Laboratory Measurements Mapping Heterogeneity and Variation of Poroelasticity for Improved Hydraulic Fracture Design in a Tight Carbonate Reservoir Onshore UAE

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Syofvas Syofyan ◽  
Tengku Mohd. Fauzi ◽  
Tariq Ali Al-Shabibi ◽  
Basma Banihammad ◽  
Emil Nursalim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Compressive Strength ◽  
Hydraulic Fracture ◽  
Rock Type ◽  
Ct Imaging ◽  
Carbonate Reservoir ◽  
Core Material ◽  
Scratch Testing ◽  
Fracture Conductivity ◽  
Vertical Heterogeneity ◽  
Tight Carbonate

Abstract Reservoir X is a thin and tight carbonate reservoir with thin caprock that isolates it from an adjacent giant reservoir. An accurate geomechanical model with high precision is required for designing the optimum hydraulic fracture and preventing communication with adjacent reservoirs. The reservoir exhibits considerable variability in rock properties that will affect fracture height growth, complexity, and width and rock interaction with treatment fluids. The heterogeneity observed from the tight sections is further complicated by the variation of Biot's poroelastic coefficient, α, which is required for accurate assessment of the effective stresses. Laboratory testing was required to characterize the extensive vertical heterogeneity for key inputs in developing a geomechanics model. Approximately 120 ft of continuous core from an onshore field was provided for this study. The core material represented a potential tight carbonate reservoir interval and bounding sections. Heterogeneity mapping was performed from continuous core measurements from CT-imaging and scratch testing. CT-imaging provides an indication of the bulk density variation and compositional changes. Scratch testing provides a continuous measure of the unconfined compressive strength (UCS). Combining the two provides a means for accurate definition of rock thickness for dense, moderately dense, and lower density material coupled with corresponding compressive strength. Rock units were then subdivided based on these continuous properties for further geomechanics tests. Using log analysis combined with continuous UCS measurements from scratch testing, eight rock type classes were defined covering the target reservoir interval and bounding sections. This information was used for optimizing the sample selection process to characterize each identified rock unit. Routine core analysis measurements reveal significant vertical heterogeneity with porosity ranging from 0.1% to 18.1%. Similar variability was determined from elastic properties for each of the eight rock types. Quasi-static values for Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio determined at in-situ stress conditions ranged from 2.6 to 9.6 × 106 psi, and from 0.16 to 0.34, respectively. The Biot's poroelastic coefficient has a first-order impact on the calculated effective stress profile, which directly affects fracture stimulation model results. Testing from this study combined with previous measurements (Noufal et al. 2020, SPE-202866-MS) provides a unique correlation with porosity and bulk compressibility. In addition, rock-fluid compatibility was evaluated with proppant embedment/fracture conductivity tests. Results are dependent on a given rock type, exhibiting a wide range of fracture conductivity as a function of closure stress from 10 to 1000 md-ft. Embedment for all cases was low to moderate.

Simulation of Miscible Displacement in Full-Diameter Carbonate Cores

1982 ◽  
Vol 22 (05) ◽  
pp. 647-657 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.P. Batycky ◽  
B.B. Maini ◽  
D.B. Fisher
Keyword(s):  
Oil Recovery ◽  
Water Saturation ◽  
Accurate Determination ◽  
Miscible Displacement ◽  
Carbonate Reservoir ◽  
Core Material ◽  
Immiscible Fluid ◽  
Displacement Efficiency ◽  
Carbonate Cores ◽  
Capacitance Model

