Advancement of Hydraulic Fracture Diagnostics in Unconventional Formations

Abstract

Multistage hydraulic fracturing is a technique to extract hydrocarbon from tight and unconventional reservoirs. Although big advancements occurred in this field, understanding of the created fractures location, size, complexity, and proppant distribution is in its infancy. This study provides the recent advances in the methods and techniques used to diagnose hydraulic fractures in unconventional formations. These techniques include tracer flowback analysis, fiber optics such as distributed temperature sensing (DTS) and distributed acoustic sensing (DAS), tiltmeters, microseismic monitoring, and diagnostic fracture injection tests (DFIT). These techniques are used to estimate the fracture length, height, width, complexity, azimuth, cluster efficiency, fracture spacing between laterals, and proppant distribution. Each technique has its advantages and limitations, while integrating more than one technique in fracture diagnostics might result in synergies, leading to a more informative fracture description. DFIT analysis is critical and subjected to the interpreter’s understanding of the process and the formation properties. Hence, the applications of machine learning in fracture diagnostics and DFIT analysis were discussed. The current study presents an extensive review and comparison between different multistage fracture diagnostic methods, and their applicability is provided. The advantages and the limitations of each technique were highlighted, and the possible areas of future research were suggested.

Evaluating the Effect of Claytone-EM on the Performance of Oil-Based Drilling Fluids

“…14 Additionally, OBDFs exhibit lower reactivity with shale formations due to their reduced water content and wettability properties. 15 This reduced reactivity aids in the prevention of shale swelling, dispersion, or sloughing, which can give rise to wellbore instability and other drilling-related problems. 16 The efficiency, safety, and success of drilling operations are heavily influenced by the properties of the drilling fluid.…”

“…This enhanced lubrication reduces friction, thereby resulting in reduced rates of equipment wear, decreased torque and drag, and ultimately, extended equipment lifespan and lowered costs . Additionally, OBDFs exhibit lower reactivity with shale formations due to their reduced water content and wettability properties . This reduced reactivity aids in the prevention of shale swelling, dispersion, or sloughing, which can give rise to wellbore instability and other drilling-related problems …”

Application of Organoclays in Oil-Based Drilling Fluids: A Review

“…[1][2][3]10 Hydraulic fracturing is the most common technique to extract hydrocarbons in shale formations. 11 the water-sensitive shale's problems of hydration and swelling. 12 The complex drilling fluids are non-Newtonian thixotropic shear-thinning fluids.…”

“…For HPHT wells, OBDFs are used due to their superior performance. Also, OBDFs provide higher lubricity, thermal stability, and shale inhibition; better wellbore stability; and higher rates of penetration and achieve lower filter loss and a thin filter cake. − , Hydraulic fracturing is the most common technique to extract hydrocarbons in shale formations . For shale formations, OBDF is used to eliminate the water-sensitive shale’s problems of hydration and swelling …”

Fracture propagation induced by hydraulic fracturing using microseismic monitoring technology: Field test in CBM wells in Zhengzhuang region, Southern Qinshui Basin, China

“…Jiang et al (2019) applied the microseismic monitoring, water content detection and stress variation monitoring techniques to explore the influence range of hydraulic fracturing in coal mines (Li et al, 2019b). Some studied tried to obtain important information from microseismic monitoring and positioning inversion, such as the extension direction and extension range of fractures, which is helpful to identify and analyze the extension and distribution characteristics of hydraulic fractures (Zhang et al, 2019;Mahmoud et al, 2021). And based on the microseismic monitoring and positioning inversion data, the process parameters of hydraulic fracturing such as pumping water, sand volume and pumping pressure can be optimized, and also the risk of hydraulic fracturing in real time can be evaluated, which can improve the safety and economic efficiency of underground hydraulic fracturing in CBM development.…”