SPE-184830-MS

Cluster Spacing Optimization through Data Integration Workflow for

Unconventional Jurassic Mudrocks, Saudi Arabia

Ali Al-Momin, Karim Mechkak, Kirk Bartko, and Kenneth McClelland, Saudi Aramco; Roberto Tineo, Matthew
Drouillard, and Muhammad Nadeem, Schlumberger

Copyright 2017, Society of Petroleum Engineers

This paper was prepared for presentation at the SPE Hydraulic Fracturing Technology Conference and Exhibition held in The Woodlands, Texas, USA, 24-26 January
2017.

This paper was selected for presentation by an SPE program committee following review of information contained in an abstract submitted by the author(s). Contents
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Abstract
One of main challenges operators face in evaluating the potential of unconventional reservoirs is the
complex geologic nature of organic rich, fractured, laminated, and heterogeneous formations having
implications on stimulation and production optimization. An area with a limited number of stimulated
appraisal wells in the Jurassic mud rocks in Saudi Arabia was targeted for this study. The objective is to
build and calibrate a multidisciplinary integrated workflow consisting of geologic, hydraulic fracture, and
reservoir modeling to optimize the number of clusters and other completion parameters for a multi-well
pad drilled in the subject area.
The workflow developed comprises integration of data analysis to evaluate reservoir and completion
qualities and assess their impacts on production performance specifically for unconventional reservoirs.
Petrophysical and geomechanical models were calibrated with core measurements. Logs from the horizontal
lateral was integrated in the geomechanical model to analyze the hydraulic fracture stimulation by
performing fracture pressure matching for all stages. The hydraulic fracture attributes from the fracture
simulator were exported to the reservoir simulator. The surface production measurement together with the
production log were used to calibrate the reservoir model.
The final calibrated workflow, including hydraulic fracture and reservoir models, was used to perform
sensitivity analyses to optimize the cluster spacing and other completion parameters considering the
geomechanical and reservoir constraints. Preliminary results suggest stress shadowing is not a major concern
even with a short cluster spacing given the level of stress anisotropy in this formation. An optimum
cluster spacing was determined based on long-term production performance. The results of this study were
implemented in a pilot well pad to determine which completion variables were critical for optimizing well
productivity and further calibration of the workflow.
The methodology adopted in this study identifies the major controlling factors of completion and reservoir
parameters affecting well productivity for specific unconventional reservoirs. This workflow will help
shorten the learning curve and increase the efficiency to reach the optimum stimulation design for the
development phase.
2 SPE-184830-MS

