Complementary Surveillance Microseismic and Flowback Data Analysis: An Approach to Evaluate Complex Fracture Networks

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanmin Xu ◽  
Obinna Daniel Ezulike ◽  
Ashkan Zolfaghari ◽  
Hassan Dehghanpour ◽  
Claudio Virues
Keyword(s):  
Data Analysis ◽  
Fracture Networks ◽  
Complex Fracture

Production Data Analysis of Fractured Horizontal Well with Considering Complex Fracture Networks: A Case Study

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhiming Chen ◽  
Xuefeng Tang ◽  
Xinwei Liao ◽  
Jiali Zhang ◽  
Haoshu Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Data Analysis ◽  
Horizontal Well ◽  
Production Data ◽  
Fracture Networks ◽  
Complex Fracture ◽  
Fractured Horizontal Well

Numerical Simulation of Complex Fracture Network Development by Hydraulic Fracturing in Naturally Fractured Ultratight Formations

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannes Hofmann ◽  
Tayfun Babadagli ◽  
Günter Zimmermann
Keyword(s):  
Fracture Network ◽  
Natural Fracture ◽  
Fracture Networks ◽  
Network Development ◽  
Complex Fracture ◽  
Fracture Patterns ◽  
Fracture Systems ◽  
Fracture Development ◽  
Complex Fracture Network ◽  
Treatment Designs

The creation of large complex fracture networks by hydraulic fracturing is imperative for enhanced oil recovery from tight sand or shale reservoirs, tight gas extraction, and Hot-Dry-Rock (HDR) geothermal systems to improve the contact area to the rock matrix. Although conventional fracturing treatments may result in bi-wing fractures, there is evidence by microseismic mapping that fracture networks can develop in many unconventional reservoirs, especially when natural fracture systems are present and the differences between the principle stresses are low. However, not much insight is gained about fracture development as well as fluid and proppant transport in naturally fractured tight formations. In order to clarify the relationship between rock and treatment parameters, and resulting fracture properties, numerical simulations were performed using a commercial Discrete Fracture Network (DFN) simulator. A comprehensive sensitivity analysis is presented to identify typical fracture network patterns resulting from massive water fracturing treatments in different geological conditions. It is shown how the treatment parameters influence the fracture development and what type of fracture patterns may result from different treatment designs. The focus of this study is on complex fracture network development in different natural fracture systems. Additionally, the applicability of the DFN simulator for modeling shale gas stimulation and HDR stimulation is critically discussed. The approach stated above gives an insight into the relationships between rock properties (specifically matrix properties and characteristics of natural fracture systems) and the properties of developed fracture networks. Various simulated scenarios show typical conditions under which different complex fracture patterns can develop and prescribe efficient treatment designs to generate these fracture systems. Hydraulic stimulation is essential for the production of oil, gas, or heat from ultratight formations like shales and basement rocks (mainly granite). If natural fracture systems are present, the fracturing process becomes more complex to simulate. Our simulation results reveal valuable information about main parameters influencing fracture network properties, major factors leading to complex fracture network development, and differences between HDR and shale gas/oil shale stimulations.

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