03 June, 2014

Fundamental Parameters Associated with Successful Hydraulic Fracturing: Means and Methods for a Better Understanding

An AAPG/SEG/SPWLA Hedberg Research Conference

 

There is a constant and rapid evolution of hydraulic fracturing techniques; however there are important uncertainties remaining with respect to our understanding.  A current view in the industry is that 80% of the production comes from 20% of the fracs. If that is correct, considerable money is wasted by the industry. The purpose of this conference is to bring together geologists, engineers, geophysicists, petrophysicists and other geoscientists to address these issues and determine multidisciplinary solutions for the future.

Some questions we hope to answer during this conference include:
What parameters should be considered to define successful hydraulic fracturing?
  • Define effectiveness of hydraulic fracturing
  • Assessment of various measures of successful hydraulic fracturing: Productivity/mechanical/statistics/economical
  • Historical cases showing successful hydraulic fracture well based or field based.
  • No screen outs
Geomechanics parameters needed for the design /implementation of hydraulic fracture?
  • What are the best parameters to estimate the ease with which a rock will frac (frac initiation or frac propagation)
  • Practical definitions, characterization , and measurements of brittleness of a rock
  • What log suite to use for a brittleness index
  • Do we need new logs to define best distribution of hydraulic fractures in multi-zone stimulation in HW?
What are current diagnostic technologies to delineate hydraulic fractures geometries?
  • What is microseismic (MS) really telling us about the success of a frac and its volume stimulated? What parameters cannot be obtained by MS techniques?
  • How accurate is a downhole or surface microseismic technique?
  • Microseismic event versus frac contribution
  • What do chemical tracer techniques provide us?
  • Is it justifiable to run PLT in HW with multiple transverse fractures?
  • Does Well Test analysis tells us fracture geometry in tight and ultra-tight hydraulically fractured formations?
  • Other diagnostics showing success on delineating HF geometry?
How can we relate log analysis to successful HF?
  • What type of log analysis is needed to provide a pre and post hydraulic fracture assessment/
  • How are logs integrated in well placement, sweet spots identification, and successful HF implementations?
  • Influence of heterogeneity and layering on frac propagation
What are the completions techniques associated with successful HF?
  • Openhole versus cased-hole
  • Perforations, isolation, clean-up, flowback methods, new techniques, etc.
What are the current components associated with successful HF: and any new trends?
  • Frac fluids, proppant, and isolations
  • Multiple zonal and multiple wells stimulation and pumping techniques
  • Frac placement versus frac success