Introduction
The unconventional resources program of Saudi Arabia was built around a de-risking strategy comprising
four major phases with shifting focus in each phase between reservoir data collection, increasing estimated
ultimate recovery (EUR) and cost efficiency. The phases are: exploration to answer the question of whether
we have hydrocarbon or not, appraisal to identify if the play is large enough and repeatable, pilot to fine-
tune technology to increase the well's EUR and initial production, and development to reduce costs to make
the program economical. The strategy was detailed by Al-Mulhim et al. (2015).
The study is focused on the Jafurah Basin, which is one of the unconventional targets in Saudi Arabia.
The target is the Jurassic Tuwaiq Mountain carbonate mud rocks known as the primary source rock of the
prolific conventional Jurassic oil reservoirs in the region. The source rock is relatively deep with an area
equivalent to the Eagle Ford play in South Texas. The mud rocks can be subdivided into three main distinct
units based on reservoir quality attributes. It is characterized by high total organic carbon (TOC), which can
reach up to 14.3 wt.%. The formation is predominantly made of calcite ranging from 59% to 89% by volume
and has a low amount of dolomite and quartz, averaging 11% and 3%, respectively. The clay content is low
ranging from 1.7% to 5%. The maturity analysis suggests that the organic matter of Tuwaiq Mountain is
mature and in the late wet gas window (Al-Hakami et al. 2016).
Several exploratory wells penetrated the formation with an intensive data acquisition program, including
coring across the entire formation, open hole logging, hydraulic fracture stimulation and flow back analysis.
This has led to the drilling of several appraisal wells to investigate productivity of horizontal multistage
fractured wells in the basin. Intensive data was acquired from the horizontal wells, including image and
sonic data. The data acquired facilitated the design of an engineered stimulation and completion program
for these appraisal wells, which resulted in excellent contribution across the lateral as detailed in Al-Momin
et al. (2015).
Multi-well pad pilots in the basin were drilled based upon lessons learned from the appraisal wells. The
main challenge faced is to determine the optimum completion strategy for the pilot wells. The learnings
accumulated through the exploratory and appraisal wells, including geologic understanding of the rock,
stimulation best practices, and reservoir productivity, which provided the necessary information to make
sound choices for the pad development.
The approach adapted in this study is to build and calibrate a multidisciplinary integrated workflow
comprising geologic, fracture simulation, and reservoir modeling on the horizontal appraisal Well-X and
its exploratory pilot hole. The key significance in this workflow is to couple all the modeling efforts across
disciplines in a single integrated model to identify what are the main controlling completion parameters that
result in optimum productivity and EUR of this well. Through sensitivity analysis, the optimum completion
strategy is to be developed and tested in the coming multi-well pad. Figure 1 depicts the workflow of this
study.
SPE-184830-MS 3

Figure 1Integrated unconventional workflow for completion optimization.

All modeling in the workflow is designed specifically for unconventional reservoir applications for each
discipline, including:

Petrophysical and geomechanical modeling, considering vertical laminations and stress anisotropy.

Fracture modeling incorporating the stress shadowing effect and complex fracture geometry.

Reservoir modeling capturing geometry complexity of fracture and stress-dependent conductivity

reduction.
The next sections of the paper address reservoir characterization modeling, fracture and reservoir
modeling, and sensitivity analysis based on the calibrated workflow together. A recommended completion
strategy includes cluster spacing and volume for proppant and fluid for the upcoming pilot pads.

Reservoir Characterization Modeling

An unconventional reservoir model begins with a solid understanding of fundamental reservoir properties
such as porosity, permeability, organic content, mineralogy, and mechanical properties along with insights
into rock properties such as laminations, natural fractures, and formation stress behavior from borehole
images. The following three sections detail the work undertaken to provide concise answers for all of the
key inputs required to build a solid base for the fracture and production modeling completed in this study.

Petrophysics
Accurate values of porosity and permeability from the exploratory pilot hole were required as crucial
petrophysical property inputs for the cluster spacing and reservoir model detailed in this workflow. To
obtain the best value of porosity, a complete petrophysical model was created for the pilot hole of Well-
X by means of a simultaneous multi-volume solver program and a robust well log dataset consisting of
gamma ray, neutron, density, resistivity, geochemical, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) logs, Fig. 2.
4 SPE-184830-MS

An important model input of TOC was calculated from the Schmoker density based computation (Schmoker
and Hester 1983), which was calibrated to core within the field and converted to kerogen volume before
being utilized in the multi-volume solver model. Using this accurate value of kerogen and mineralogy from
the geochemical log, a very robust answer for porosity is obtained, which takes into account minerology,
organic content, as well as pore fluid type and density.

Figure 2Snapshot of log inputs, petrophysical properties, and geomechanical

properties used for this case study of the Tuwaiq Mountain Formation.

Intrinsic permeability was estimated two ways: the first from a NMR log porosity and relaxation time
logarithmic mean based algorithm using standard carbonate parameters as described in Quintero et al.
(1999); and the second permeability from an empirical estimate (petrophysical porosity model), which was
calibrated to several other wells in the area. Both log based estimates are in good agreement on the absolute
value of intrinsic permeability as seen in Track 7 of Fig. 2, and these values are in line with typical values
seen both in this formation as well as in similar ultra-tight reservoirs globally. Deviation between the two
estimates occur in the very base of the formation as well as the upper water wet zone, where NMR is more
sensitive to pore size changes that are not apparent from only porosity. Measurements of porosity, TOC,
and permeability from the core were available for the validation of the log based model outputs.

