Optimization of Hydraulic Fracture Stages and Sequencing in Unconventional Formations

Ahmed Alzahabi, Mohamed Y. Soliman

• Publisher: CRC Press
• Year: 2018
• Print ISBN:
  9781138085954
• eBook ISBN:
  9781351618229
• Topic: Technologie et ingénierie
• Subtopic: Ingénierie de la chimie et de la biochimie

Shale gas and/or oil play identification is subject to many screening processes for characteristics such as porosity, permeability, and brittleness. Evaluating shale gas and/or oil reservoirs and identifying potential sweet spots (portions of the reservoir rock that have high-quality kerogen content and brittle rock) requires taking into consideration multiple rock, reservoir, and geological parameters that govern production. The early determination of sweet spots for well site selection and fracturing in shale reservoirs is a challenge for many operators. With this limitation in mind, Optimization of Hydraulic Fracture Stages and Sequencing in Unconventional Formations develops an approach to improve the industry's ability to evaluate shale gas and oil plays and is structured to lead the reader from general shale oil and gas characteristics to detailed sweet-spot classifications. The approach uses a new candidate selection and evaluation algorithm and screening criteria based on key geomechanical, petrophysical, and geochemical parameters and indices to obtain results consistent with existing shale plays and gain insights on the best development strategies going forward. The work introduces new criteria that accurately guide the development process in unconventional reservoirs in addition to reducing uncertainty and cost.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• Acknowledgments
• Authors
• 1. Fracturing Chronology: Milestones of the Hydraulic Fracturing Process
• 2. Shale Gas and Oil Play Screening Criteria
• 3. Fracturability Index Maps for Fracture Placement in Shale Plays
• 4. Is Fracturability Index a Mineralogical Index? A New Approach for Fracturing Decisions
• 5. Sequencing and Determination of Horizontal Wells and Fractures in Shale Plays: Building a Combined Targeted Treatment Scheme
• 6. A Computational Comparison between Optimization Techniques for Well Placement Problem: Mathematical Formulations, Genetic Algorithms, and Very Fast Simulated Annealing
• 7. Two-Dimensional Mathematical Optimization Approach for Well Placement and Fracture Design of Shale Reservoirs
• 8. Multigrid Fracture-Stimulated Reservoir Volume Mapping Coupled with a Novel Mathematical Optimization Approach to Shale Reservoir Well and Fracture Design
• 9. Summary, Conclusions, and Recommendations for Future Directions
• Bibliography
• Index