Integrating Pressure Transient Analysis in Hydraulic Fracturing

State of the Art in Characterization of Frac Stage Geometry and Conductivity Using Pressure Leakoff

10.2118/200882-ms ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Mohamed Ibrahim Mohamed ◽

Erdal Ozkan

Keyword(s):

Hydraulic Fracturing ◽

Hydraulic Fracture ◽

Transient Analysis ◽

State Of The Art ◽

Low Cost ◽

Pressure Data ◽

Pressure Transient Analysis ◽

Fracture Conductivity ◽

Pressure Transient ◽

Half Length

Abstract Pressure-transient analysis (PTA) is widely used in the industry to estimate fracture half-length, height, and skin due to hydraulic fracturing as well as reservoir parameters. PTA studies focus on pressure data from long shut-in periods and diagnostic fracture injection tests (DFITs), while analyzing the pressure data recorded during the hydraulic fracture treatment has been overlooked. This paper details the state-of-the-art in applying pressure transient analysis to better estimate hydraulic fracture conductivity and dimensions and improve treatment designs stage by stage. The initial portion of this paper describes the application of a novel and low-cost diagnostic method for post-fracture analysis. The bulk of the paper is dedicated to present case histories that illustrate the PTA of the recorded pressure data during treatment to obtain estimates of fracture dimensions and conductivity. The pressure recorded during each stage is processed to ensure the proper data quality and the pressure falloff at the end of the stage is filtered out. The pressure is then analyzed for multi-cluster, finite-conductivity fractures, to obtain the fracture half-length, conductivity, and leakoff. Calculated parameters from each stage are compared to provide insights into the hydraulic fracture design and confirm the adequacy of the treatment design along the well. The results from stage leakoff pressure analysis are very valuable in confirming relative fracture conductivity and providing a qualitative measure of fracture length and height. The total stimulated reservoir area (SRA) calculated using the proposed method yields comparable values to SRA obtained from buildup analysis. The information provided is as valuable and comparable as that from direct near-wellbore diagnostics, such as radioactive traces, temperature logging, real-time micro-seismic monitoring, and production logging. The paper proposes a novel, low-cost analytical PTA method for estimating fracture dimensions, skin, and leakoff coefficient. We illustrate – with several field cases – that conventional post-fracture techniques can be integrated with the stage by stage PTA analysis to provide not only a more consistent and systematic analysis but also a more accurate assessment of treatment effectiveness. The findings of this paper help improve the efficiency of multistage hydraulic fracturing stimulation of horizontal wells.

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Fracture Geometry Calibration Using Multiple Surveillance Techniques

10.2118/205280-ms ◽

2022 ◽

Author(s):

Musallam Jaboob ◽

Ahmed Al Shueili ◽

Hussien Al Salmi ◽

Salim Al Hajri ◽

German Merletti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hydraulic Fracturing ◽

Transient Analysis ◽

Earth Model ◽

Tight Gas ◽

Radioactive Tracers ◽

Multiple Sources ◽

Pressure Transient Analysis ◽

Fracture Geometry ◽

Pressure Transient ◽

Tight Gas Reservoir

Abstract An accurate Mechanical Earth Model (MEM) is of vital importance in tight gas reservoirs where hydraulic fracturing is the only way to produce hydrocarbons economically. The Barik tight gas reservoir is the main target in Khazzan and Ghazeer Fields at the Sultanate of Oman (Rylance et al., 2011). This reservoir consists of multiple low-permeability sandstone layers interbedded with marine shales. A good understanding of the fracture propagation in such a reservoir has a major effect on completion and fracturing design. The MEM derived from sonic logs and calibrated with core data needs to be further validated by independent measurements of the fracturing geometry. Multiple surveillance techniques have been implemented in the Barik reservoir to validate the MEM and to match observations from hydraulic fracturing operations. These techniques include closure interpretation using a wireline deployed formation testing assembly, the use of mini-frac injection tests with deployed bottomhole pressure gauges, execution of post injection time-lapse temperature logging, the injection of radioactive tracers, associated production logging, subsequent pressure transient analysis and other techniques. A cross-disciplinary team worked with multiple sources of data to calibrate the MEM with the purpose of delivering a high-confidence prediction of the created fracture geometry, which honors all available surveillance data. In turn, this validation approach provided a solid basis for optimization of the completion and fracturing design, in order to optimally exploit this challenging reservoir and maximize the economic returns being delivered. For example, combination of stress testing with radioactive tracers provided confidence in stress barriers in this multilayered reservoir. Pressure transient analysis allowed to calibrate mechanical model to match fracturing half-length that is contributing to production. This paper provides extensive surveillance examples and workflows for data analysis. Surveillance of this degree in the same well is uncommon because of the associated time and cost. However, it provides unique value for understanding the target reservoir. This paper demonstrates the Value Of Information (VOI) that can be associated with such surveillance and provides a concrete and practical example that can be used for the justification of future surveillance programs associated with the hydraulic fracturing operations.

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