Geomodeling in a Development Play–An Example from the Bakken Shale

Melton, Brad; Kelley, M. E.; Fishman, Neil S.

doi:10.15530/urtec-2014-1933577

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…These attempts to predict production performance based on geological characterization have produced in many cases encouraging results, and it is hopeful that in time widely accepted and applied practices will create a reliable link between geology and expected cash flows and introduce geology based incentives that will allow achieving better recoveries at lower costs of extraction. All these recent studies highlight four main points that take dominance over classic reservoir engineering (Rahman et al, 2014;Melton et al, 2014): 1. The architecture of the stimulated rock volume plays a great role in performance and recovery 2.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Role of Drive Mechanisms in Redesigning Development Practices in a Fractured Tight Oil Carbonate Resource

Vassilellis¹,

Elrafie²,

Russell³

et al. 2015

Unconventional Resources Technology Conference

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In an unconventional tight oil play with natural fractures, the main drive mechanisms are depletion above the bubble point and compaction. They are not easily recognized yet play a major role in diminishing performance. An extensive integrated study, using the Event Solution approach, of a Mid-continent naturally fractured tight oil carbonate resource was undertaken to examine the causes of performance variability. The integrated study included a thorough petrophysical and fluid characterization. Drive mechanisms were associated with specific rock types and in relation with fracture density, explaining performance characteristics. Extensive numerical simulation was used to combine characterization and historical performance. Initially the dominant drive mechanisms are depletion and compaction. Later, gravity drainage plays a significant role but its benefits are not captured with the initial well designs. Previously, wells were placed at the top of the reservoir and hydraulic fractures extended downwards. The study concluded that applying a different well type, multi-laterals extended both laterally and stacked vertically, can leverage on gravity drainage. An innovative well design was implemented to capture the benefits of multiple drive mechanisms. Additionally, the optimized operating conditions were identified to maximize impact. As a result, it is possible to increase recovery efficiency at a lower capital and operating cost. The learnings from this project can benefit the continued development and also serve as a paradigm in the very important tight oil plays in North America, which are largely carbonate with various degrees of natural fracturing.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%