Abstract Miscible gas displacement data obtained from full-diameter carbonate reservoir cores have been fitted to a modified miscible flow dispersion-capacitance model. Starting with earlier approaches, we have synthesized an algorithm that provides rapid and accurate determination of the three parameters included in the model: the dispersion coefficient, the flowing fraction of displaceable volume, and the rate constant for mass transfer between flowing and stagnant volumes. Quality of fit is verified with a finite-difference simulation. The dependencies of the three parameters have been evaluated as functions of the displacement velocity and of the water saturation within four carbonate cores composed of various amounts of matrix, vug, and fracture porosity. Numerical simulation of a composite core made by stacking three of the individual cores has been compared with the experimental data. For comparison, an analysis of Berea sandstone gas displacement also has been provided. Although the sandstone displays a minor dependence of gas recovery on water saturation, we found that the carbonate cores are strongly affected by water content. Such behavior would not be measurable if small carbonate samples that can reflect only matrix properties were used. This study therefore represents a significant assessment of the dispersion-capacitance model for carbonate cores and its ability to reflect changes in pore interconnectivity that accompany water saturation alteration. Introduction Miscible displacement processes are used widely in various aspects of oil recovery. A solvent slug injected into a reservoir can be used to displace miscibly either oil or gas. The necessary slug size is determined by the rate at which deterioration can occur as the slug is Another commonly used miscible process involves addition of a small slug within the injected fluids or gases to determine the nature and extent of inter well communication. The quantity of tracer material used is dictated by analytical detection capabilities and by an understanding of the miscible displacement properties of the reservoir. We can develop such understanding by performing one-dimensional (1D) step-change miscible displacement experiments within the laboratory with selected reservoir core material. The effluent profiles derived from the experiments then are fitted to a suitable mathematical model to express the behavior of each rock type through the use of a relatively small number of parameters. This paper illustrates the efficient application of the three-parameter, dispersion-capacitance model. Its application previously has been limited to use with small homogeneous plugs normally composed of intergranular and intencrystalline porosity, and its suitability for use with cores displaying macroscopic heterogeneity has been questioned. Consequently, in addition to illustrating its use with a homogeneous sandstone, we fit data derived from previously reported full-diameter carbonate cores. As noted earlier, these cores were heterogeneous, and each of them displayed different dual or multiple types of porosity characteristic of vugular and fractured carbonate rocks. Dispersion-Capacitance Model The displacement efficiency of one fluid by a second immiscible fluid within a porous medium depends on the complexity of rock and fluid properties. SPEJ P. 647^

Impact of the Cluster Spacing on Hydraulic Fracture Conductivity and Productivity of a Marcellus Shale Horizontal Well

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed El Sgher ◽  
Kashy Aminian ◽  
Ameri Samuel
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Fracture ◽  
Marcellus Shale ◽  
Technical Information ◽  
Gas Production ◽  
Production Performance ◽  
Valuable Insight ◽  
Fracture Conductivity ◽  
Fracture Properties ◽  
Gas Recovery ◽  
The Impact

Abstract The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of the hydraulic fracturing treatment design, including cluster spacing and fracturing fluid volume on the hydraulic fracture properties and consequently, the productivity of a horizontal Marcellus Shale well with multi-stage fractures. The availability of a significant amount of advanced technical information from the Marcellus Shale Energy and Environment Laboratory (MSEEL) provided an opportunity to perform an integrated analysis to gain valuable insight into optimizing fracturing treatment and the gas recovery from Marcellus shale. The available technical information from a horizontal well at MSEEL includes well logs, image logs (both vertical and lateral), diagnostic fracture injection test (DFIT), fracturing treatment data, microseismic recording during the fracturing treatment, production logging data, and production data. The analysis of core data, image logs, and DFIT provided the necessary data for accurate prediction of the hydraulic fracture properties and confirmed the presence and distribution of natural fractures (fissures) in the formation. Furthermore, the results of the microseismic interpretation were utilized to adjust the stress conditions in the adjacent layers. The predicted hydraulic fracture properties were then imported into a reservoir simulation model, developed based on the Marcellus Shale properties, to predict the production performance of the well. Marcellus Shale properties, including porosity, permeability, adsorption characteristics, were obtained from the measurements on the core plugs and the well log data. The Quanta Geo borehole image log from the lateral section of the well was utilized to estimate the fissure distribution s in the shale. The measured and published data were utilized to develop the geomechnical factors to account for the hydraulic fracture conductivity and the formation (matrix and fissure) permeability impairments caused by the reservoir pressure depletion during the production. Stress shadowing and the geomechanical factors were found to play major roles in production performance. Their inclusion in the reservoir model provided a close agreement with the actual production performance of the well. The impact of stress shadowing is significant for Marcellus shale because of the low in-situ stress contrast between the pay zone and the adjacent zones. Stress shadowing appears to have a significant impact on hydraulic fracture properties and as result on the production during the early stages. The geomechanical factors, caused by the net stress changes have a more significant impact on the production during later stages. The cumulative gas production was found to increase as the cluster spacing was decreased (larger number of clusters). At the same time, the stress shadowing caused by the closer cluster spacing resulted in a lower fracture conductivity which in turn diminished the increase in gas production. However, the total fracture volume has more of an impact than the fracture conductivity on gas recovery. The analysis provided valuable insight for optimizing the cluster spacing and the gas recovery from Marcellus shale.

