Hydraulic Fracture Treatment Design Simulation for the Rotliegendes Formation

Abstract

ABSTRACT As an increasing number of gas fields are being developed or are planned to be developed in the permian red beds (Rotliegendes) of northwest Europe, hydraulic fracturing has become a major stimulation method to obtain economic production rates from this tight gas formation. Optimization of stimulation design and its implementation in the field become more crucial in the formation such as Rotliegendes, where a water bearing zone is underlain. The objective of this work was to simulate fracture growth under various conditions so that optimal treatments can be designed and implemented successfully to this tight gas reservoir. Formation rock properties of the payzone and adjoining barriers, fracturing fluid properties and their leakoff coefficients selected were experimentally determined in the laboratory using various Rotliegendes core samples. A 3-D model of Meyer and Associates was used to simulate the fracture length, width, height, proppant transport and settlement, fracture closure, and post-frac performance. The same treatment data were simulated using a 3-D model developed by Palmer and Carroll. Results obtained from the two models are compared on a rational basis. Two field applications are presented to demonstrate the proper design and successful stimulation treatments in the Rotliegendes.