Geomechanics
Isotropic acoustic measurements were available for the pilot hole of Well-X; however, mechanical
anisotropy from layering often becomes a focal point when developing a geomechanical model for
SPE-184830-MS 5

unconventional formations (Waters et al. 2011). Anisotropy in an organic source rock can be caused by
laminations of clay and/or organic content (Sayers et al. 2014), and their presence is oftentimes quantified
by an anisotropic acoustic analysis (i.e., Stoneley horizontal shear processing for vertical transverse isotropy
(VTI)), which was unavailable for this well. The presence of mechanical anisotropy (VTI) can cause the
under estimation or misrepresentation of the in-situ formation stress profile from standard isotropic acoustic
measurements.
Mechanical core data was obtained from both the Upper and Lower Tuwaiq Mountain in the pilot hole
of Well-X and demonstrates a moderate degree of anisotropic behavior, particularly in the Lower Tuwaiq
where vertical to horizontal Young's modulus has a ratio of approximately 1.4. Core data and anisotropic
acoustic analysis from offset wells also establish the presence of mechanical anisotropy (VTI) in the Tuwaiq
Formation.
To obtain a robust stress model, core analysis data is matched, and calibrating is assisted through injection
diagnostic testing. A pseudo-horizontal Young's modulus using the vertical static Poisson's ratio derived
from available isotropic acoustics was found to match the horizontal values from the core, which was enough
to justify using the vertical value "as is."
To accomplish this, a nearby offset well with a valid anisotropic (VTI) acoustic interpretation and very
similar rock properties was utilized. It was found from the offset well that a good linear regression could
be found between vertical and horizontal static Young's modulus by splitting the Tuwaiq and surrounding
formations into their four separate distinct intervals (Jubaila, Hanifa, Upper and Lower Tuwaiq Mtn.). Given
that the rock properties (mineralogy, clay content, porosity, and TOC) are nearly identical between the
pilot hole of Well-X and the offset well, it was decided to utilize the regressions developed in the offset to
calculate a pseudo-horizontal Young's modulus for the pilot hole of Well-X Track 10, Fig. 2.
With this newly developed horizontal mechanical properties input, the stress profile was re-calculated
and calibrated to the injection diagnostic test from the Lower Tuwaiq as seen in Tack 11, Fig. 2. Note the
slight difference in values, but more importantly, the change in stress contrast between the highest and lower
TOC intervals using isotropic (red curve overlay) and anisotropic calculations (black curve with color fill).
Accordingly, a confidence in the stress profile and mechanical properties for the reservoir and surrounding
formations is realized.

Image Analysis for Mechanical Properties

Lamination density density of bedding per foot due largely to clay or organic content was required
for satisfactory modeling of formation fracture growth. A novel image analysis technique was used for this
input, as seen in Tracks 6 and 7 of Fig. 3.
6 SPE-184830-MS

Figure 3Petrophysical and geomechanical logs along with novel electrical image
analysis technique to determine lamination density, contrast, and thickness.

An emerging methodology called Lamination Analysis (Kherroubi et al. 2016) is a multiscale

quantification of fabric layering (< 1 ft) using electrical images. This analysis functions by extracting the
layer boundaries from the images based upon user defined parameters. The analysis computes three different
attributes: lamination contrast, lamination density, and lamination thickness. The lamination contrast is
defined as the amount of electrical distinction between two consecutive beds and is a key factor in
determining the relevance of bedding interfaces. The lamination density is the number of distinct layers
per foot, and the lamination thickness is simply the measure of the thickness of each individual bedding.
The lamination density from this analysis was utilized in the reservoir fracture model characterized in this
study Track 7, Fig. 3.
In addition, a visual image interpretation was undertaken, in which transverse drilling induced fractures
are noted in stiffer (non-organic) rock above the Tuwaiq Mountain and minor drilling induced fractures
incipient transverse fractures are noted in the formations immediately bounding the Tuwaiq Mountains.
Any indication of an image log scale natural fracture network is also not seen, either within the Tuwaiq,
nor the surrounding formations.
SPE-184830-MS 7