Injectivity and Propagation of Sulfonated Acrylamide-Based Copolymers in Low Permeability Carbonate Reservoir Cores in Harsh Salinity and Temperature Conditions : Challenges and Learnings from a Middle East Onshore Case Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolas Gaillard ◽  
Matthieu Olivaud ◽  
Alain Zaitoun ◽  
Mahmoud Ould-Metidji ◽  
Guillaume Dupuis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
Polymer Solutions ◽  
Carbonate Reservoir ◽  
Core Material ◽  
Low Permeability ◽  
The Core ◽  
Reservoir Conditions ◽  
Carbonate Cores ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Mobility Reduction

Abstract Polymer flooding is one of the most mature EOR technology applied successfully in a broad range of reservoir conditions. The last developments made in polymer chemistries allowed pushing the boundaries of applicability towards higher temperature and salinity carbonate reservoirs. Specifically designed sulfonated acrylamide-based copolymers (SPAM) have been proven to be stable for more than one year at 120°C and are the best candidates to comply with Middle East carbonate reservoir conditions. Numerous studies have shown good injectivity and propagation properties of SPAM in carbonate cores with permeabilities ranging from 70 to 150 mD in presence of oil. This study aims at providing new insights on the propagation of SPAM in carbonate reservoir cores having permeabilities ranging between 10 and 40 mD. Polymer screening was performed in the conditions of ADNOC onshore carbonate reservoir using a 260 g/L TDS synthetic formation brine together with oil and core material from the reservoir. All the experiments were performed at residual oil saturation (Sor). The experimental approach aimed at reproducing the transport of the polymer entering the reservoir from the sand face up to a certain depth. Three reservoir coreflood experiments were performed in series at increasing temperatures and decreasing rates to mimic the progression of the polymer in the reservoir with a radial velocity profile. A polymer solution at 2000 ppm was injected in the first core at 100 mL/h and 40°C. Effluents were collected and injected in the second core at 20 mL/h and 70°C. Effluents were collected again and injected in the third core at 4 mL/h and 120°C. A further innovative approach using reservoir minicores (6 mm length disks) was also implemented to screen the impact of different parameters such as Sor, molecular weight and prefiltration step on the injectivity of the polymer solutions. According to minicores data, shearing of the polymer should help to ensure good propagation and avoid pressure build-up at the core inlet. This result was confirmed through an injection in a larger core at Sor and at 120°C. When comparing the injection of sheared and unsheared polymer at the same concentration, core inlet impairment was suppressed with the sheared polymer and the same range of mobility reduction (Rm) was achieved in the internal section of the core although viscosity was lower for the sheared polymer. Such result indicates that shearing is an efficient way to improve injectivity while maximizing the mobility reduction by suppressing the loss of product by filtration/retention at the core inlet. This paper gives new insights concerning SPAM rheology in low permeability carbonate cores. Additionally, it provides an innovative and easier approach for screening polymer solutions to anticipate their propagation in more advanced coreflooding experiments.

Using Logging and Seismic Data to Identify Boundaries Between Different OWC Units in a Deepwater Carbonate Reservoirs

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kangxu Ren ◽  
Junfeng Zhao ◽  
Jian Zhao ◽  
Xilong Sun
Keyword(s):  
Seismic Data ◽  
Carbonate Rocks ◽  
Carbonate Reservoir ◽  
Carbonate Reservoirs ◽  
Sedimentary Process ◽  
Core Samples ◽  
Tight Carbonate ◽  
Porosity And Permeability ◽  
Seismic Sections ◽  
Parameters Inversion

