USGS Assessment of Water and Proppant Requirements and Water Production Associated With Undiscovered Petroleum in the Bakken and Three Forks Formations

Haines, Seth S.; Varela, Brian A.; Hawkins, Sarah J.; Gianoutsos, Nicholas J.; Tennyson, Marilyn E.

doi:10.15530/urtec-2017-2693359

Cited by 3 publications

(5 citation statements)

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“…Based on the systematic methodology constructed and the successive application of the methodology to field cases, the summary of results and discussion is depicted as follows. Figures 9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16, and 8−17 further support the observations. The investigation conducted is segmented into two classifications.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 73%

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Hydraulic Fracturing Design Considerations and Optimal Usage of Water Resources for Middle Eastern Tight Gas Reservoirs

2021

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Over the past few decades, hydraulic fracturing, a well-stimulation technique commonly used for extracting hydrocarbons within unconventional reservoirs, has played a significant role in transforming the energy industry. Multiple studies and field trials have proven that an effective, efficient, and economical approach is critical for such operations. However, even after numerous fracturing jobs conducted across the globe, they are still related with high risk. Moreover, the exploitation of such reservoirs is water- and resource-intensive as compared to conventional reservoirs. This is crucial, especially in offshore operations and arid regions. A comprehensive investigation through a traditional fracture design process was conducted for a candidate Middle Eastern reservoir. Through the construction of strategically constrained cases in the presence of complex natural fracture sets, this novel investigation allowed the model to successfully isolate and characterize the key fracture design parameters that influenced fracture geometry for the candidate field and in turn the requirements with respect to water usage and resource consumption. The results indicate that for the given field conditions, fluid and proppant optimization is critical to achieving maximum recovery. The influence of natural fracture is highly critical and greatly influences the overall productivity. Simulations further indicate water requirements for the candidate field ranging from 3.5 to 5.8 million gallons of water per operation, which is significant in water-scarce regions. The findings of this study and the proposed workflow can assist to better understand the distinct contributions of key fracture design and operational parameters that are critical under the current volatile market conditions.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 73%

“…x z z L 1 1 (10) wherein v denotes Poisson's ratio, q is the change in flow rate, q L is the injection flow rate, W is the fracture width, x is the coordinate along the length of the fracture, y is the coordinate perpendicular direction of fracture, and z is the coordinate along the vertical.…”

Section: ■ Appendixmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hydraulic Fracturing Design Considerations and Optimal Usage of Water Resources for Middle Eastern Tight Gas Reservoirs

2021

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“…Water ratios are typically higher during the first few months of petroleum production when flowback water is mixed with long-term formation water. In the Eagle Ford, we observe that flowback water decreases during the first 18 months of production (similar to what was reported by ref , a period longer than identified in other studies like the Bakken) . We observe that water-to-oil and water-to-gas ratios stabilize after the first 18 months of production, and thus, these data are suitable for determining a baseline ratio that represents the long-term formation water.…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 89%

“…In the Eagle Ford, we observe that flowback water decreases during the first 18 months of production (similar to what was reported by ref 24, a period longer than identified in other studies like the Bakken). 31 We observe that water-to-oil and water-to-gas ratios stabilize after the first 18 months of production, and thus, these data are suitable for determining a baseline ratio that represents the long-term formation water. Ikonnikova et al ( 2017) 24 suggested that volumes of produced water from Eagle Ford wells vary with both geology and technology, with hydraulic fracturing fluid volumes, well location, and well depth as the biggest determinants.…”

Section: ■ Introductionmentioning

confidence: 69%

“…Once the input parameters are finalized by the assessment team, tens of thousands of simulations are run using a Monte Carlo algorithm to determine probabilistic estimates of the quantity of undiscovered technically recoverable resources in the assessed AUs. 29 In 2016, the USGS conducted its first ever water and proppant assessment, focusing on the Bakken and Three Forks Formations in the Williston Basin 22,31 using the methodology developed by Haines (2015). 32 Each water and proppant assessment builds directly on the corresponding continuous oil and gas resource assessment, incorporating relevant geologic information along with engineering and production data to estimate the volumes of water and proppant needed to hydraulically fracture future wells, water needed for drilling and cement, and volumes of produced flowback and formation water.…”

