Improving Well Completion via Real-Time Microseismic Monitoring: A West Texas Case Study

Abstract

AbstractThis paper presents a case history of hydraulic fracture stimulation treatments performed on a vertical well completion in the Spraberry-Wolfcamp formations located in Midland County, Texas, in which real-time microseismic Hydraulic Fracture Monitoring (HFM) was utilized to “track” the development of the hydraulic fracture as it propagates through the formation thereby allowing for the implementation of corrective actions to improve the completion efficiency of the well.The case history is presented in three main themes or sections: background, job execution, and post-job evaluation. The background section will provide an overview of the completion design as well as the HFM setup. The job execution section will then address how the real-time HFM observations and interpretations made during the treatment executions were used to identify undesired height growth, which prompted swift and concise actions to optimize the well completion by modifying the perforation scheme and treatment design. Finally the paper will present the results of the integrated HFM post-treatment evaluation and will discuss the observed differences between the planned and actual fracture geometries as observed from the microseismic monitoring results. Comparison of the microseismic fracture geometry to the anticipated fracture geometry showed that even in areas where we think that there might not be anything new to be learned, opportunities exist to apply new technology that can identify some of the complications and challenges involved, improve the success of stimulation treatments, and identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency.Overall, this example clearly shows how real-time microseismic monitoring provides the data required to improve fracture modeling, identify fracture behavior that is not predictable by conventional means alone, and reveals several opportunities to improve completion efficiency.