Hydraulic Fracture Modeling

Once the static geo-model was constructed and calibrated, petrophysical and geomechanic properties were
used to populate a 3D grid covering the subject well. All the relevant properties required for the hydraulic
fracture simulation were taken from this grid. The objective was to maintain consistency with all the domains
involved in the study and define the fracture properties in the same grid to later run reservoir simulations
using an integrated model.
Fracture geometry of each stage was estimated using the hydraulic fracture pressure history match
technique on the measured surface and calculated bottom-hole treating pressure. This methodology provides
an approximation of the fracture attributes, including length, height, width and conductivity.
The stress profile was first calibrated with estimated closure pressure obtained from the mini falloff
(MFO) of stage 1, Fig. 4.

Figure 4Stage 1 MFO decline analysis.

The fracturing fluid rheology model was calibrated using the actual water source and additives used in
the treatment as depicted in Table 1. The leakoff coefficient was estimated from a cross-link fluid injection
and decline analysis.

Table 1Fracturing fluid rheology model at 280 F and 100 sec-1.

Exposure Time (hr) nPrime K' (lbf.s^n/ft2) Viscosity (cP)

0 0.75 5.10E-02 772.19

0.5 0.53 1.30E-01 714.66

1 0.41 2.10E-01 664.31

1.5 0.25 3.50E-01 529.93

2 0.12 4.50E-01 374.43

Observations from micro-seismic evaluation performed in an offset well suggests the fracture height
growth ranges from 120 ft to 200 ft and its geometry is predominantly planar rather than complex. The latter
is consistent with the absence of a natural fracture network indicated in the petrophysical evaluation.
Understanding the fractures were predominantly planar. The first pressure match approach was attempted
using a Pseudo-3D (P3D) hydraulic fracture model for simplicity and computational time saving.
Subsequently, we were unable to achieve an adequate match using the P3D model while honoring the
calibrated stress model. The net pressure obtained was significantly lower than observed. Increasing the
leakoff coefficient allowed us to bridge the fracture tip and match the final net pressure, nevertheless, these
8 SPE-184830-MS

results were disregarded because the leakoff variation was considered unrealistic for this formation, which
is more than two times than what was previously calculated.
Due to the P3D model limitation, a more sophisticated model was employed, namely the Unconventional
Fracture Model (UFM). This model has similar assumptions and governing equations as the P3D, but
rigorously simulate the fluid flow and proppant transport across a complex fracture network, solves for
hydraulic fracture/natural fracture interaction and the interaction between adjacent hydraulic fractures
computing by the stress shadow effect generated among them (Weng 2011). In addition, this model considers
the effect of laminations on the fracture height growth and net pressure, accounts for fracture tip arrest at
weak bedding interfaces, and assumes the hydraulic fracture is not perfectly vertical, but instead presents
an offset at the horizontal interfaces.
The lamination density generated by the image analysis was incorporated as an input for the UFM
simulation. The discrete natural fracture network model was not considered in the hydraulic fracture
simulation due to the lack of natural fracture networks from the resistive image analysis.
Enhancing the fracture model with the lamination density and using the UFM allowed us to achieve
a proper hydraulic fracture pressure history match for all stages, honoring the stress profile, fluid model,
planar geometry and expected fracture height from micro-seismic performed on an offset well. The only
parameter slightly varied from stage to stage to fine-tune the history match was the fracture offset or shift
as crossing laminations from 0.02 in. to 0.5 in. Figure 5 shows an example of the pressure match conducted
for stage 15.