Section: ■ Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Examining Water and Proppant Demand, and Produced Water Production, Associated with Petroleum Resource Development in the Eagle Ford Group, Texas

Gianoutsos,

Haines,

Varela

et al. 2024

Energy Fuels

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More than 20,000 horizontal wells have been drilled and hydraulically fractured in the Eagle Ford Group since the discovery well in 2008, but a considerable amount of undiscovered petroleum remains. Recently, drilled wells have been hydraulically fractured with an average of nearly 13 million gallons of water and 16 million lb of sand, yielding a million or more gallons of produced water. To inform future petroleum development in the Eagle Ford, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) conducted a water and proppant assessment using a geology-based approach that builds on the 2018 USGS assessment of undiscovered technically recoverable petroleum. Using probabilistic input values and a Monte Carlo simulation, we determined that production of the remaining undiscovered technically recoverable oil and gas in the Eagle Ford Group would require approximately 687,565 Mgal (millions of gallons) of water and 839,702,000,000 lb of proppant (both are mean values of output distributions). This possible future petroleum production would also include 176,817 Mgal (mean value) of produced formation water. On average, oil wells require water volumes that are approximately twice the volume of oil that will be produced, and Eagle Ford gas wells require approximately 5.21 Mgal of water per billion cubic feet of gas (bcfg). Produced formation water volumes are approximately 60% of the produced oil volume and, for gas wells, will yield approximately 1 Mgal formation water per bcfg. Understanding the water and proppant requirements associated with petroleum exploration and the resulting volume of produced water can inform decisions regarding the future of Eagle Ford development.

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High Power Laser Technology in Downhole Applications, Reshaping the Industry

Batarseh

Graves

Obaid

et al. 2017

Day 1 Mon, November 13, 2017

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This paper presents an innovative non-damaging technology as alternatives to current downhole conventional practices. It will change the industry and reshape several downhole applications such as perforations and fracturing among others. It is proven to provide not only non-damaging technology, but also improves flow properties and enhances communication between wellbore and formation. For several years, researchers attempted to deploy high power laser technology for several downhole applications due to its accuracy, precision, control, consistency and power. The laser source is located at the surface on the coiled tubing unit, power generator provides power to the system and high energy is transmitted downhole via fiber optics cable to the targeted zone, the laser energy is manipulated and controlled through downhole laser tool to perforate and create tunnels connecting the wellbore with the hydrocarbon bearing formation. One of the main challenges is conveying the energy downhole with minimum loss through fiber optics. This paper will present the potential of the laser in reshaping the industry and change the current practices. High power laser is proven to enhance flow properties in all types of rocks regardless their compressive strength and hardness, the unique features of the technology are the precision in controlling and orienting the energy in any directions regardless of the reservoir stress orientation and magnitude. It can be targeted directly to the pay zones and produce from bypassed zone that can't be achieved with current technology such as fracturing. Lasers provide safe, small footprints and environmentally friendly technology since it is a waterless base technology for connecting the wellbore with the formation (alternative to water base fracturing technology).

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USGS Assessment of Water and Proppant Requirements and Water Production Associated With Undiscovered Petroleum in the Bakken and Three Forks Formations

Cited by 3 publications

References 0 publications

Hydraulic Fracturing Design Considerations and Optimal Usage of Water Resources for Middle Eastern Tight Gas Reservoirs

Hydraulic Fracturing Design Considerations and Optimal Usage of Water Resources for Middle Eastern Tight Gas Reservoirs

Examining Water and Proppant Demand, and Produced Water Production, Associated with Petroleum Resource Development in the Eagle Ford Group, Texas

High Power Laser Technology in Downhole Applications, Reshaping the Industry

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