Daniel Moos

Optimizing Hydraulic Fracturing Treatment Integrating Geomechanical Analysis and Reservoir Simulation for a Fractured Tight Gas Reservoir, Tarim Basin, China

A comprehensive geomechanical study was carried out to optimize stimulation for a frac‐ tured tight gas reservoir in the northwest Tarim Basin. Conventional gel fracturing and acid‐ izing operations carried out in the field previously failed to yield the expected productivity. The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of slickwater or low-viscosity stim‐ ulation of natural fractures by shear slippage, creating a conductive, complex fracture net‐ work. This type of stimulation is proven to successfully exploit shale gas resources in many fields in the United States. A field-scale geomechanical model was built using core, well log, drilling data and experien‐ ces characterizing the in-situ stress, pore pressure and rock mechanical properties in both overburden and reservoir sections. Borehole image data collected in three offset wells were used to characterize the in-situ natural fracture system in the reservoir. The pressure re‐ quired to stimulate the natural fracture systems by shear slippage in the current stress field was predicted. The injection of low-viscosity slickwater was simulated and the resulting shape of the stimulated reservoir volume was predicted using a dual-porosity, dual-permea‐ bility finite-difference flow simulator with anisotropic, pressure-sensitive reservoir proper‐ ties. A hydraulic fracturing design and evaluation simulator was used to model the geometry and conductivity of the principal hydraulic fracture filled with proppant. Fracture growth in the presence of the lithology-based stress contrast and rock properties was com‐ puted, taking into account leakage of the injected fluid into the stimulated reservoir volume

Advanced Dipole Borehole Acoustic Processing – Rock Physics And Geomechanics Applications

Today’s advanced borehole acoustic analysis not only enhances the rock physic characteristics of shale gas plays but it also provides new insights in geomechanics applications and fracture identification. Current borehole acoustic tools can detect the azimuthal and transverse shear wave intrinsic rock anisotropy. They also help identify stress-sensitive formations and help in the evaluation of natural fractures, those that intersect the borehole as well as those that do not.