Monitoring the Effects of Hydraulic Stimulation by Microseismic Event Location: A Case Study

Batchelor, A.S.; Baria, Roy; Hearn, Kevin

doi:10.2118/12109-ms

“…Initially, the technology was developed for geothermal energy business (Albright and Pearson, 1982;Batchelor, Baria and Hearn, 1983), but found its way in stimulation monitoring application for unconventional reservoirs, including shale gas and tight oil reservoirs.…”

Section: Microseismic Monitoringmentioning

confidence: 99%

EOS Modeling and Reservoir Simulation Study of Bakken Gas Injection Improved Oil Recovery in the Elm Coulee Field, Montana

Pu

¹

,

Hoffman

²

2014

Proceedings of the 2nd Unconventional Resources Technology Conference

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The Bakken Formation in the Williston Basin is one of the most productive liquidrich unconventional plays. The Bakken Formation is divided into three members, and the Middle Bakken Member is the primary target for horizontal wellbore landing and hydraulic fracturing because of its better rock properties. Even with this new technology, the primary recovery factor is believed to be only around 10%. This study is to evaluate various gas injection EOR methods to try to improve on that low recovery factor of 10%. In this study, the Elm Coulee Oil Field in the Williston Basin was selected as the area of interest.Static reservoir models featuring the rock property heterogeneity of the Middle Bakken Member were built, and fluid property models were built based on Bakken reservoir fluid sample PVT data. By employing both compositional model simulation and Todd-Longstaff solvent model simulation methods, miscible gas injections were simulated and the simulations speculated that oil recovery increased by 10% to 20% of OOIP in 30 years.The compositional simulations yielded lower oil recovery compared to the solvent model simulations. Compared to the homogeneous model, the reservoir model featuring rock property heterogeneity in the vertical direction resulted in slightly better oil recovery, but with earlier CO 2 break-through and larger CO 2 production, suggesting that rock property heterogeneity is an important property for modeling because it has a big effect on the simulation results. Long hydraulic fractures shortened CO 2 break-through time greatly and increased CO 2 production. Water-alternating-gas injection schemes and injection-alternating-shut-in schemes can provide more options for gas injection EOR projects, especially for gas production management. Compared to CO 2 injection, separator gas injection yielded slightly better oil recovery, meaning separator gas could be a good candidate for gas injection EOR; lean gas generated the worst results. Reservoir simulations also indicate that original rock properties are the dominant factor for the ultimate oil recovery for both primary recovery iii and gas injection EOR.Because reservoir simulations provide critical inputs for project planning and management, more effort needs to be invested into reservoir modeling and simulation, including building enhanced geologic models, fracture characterization and modeling, and history matching with field data. Gas injection EOR projects are integrated projects, and the viability of a project also depends on different economic conditions.

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“…Pearson (1981) and Phillips et al (1997) analyzed microseismicity generated during the stimulation of the 2930 m deep "large Phase 1" and the 3460 m deep Phase 2 reservoirs, respectively, at the Fenton Hill EGS site, New Mexico. Batchelor et al (1983) summarize microseismicity observed during the stimulation injections into the Phase 2a and 2b reservoirs at Rosemanowes in Cornwall, UK. Tezuka and Niitsuma (2000) examined clusters of microseismic events generated during the stimulation of the 2200 m deep reservoir at the Hijiori EGS site in Japan.…”

Section: Induced Seismicitymentioning

confidence: 99%

The seismo-hydromechanical behavior during deep geothermal reservoir stimulations: open questions tackled in a decameter-scale in situ stimulation experiment

