Visualizing and analyzing microseismic data during fracture stages can help to improve the fracturing process and improve expected hydrocarbon recovery.
Achieving more optimum, cost-effective recovery from opens in a new windowunconventional reservoirs—particularly at a time when independents are cautious about these investments—begins with an in-depth analysis of subsurface conditions. These conditions, which are critical inputs for frac design and production planning, are characterized by such data as:
- formation lithology, porosity, permeability, modulus, compressibility data from core samples and drilling logs; and
- wellbore completion, reservoir pressure, and in-situ stress from well logs and tests.
Integrate and Visualize Subsurface Datasets
Development Phase
- Verify the extent of rock to be affected in the proposed well plan.
- Assess any geologic risks and proposing appropriate mitigation strategies.
- Conduct multiple sensitivity runs using reservoir and propagation models to account for uncertainties such as estimates of formation permeability and drainage area at the early development stage.
- Determine fracture length and conductivity based on reservoir simulation models.
- Analyze the effect of fracture length and conductivity on reservoir productivity and ultimate recovery.
- Specify more informed fracture treatments based on rock strata, in-situ stress profile, formation permeability and modulus, fracture-fluid viscosity, fluid-loss characteristics, and injection rates.
- Develop hydraulic fracture propagation models that guide the selection of appropriate proppant to achieve optimum fracture length and fracture conductivity.
- Using data obtained via borehole microseismic temperature, tiltmeter mapping or tracer surveys, assess the post-fracture stimulation to determine the extent of hydraulic fractures and the stimulated reservoir volume.
Integrated data visualization and analysis capabilities allow engineers to understand reservoir characteristics and evaluate reservoir potential.
Production Phase
- Use opens in a new windowmicroseismic data to determine the extent of individual fracks within the target reservoir, their positions relative to the wellbore, and their effect on well production.
- Present hydraulic fracturing data in conjunction with acoustic data, fault geometries, stratigraphy, and statistical plots of quantitative datasets to assess reservoir performance and plan enhancements.
- Update sensitivity runs with new/updated data to reduce uncertainties and determine their effect on created and propped fracture dimensions.
- Plan the optimum wellpath and spacing for additional wellbores to maximize hydrocarbon recovery between adjacent wells.
How to Improve Hydraulic Fracturing With CoViz 4D
CoViz 4D, a data visualization analytics software from Dynamic Graphics, Inc., gives oil and gas professionals the ability to easily access and combine all relevant data associated with non-conventional reservoirs. Powerful visualization capabilities enable you to explore data relationships and analyze how subsurface conditions evolve over time, allowing your team to confidently make decisions to optimize hydraulic fracturing design and production. To learn more about CoViz 4D, contact our team.