Microseismic Network Design - Estimating the Number of Detected Events During Hydraulic Fracturing

Abstract

Once considered only as source rocks and seals, shale formations are now considered as tight-porosity and low-permeability unconventional reservoirs. Technology- and economics-driven shale oil and gas production is gaining momentum throughout many basins worldwide, with North American operators developing local knowledge at a fast pace. Major gas and significant oil production from such unconventional plays is facilitated by massive hydraulic fracturing treatments aimed at increasing permeability and reactivating natural fractures. In addition, large-scale faulting and fracturing partly control stress distribution, hence stimulation-derived hydraulically-induced fracture systems development. Therefore, careful integrated approaches to target selection, treatment staging, and stimulation methods need to be used in order to maximize ultimate hydrocarbon recovery in an economically viable environment. First, we present the results of a workflow associated to a multistage, multilateral stimulation project. We highlight how integration of data at various scales may improve our understanding of the reservoir when hydraulically stimulated. Second, we describe ongoing work making use of mapped microseismic activity to calibrate newly developed numerical models to study hydraulically-induced fracture network evolution and proppant placement in shale formations. Third, we briefly elude to an ongoing investigation making use of frequency-magnitude relationships of hydraulic treatment to help in the interpretation process.