Use of Microseismic Monitoring To Compare Completion Designs

Abstract

This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper SPE 174955, “Comparing Openhole-Packer Systems With Cemented-Liner Completions in the Northern Montney Gas Resource Play: Results From Microseismic Monitoring and Production,” by James Reimer, Matthew Ng, and Bryan Dusterhoft, Painted Pony Petroleum; Brad Birkelo, Spectraseis; and Barry Hildek, Packers Plus Energy Services, prepared for the 2015 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Houston, 28–30 September. The paper has not been peer reviewed. This study compares the performance of openhole-packer completion systems with that of cemented-liner completion systems in the northern Montney gas resource play. The authors’ data demonstrate that the benefits of openhole completions include an increase in initial production (30-day average) (IP30) rates, an increase in expected ultimate raw gas recovery per well, and a decrease in stimulation-period costs, all on an unadjusted basis. When adjusted for total proppant placed or total fluid pumped on average per completion, the relative benefit of openhole systems ranges from 6 to 31%, depending on the test metric selected. Introduction Recovery optimization from the Montney presents a unique development challenge because of the play’s extensive thickness and corresponding multilayer extraction potential. In the Blair/Town Block study area, it has been observed that openhole completions consistently outperform cemented-liner completions when considering standard metrics of production and cost. Completion-liner systems for horizontal wells are designed to isolate hydraulic-fracture treatments to minimize stimulation pumping interference between successive stages. At present, two basic liner designs enjoy widespread use: Openhole multistage (OHMS) liners, wherein annular isolation is provided by external packers. Cemented-liner perforate-and-plug (CLPP) systems, wherein cement provides mechanical isolation along the liner annulus. These two liner designs are discussed in further detail in the complete paper. This paper investigates the superior performance of openhole stimulations by use of microseismic monitoring to evaluate comparative stimulation response during one openhole and one cemented-liner completion. Microseismic assessments of stimulation patterns typically involve qualitative inspection of event-cloud maps. While useful for visualizing stimulated reservoir volumes (SRVs), these assessments typically do not offer practical insights into actual rock failure. In this study, a new method of microseismic analysis is applied to conduct a more-rigorous appraisal of rock failure on the basis of an in-depth assessment of individual-event focal mechanisms.