Abstract At least three very different oil-water contacts (OWC) encountered in the deepwater, huge anticline, pre-salt carbonate reservoirs of X oilfield, Santos Basin, Brazil. The boundaries identification between different OWC units was very important to help calculating the reserves in place, which was the core factor for the development campaign. Based on analysis of wells pressure interference testing data, and interpretation of tight intervals in boreholes, predicating the pre-salt distribution of igneous rocks, intrusion baked aureoles, the silicification and the high GR carbonate rocks, the viewpoint of boundaries developed between different OWC sub-units in the lower parts of this complex carbonate reservoirs had been better understood. Core samples, logging curves, including conventional logging and other special types such as NMR, UBI and ECS, as well as the multi-parameters inversion seismic data, were adopted to confirm the tight intervals in boreholes and to predicate the possible divided boundaries between wells. In the X oilfield, hundreds of meters pre-salt carbonate reservoir had been confirmed to be laterally connected, i.e., the connected intervals including almost the whole Barra Velha Formation and/or the main parts of the Itapema Formation. However, in the middle and/or the lower sections of pre-salt target layers, the situation changed because there developed many complicated tight bodies, which were formed by intrusive diabase dykes and/or sills and the tight carbonate rocks. Many pre-salt inner-layers diabases in X oilfield had very low porosity and permeability. The tight carbonate rocks mostly developed either during early sedimentary process or by latter intrusion metamorphism and/or silicification. Tight bodies were firstly identified in drilled wells with the help of core samples and logging curves. Then, the continuous boundary were discerned on inversion seismic sections marked by wells. This paper showed the idea of coupling the different OWC units in a deepwater pre-salt carbonate play with complicated tight bodies. With the marking of wells, spatial distributions of tight layers were successfully discerned and predicated on inversion seismic sections.

Enhanced and Rock Typing-Based Reservoir Characterization of the Palaeocene Harash Carbonate Reservoir-Zelten Field-Sirte Basin-Libya

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed Masoud ◽  
W. Scott Meddaugh ◽  
Masoud Eljaroshi ◽  
Khaled Elghanduri
Keyword(s):  
Rock Type ◽  
Carbonate Reservoir ◽  
Classification Model ◽  
Reservoir Rocks ◽  
The Core ◽  
Core Samples ◽  
Rock Types ◽  
Rock Typing ◽  
Open Hole ◽  
Type Classification

Abstract The Harash Formation was previously known as the Ruaga A and is considered to be one of the most productive reservoirs in the Zelten field in terms of reservoir quality, areal extent, and hydrocarbon quantity. To date, nearly 70 wells were drilled targeting the Harash reservoir. A few wells initially naturally produced but most had to be stimulated which reflected the field drilling and development plan. The Harash reservoir rock typing identification was essential in understanding the reservoir geology implementation of reservoir development drilling program, the construction of representative reservoir models, hydrocarbons volumetric calculations, and historical pressure-production matching in the flow modelling processes. The objectives of this study are to predict the permeability at un-cored wells and unsampled locations, to classify the reservoir rocks into main rock typing, and to build robust reservoir properties models in which static petrophysical properties and fluid properties are assigned for identified rock type and assessed the existed vertical and lateral heterogeneity within the Palaeocene Harash carbonate reservoir. Initially, an objective-based workflow was developed by generating a training dataset from open hole logs and core samples which were conventionally and specially analyzed of six wells. The developed dataset was used to predict permeability at cored wells through a K-mod model that applies Neural Network Analysis (NNA) and Declustring (DC) algorithms to generate representative permeability and electro-facies. Equal statistical weights were given to log responses without analytical supervision taking into account the significant log response variations. The core data was grouped on petrophysical basis to compute pore throat size aiming at deriving and enlarging the interpretation process from the core to log domain using Indexation and Probabilities of Self-Organized Maps (IPSOM) classification model to develop a reliable representation of rock type classification at the well scale. Permeability and rock typing derived from the open-hole logs and core samples analysis are the main K-mod and IPSOM classification model outputs. The results were propagated to more than 70 un-cored wells. Rock typing techniques were also conducted to classify the Harash reservoir rocks in a consistent manner. Depositional rock typing using a stratigraphic modified Lorenz plot and electro-facies suggest three different rock types that are probably linked to three flow zones. The defined rock types are dominated by specifc reservoir parameters. Electro-facies enables subdivision of the formation into petrophysical groups in which properties were assigned to and were characterized by dynamic behavior and the rock-fluid interaction. Capillary pressure and relative permeability data proved the complexity in rock capillarity. Subsequently, Swc is really rock typing dependent. The use of a consistent representative petrophysical rock type classification led to a significant improvement of geological and flow models.

