Downhole Microseismic Mapping of More Than 400 Fracturing Stages on a Multiwell Pad at the Hydraulic Fracturing Test Site (HFTS): Discussion of Operational Challenges and Analytic Results

Conference · Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2018

DOI:https://doi.org/10.15530/urtec-2018-2902311· OSTI ID:1477767

Stegent, Neil A.; Candler, Cody

The United States Department of Energy co-funded a joint industry project (JIP) in the Midland basin of Texas. The project was conducted in the Wolfcamp formation to better understand the relationships among horizontal lateral placement, production interference between laterals, effectiveness of completion sequences, and hydraulic fracture geometry in unconventional reservoirs. Downhole microseismic data was acquired from more than 400 fracturing stages during the completion project to better understand the generated hydraulic fracture geometries. Eleven horizontal wells were drilled in the upper Wolfcamp (UW) and middle Wolfcamp (MW) formation in the Permian Basin. The 10,000-ft laterals were drilled in a chevron pattern to help improve inter-well fracture communication and maximize hydrocarbon recovery. The completions sequences were planned to restrain fracture height growth upward into a lower-pressure zone using a combination of zipper fracturing and simultaneous fracturing operations. Downhole microseismic monitoring was used to record more than 95% of the planned fracture stages. Downhole tiltmeters were also used to validate upward fracture height growth. Multiple geophone arrays, both vertical and horizontal, were used during this completion; this paper discusses coordination between maintaining completion efficiency and obtaining microseismic data. Additionally, this paper highlights the completion challenges associated with collecting diagnostic data along with results and findings.

• Research Organization: Gas Technology Institute
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Fossil Energy (FE)
• DOE Contract Number: FE0024292
• OSTI ID: 1477767
• Report Number(s): URTeC: 2902311
• Resource Relation: Conference: Unconventional Resources Technology Conference, Houston, Texas, USA, 23-25 July 2018
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English