Amann

¹

,

Gischig

²

,

Evans

³

et al. 2018

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Abstract. In this contribution, we present a review of scientific research results that address seismo-hydromechanically coupled processes relevant for the development of a sustainable heat exchanger in low-permeability crystalline rock and introduce the design of the In situ Stimulation and Circulation (ISC) experiment at the Grimsel Test Site dedicated to studying such processes under controlled conditions. The review shows that research on reservoir stimulation for deep geothermal energy exploitation has been largely based on laboratory observations, large-scale projects and numerical models. Observations of full-scale reservoir stimulations have yielded important results. However, the limited access to the reservoir and limitations in the control on the experimental conditions during deep reservoir stimulations is insufficient to resolve the details of the hydromechanical processes that would enhance process understanding in a way that aids future stimulation design. Small-scale laboratory experiments provide fundamental insights into various processes relevant for enhanced geothermal energy, but suffer from (1) difficulties and uncertainties in upscaling the results to the field scale and (2) relatively homogeneous material and stress conditions that lead to an oversimplistic fracture flow and/or hydraulic fracture propagation behavior that is not representative of a heterogeneous reservoir. Thus, there is a need for intermediate-scale hydraulic stimulation experiments with high experimental control that bridge the various scales and for which access to the target rock mass with a comprehensive monitoring system is possible. The ISC experiment is designed to address open research questions in a naturally fractured and faulted crystalline rock mass at the Grimsel Test Site (Switzerland). Two hydraulic injection phases were executed to enhance the permeability of the rock mass. During the injection phases the rock mass deformation across fractures and within intact rock, the pore pressure distribution and propagation, and the microseismic response were monitored at a high spatial and temporal resolution.

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“…However, the possibility of predicting not only impending failure, but also the location of the unstable zone within the landslide, must result eventually in its more widespread use. Certainly, the instrumentation and analytical methods developed for the location of fractures propagating through the rock mass following hydraulic fracturing described by Batchelor et al (1983) can be directly applied to landslides. The manpower requirements can be considerably reduced by using the automatic triggering system for recording events developed by Houliston et al (1982) and this does mean that continuous on-line monitoring can be achieved.…”

Section: Microseismic Monitoringmentioning

confidence: 99%

Engineering Geophysics

1988

QJEGH

15

0

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Synopsis A Working Party was set up in February 1982 by the Engineering Group of the Geological Society. Members were chosen from different academic institutions, government bodies and industry to provide a balance of expertise and experience in the application of geophysical methods to engineering practice. A list of the members of the Working Party is given at the end. The Working Party has presented the report in five main sections. An introductory section defines the objectives of engineering geophysics and makes recommendations on the design and implementation of geophysical surveys. Section 2 considers the applications and limitations of geophysical methods and the use of computers in the acquisition, interpretation and presentation of geophysical data. The following section is essentially a state of the art review of all appropriate geophysical techniques and procedures for specific geological targets, other than measurements from the air. Case studies are provided to illustrate the more commonly used methods such as seismic refraction profiling, electrical resistivity sounding and electromagnetic investigation of ground conductivity variations. Section 4 considers the application of geophysical methods to six main areas of ground engineering activity and can be used either directly or in conjunction with other sections of the report. Geophysical assessment of soil and rock properties is covered under a separate heading because of its increasing importance in engineering practice and the corresponding anticipated demand for a review of currently used methods. A further section in the form of a Bibliography is provided as a supplement to these reports. Selected bibliography Bulletin of the Association of Engineering Geologists (USA) Bulletin of the International Association of Engineering Geology (France) Bulletin of the Australian Society of Exploration Geophysicsists (Australia) Engineering Geology (Elsevier Scientific Publishing Co., The Netherlands) Geoexploration (Elsevier Scientific Publishing Co., The Netherlands) Geophysical Prospecting (European Association of Exploration Geophysicists, The Netherlands) Geophysics (Society of Exploration Geophysicists, USA) Geotechnique (British Geotechnical Society, UK) Ground Engineering (Geo Publications Ltd, UK) Ground Water (National Water Well Association, USA) The Hydrographic Journal (The Hydrographic Society, UK) Journal of Geotechnical Engineering (American Society of Civil Engineers. Formerly called Journal of the Geotechnical Engineering Division 1974 up to 1983, and prior to that, Journal of the Soil Mechanics and Foundation Division of the ASCE ; USA) Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology (The Geological Society, UK) These journals should be scanned regularly for new and up-to-date techniques and case histories. The following list of references to articles, papers and textbooks dealing with aspects of engineering geophysics may be considered to be the basic source reading for those involved in the practice of engineering geophysics.

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Monitoring the Effects of Hydraulic Stimulation by Microseismic Event Location: A Case Study

Cited by 50 publications

References 6 publications

EOS Modeling and Reservoir Simulation Study of Bakken Gas Injection Improved Oil Recovery in the Elm Coulee Field, Montana

EOS Modeling and Reservoir Simulation Study of Bakken Gas Injection Improved Oil Recovery in the Elm Coulee Field, Montana

The seismo-hydromechanical behavior during deep geothermal reservoir stimulations: open questions tackled in a decameter-scale in situ stimulation experiment

Engineering Geophysics

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