of less than 20%. The paper explains how the predicted water volumes can be converted into the number of trucks needed to frack and fully develop a well.

scholarly journals A Survey of Typical Claims and Key Defenses Asserted in Recent Hydraulic Fracturing Litigation

2013 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 305-334
Author(s):  
Michael Goldman
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Fracturing ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
The United States ◽  
Small Energy ◽  
Horizontal Drilling ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Past ◽  
Drinking Water Resources ◽  
Oil And Natural Gas ◽  
Energy Companies

Small energy companies using hydraulic fracturing, along with horizontal drilling, are unlocking vast oil and natural gas deposits trapped in shale all over the United States. Over the past few years, several key technical, economic, and energy policy developments have spurred increased use of hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas extraction over a wider diversity of geographic regions and geologic formations.2 However, with the expansion of hydraulic fracturing, there have been increasing concerns voiced by the public about potential impacts on drinking water resources, public health, and the environment.

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