Needles in the Pay Stack ADNOC Exploring Tight-Oil Rock, Triples Production In First Pilot

2021 ◽  
Vol 73 (01) ◽  
pp. 20-22
Author(s):  
Trent Jacobs
Keyword(s):  
Carbonate Reservoir ◽  
Reservoir Rock ◽  
Abu Dhabi ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Slowing Down ◽  
Tight Carbonate ◽  
Potential Impact ◽  
Carbonate Formations ◽  
Oil Company ◽  
Term Data

In the midst of an industry downturn last year, the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) reached a new oil production ceiling of 4 million B/D. The UAE’s largest producer has no intentions of slowing down. By decade’s end, ADNOC expects to have raised its maximum daily output by another million barrels. To cross that milestone, the company has set its sights on mastering the tight, thin, and unconventional formations that dot the UAE’s subsurface landscape. One of the places where such developments are hoped to unfold soon is known as Field Q. Found in southeastern Abu Dhabi, Field Q sits above a tight carbonate reservoir that holds an estimated 600 million bbl of oil. But with a permeability ranging from 1 to 3 millidarcy and poor vertical communication, the reservoir and its barrels have proven difficult to cultivate economically - until recently. ADNOC has published new details of its first onshore pilot of a “fishbone stimulation” that involved using more than a hundred hollow needles to pierce as far as 40 ft into the reservoir rock. The additional drainage netted by the fishbone needles boosted production threefold in the test well, as compared with its traditionally completed neighbors on the same pad. ADNOC ran the pilot in the summer of 2019 and by the end of the year saw enough production data to launch a wider 10-well pilot that remains underway. Based on a longer-term data set from these wells, the company will decide whether to leap into a fieldwide deployment of the niche completions technology. In the meantime, the petrotechnical team in charge of the test projects have issued roundly positive reviews of the fishbone technique in two recently presented technical papers (SPE 202636; SPE 203086) from the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition & Conference (ADIPEC). “There is a chance that the fishbone-stimulated wells can avoid the drilling of multiple wells targeting different sublayers in the same zone,” said Rama Rao Rachapudi, listing one of several of the technology’s advantages over other approaches that were considered. The senior petroleum engineer with ADNOC, who is one of several authors of the papers that cover both the drilling and completions aspects of the pilot, shared during ADIPEC that his onshore team found motivation to test the technology after bringing in a batch of dis-mal appraisal wells. The fishbone system, also known as multilateral jetting stimulation technology, has been a specialized application ever since it was introduced just over a decade ago. Underscoring the potential impact of the current round of pilots on the technology’s adoption rate, ADNOC noted there were only around 30 worldwide fishbone deployments prior to this project. Most of those have been in the Middle East’s naturally fractured and layered carbonate formations - just like those of Field Q.

Predicting Hydraulic Fracturing in a Carbonate Gas Reservoir in Abu Dhabi Using 1D Mechanical Earth Model: Uncertainty and Constraints

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manhal Sirat ◽  
Mujahed Ahmed ◽  
Xing Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Fracturing ◽  
Hydraulic Fracture ◽  
Natural Fracture ◽  
Abu Dhabi ◽  
Hydraulic Fractures ◽  
Gas Reservoir ◽  
In Situ Stresses ◽  
Tight Carbonate ◽  
Different Depths

Abstract In-situ stress state plays an important role in controlling fracture growth and containment in hydraulic fracturing managements. It is evident that the mechanical properties, existing stress regime and the natural fracture network of its reservoir rocks and the surrounding formations mainly control the geometry, size and containments of produced hydraulic fractures. Furthermore, the three principal in situ stresses' axes swap directions and magnitudes at different depths giving rise to identifying different mechanical bedrocks with corresponding stress regimes at different depths. Hence predicting the hydro-fractures can be theoretically achieved once all the above data are available. This is particularly difficult in unconventional and tight carbonate reservoirs, where heterogeneity and highly stress variation, in terms of magnitude and orientation, are expected. To optimize the field development plan (FDP) of a tight carbonate gas reservoir in Abu Dhabi, 1D Mechanical Earth Models (MEMs), involving generating the three principal in-situ stresses' profiles and mechanical property characterization with depth, have been constructed for four vertical wells. The results reveal the swap of stress magnitudes at different mechanical layers, which controls the dimension and orientation of the produced hydro-fractures. Predicted containment of the Hydro-fractures within the specific zones is likely with inevitable high uncertainty when the stress contrast between Sv, SHmax with Shmin respectively as well as Young's modulus and Poisson's Ratio variations cannot be estimated accurately. The uncertainty associated with this analysis is mainly related to the lacking of the calibration of the stress profiles of the 1D MEMs with minifrac and/or XLOT data, and both mechanical and elastic properties with rock mechanic testing results. This study investigates the uncertainty in predicting hydraulic fracture containment due to lacking such calibration, which highlights that a complete suite of data, including calibration of 1D MEMs, is crucial in hydraulic fracture treatment.

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