3D Petrophysical and Geomechanical View for Enhancing Hydraulic Fracturing of Horizontals and Highly Deviated Wells

Abstract

In Oman, the unique geological properties of the reservoirs require different fracture strategies and technology deployment to make them commercially viable. Highly deviated wells, with multiple hydraulic fractures, have been identified as key technology enabler for the development of tight gas accumulations in Oman. The main objective of this study is to generate a 3D petrophysical and geomechanical view of the reservoir, to have a better understating of Hydraulic Fracturing for Horizontal and Highly Deviated Wells The comprehensive amount of data captured during the initial implementation phase of highly deviated wells covering reservoir characterization, fracture geomechanics as well as production logs in combination with the existent data captured in vertical wells, proves to be complex to analyze due to the volume of information and the multi variable nature associated with fracture and inflow predictions. A methodology was required where correlations and tendencies were identifiable at structural level, covering all target gas accumulations using all the static and dynamic captured data. The definition of a 3D Grid Visualization Block (3D-GVB) was introduced where all the captured parameters were distributed for analysis and interpretation. As a result of the appraisal and initial field development with vertical wells, it was possible to identify tight accumulations that will require dedicated highly deviated wells for its development. The initial phase of the implementation of highly deviated wells proves to be challenging, as the observed heterogeneities on geomechanical and petrophysical properties across the target gas accumulations, combined with differential depletion and the wells orientation to generate transverse fractures, creates a complex environment for fracture initiation and propagation, impacting not only fracture deployment but inflow deliverability of this wells. This paper will describe how the methodology uses a cycle of data analysis and interpretation to identify tendencies, that will lead to correlation and new algorithms that are retrofitted on the 3D-GVB platform, leading to optimization of well positioning at structural level, drilling and completion of this highly deviated wells. It will be described how this methodology is used for well positioning at structural level, to define well architectures oriented to enhance not only drilling, but also hydraulic fracturing and hydrocarbon deliverability on highly deviated wells.