Improved Hydraulic Fracture Modeling Based on Geomechanical Correlation Functions to Optimize Development of Priobskoe Oilfield

Abstract

Conventional low-permeability sandstone formations with strong shale barriers require hydraulic fracturing (HF), a classical approach to fracture geometry optimization, which is needed to enhance oil production of each well and oil recovery from such fields overall. Unfortunately, in most cases there are insufficient resources to acquire the information to create precise fracture modeling for every suggested well. Rock elastic properties and distribution of in-situ stresses have the greatest influence on fracture geometry. HF modeling without proper understanding of these parameters usually results in loss of the relationship between log or core data and zone properties in the model. A new, innovative approach provides the ability to extract mechanical rock properties for each well from a standard log dataset. This was achieved by introducing correlation functions based on multiple wells with an advanced log dataset including density and acoustic logs and core analysis to correlate dynamic and static rock properties. Correlation functions were built into a Geomechanical (GM) software module referred to here as the GM Module. The module can be used with any commercial fracture simulator to automate and link the process to log data during each step of the HF modeling and evaluation workflow. Although a majority of studied wells produce from several separately stimulated layers, an adjustment in the GM Module for one HF treatment allows a continuous model of geomechanical properties and stress distribution to be built along the entire logging interval. As a first step, the module was integrated into a standard modeling workflow for 60 HF treatments; comparative study of the improved versus conventional approach was performed. Second step will be to introduce the GM Module to a stimulation service company operating in Priobskoe oilfield, one of the world's largest oilfields, which will ensure uniform and reliable control over the fracture optimization process to enhance overall field development and oil recovery.

Opportunities for Implementing Cold Water for Fracturing Services in Western Siberia

“…The producing horizons AS 10 and AS 11 are moderately productive, but AS 12 has low productivity. Geophysical properties of the producing layers dictate that reservoir development requires the use of production intensification methods (Nadeev et al 2012;Economides and Nolte 2000).…”