Reservoir and Completion Considerations for the Refracturing of Horizontal Wells

Abstract

Summary Horizontal-well developments, focused on transverse hydraulic-fracture stimulation, have evolved rapidly during the past decade. Many of these completions may have missed or bypassed significant reserves that were intended to be produced from the well. This paper discusses the potential reasons for these inefficient completions, candidate selection for refracturing, and the impacts of offset depletion/infill wells on refracturing. Rate-transient post-treatment stimulation analysis is a powerful tool that can help determine whether and when a horizontal well is receptive to refracturing. Such analysis can help determine whether a well is underperforming, and if that underperformance is caused by an inefficient completion or by reservoir conditions. The paper discusses the importance of appropriate well conditioning/unloading before determining if a refracturing may or may not be successful. The impacts of “bashing” into offset depletion during refracturing treatments are also discussed, along with appropriate design considerations to minimize such impacts. Refracturing can be an important tool to the industry, and it deserves the attention that it is currently receiving. However, the success of such treatments is not guaranteed in every well, and the criteria for candidate selection should be a top focus when evaluating such a program.