Application of Real-Time Bottom-Hole Pressure to Improve Field Development Strategies in the Midland Basin Wolfcamp Shale

Physical Models for Inter-Well Interference in Shale Reservoirs: Relative Impacts of Fracture Hits and Matrix Permeability

“…The wells might show an increase in water production and an increase or decrease in oil or gas production (Lawal et al 2013;Kurtoglu and Salman 2015). In addition, pressure testing on pad wells is often utilized to identify the well interference (Portis et al 2013;Sardinha et al 2014;Sani et al 2015;Scott et al 2015). Also, microseismic monitoring can be combined with the pressure test to improve understanding the well interference (Grossi et al 2015;Lehmann et al 2016).…”

“…The time might be a few minutes (Awada et al 2016). Figure 1 presents an example of interference test for measuring BHP of shutin Well 5 when opening Wells 1-4 sequentially in Wolfcamp shale, revealing the existence of inter-well connectivity (Scott et al 2015). Actually, there are many mechanisms to induce well interference, which is a very complex process (King and Valencia 2016).…”

“…Any well interference through the matrix in shale formations with ultralow permeability is more limited than that occurring through connecting fractures (Awada et al 2016). Although numerous pressure tests in the field have proven the existence of well interference (Portis et al 2013;Sardinha et al 2014;Sani et al 2015;Scott et al 2015), relatively few physical models exist to quantitatively simulate and explain the pressure response of shut-in wells. Marongiu-Porcu et al (2016) presented a state-of-the-art workflow by combining a complex fracture model, reservoir simulation, and geomechanics model to simulate complex fracture geometry, well performance, and stress properties to minimize undesired fracture hits.…”

“…An example of interference test by measuring the bottomhole pressure response of shut-in wells in the Wolfcamp shale. Vertical scale shows BHP in Well 5, which already drops when adjacent wells 1-4 are opened, indicating well interference occurs for all wells (modified fromScott et al 2015). …”

Physics-Driven Optimization of Drained Rock Volume for Multistage Fracturing: Field Example from the Wolfcamp Formation, Midland Basin

“…Gunbarrel view (looking north) of four Wolfcamp production wells (44H, 45H, 46H, and 49H) with adjacent microseismic monitoring well (47H), for which data are presented in Section 6.2; b) Stratigraphic units and drilling targets in the Midland Basin. Modified from (Scott et al 2015).…”