Recommended Practices for Evaluation and Development of Shale Gas/Oil Reservoirs Over the Asset Life Cycle: Data-Driven Solutions

Abstract

Abstract After drilling and completing over 200,000 shale wells in North America and about 3,000 more wells internationally, the industry still has more to learn in order to totally optimize hydraulic fracturing, and maximize productivity and recovery from these reservoirs. Although some, actual full-field case histories have been documented, one company has developed a set of Data-Driven Solutions (Recommended Practices) to evaluate and develop shale gas/oil (source rock) reservoirs to attain optimum producing rates and ultimate recovery. Combined industry and company experience including our technologies, techniques, analyses methods and workflows for shale gas/oil plays led to defining these Data-Driven Solutions (Recommended Practices): Twelve Steps to Success for each of the shale gas/oil Asset Life Cycle phases. The Asset Life Cycle approach with the five phases of Exploration, Appraisal, Development, Production and Rejuvenation, was first introduced to the industry in earlier SPE papers. This approach follows three key points: 1. Begin with a complete understanding of the reservoir, 2. Use a multidiscipline and integrated approach across each Life Cycle phase and 3. Effectively use modern technology. The Twelve Data-Driven Solutions were developed based an integrated approach for employing them across their respective life cycle phases. The solutions begin with 1. Identify and Evaluate Resource Potential and end with 12. Refrac to Improve Ultimate Recovery. Solutions are not linear, nor do they always cover only one life cycle phase. Each Step to Success is discussed by providing an Overview, Challenges, Value and specific Solutions (which include Recommended Practices). All shales are not the same; geology, mineralogy, geochemistry varies even in the same basin/play. However; evaluation and development techniques involving Data-driven Solutions/Recommended Practices can apply to any shale (source rock) reservoir in the world.