Figure 5Hydraulic fracturing history match plot for stage 15.

A summary of the fracture dimensions and conductivity for stage 15 is summarized in Table 2.
SPE-184830-MS 9

Table 2Fracture dimensions and conductivity for stage-15.

Stage Cluster-1 Cluster-2 Cluster-3

Avg. Propped Width (in)

0.04 0.04 0.04

Avg. fracture conductivity (md.ft)

229 221 243

15
Total Fracture Length (Tip-to-Tip) (ft)

1,427 1,506 1,486

Max Height (ft)

139 135 139

The fracture conductivity estimated during fracture simulation was adjusted taking into account reservoir
dynamic conditions before exporting it to the unstructured reservoir grid. The following parameters were
considered in developing a correlation between the static-baseline and dynamic conductivity:

Retained fluid perm: 50%

Filter cake thickness: 0.01 in.

Youngs modulus: 5 MMpsi

Bottom-hole static temperature: 280 F

Water cut: 0.1

A multiplier factor was estimated for each proppant used in the fracturing treatment, 0.0931 and 0.
0889, to convert static to dynamic conductivities for 40/80 high strength proppant (HSP) and 30/50 HSP,
respectively, Fig. 6.

Figure 6Static to dynamic fracture conductivity correlation.

After each fracture stage was modeled using the pressure history match technique, a workflow was
applied to explicitly extract the fracture properties honoring the estimated geometry and populate each
cell of an unstructured grid depicting the reservoir properties from the petrophysical evaluation and the
10 SPE-184830-MS

hydraulic fracture modeling. Figure 7 depicts a side and top view of the hydraulic fracture represented in
the unstructured grid. This unstructured grid was later used to perform production history matching.

Figure 7Side and top view of the hydraulic fracture represented in the unstructured grid.

Reservoir Simulation
A static model was generated using the unconventional workflow as described in the reservoir
characterization section and hydraulic fractures were modeled in UFM as explained in the hydraulic fracture
modeling section. Two different types of the grids were generated, namely: unstructured and structured
grid. The unstructured grid is preferred as it allows a better representation of the fractures and reservoir,
assigning rock properties accurately in complex and dipping geometries. Consequently, the structure grid
using local grid refinement (LGR) to model the hydraulic fractures offers a simpler way to represent the
fractures, allowing quick changes of the properties for sensitivity purposes.

Unstructured vs. Structured Grid Geometry

A rectangular box unstructured grid model was developed as shown in Fig. 8.

Figure 8Unstructured grid model reflecting fracture placement and grid geometry.

To reduce the simulation run time, 5 m was used for the fracture's width. Fracture porosity and
permeability was modified to mimic the behavior of a 0.1 in. fracture width. The average porosity of
SPE-184830-MS 11

fractures used is 0.01 and permeability ranges from the center of the fracture to the end of the fracture is
23 md to 0.01 md, Fig. 9. A wellbore with a length of approximately 5,200 ft was placed in the center of
the model with 44 fractures.

Figure 9Fracture placement permeability variation with 23 md at center of fracture.

The rectangular box structured grid model was used as well, Fig. 10.

Figure 10Structured grid model.

The areal cell dimensions were 10 m x 10 m. Layer thickness in the fracture have an average of 2 ft,
Fig. 11.

Figure 11Vertical resolution for fracture length.

12 SPE-184830-MS

A wellbore with a length of approximately 5,200 ft was placed in the center of the model with 44 fractures.
Grid cells were subdivided into small sizes by applying LGR where each cell was divided equally into
10 cells. LGR were applied in the Y direction for fractures only with a LGR fracture width of 1 m. Fracture
width is defined as 1 m instead of 0.1 in. to reduce the simulation run time.
Properties for fractures were explicitly defined in LGR. Permeability in fractures were calculated based
on fracture conductivity. A fracture width of 1 m was required to run the model, which was required to
reduce the permeability to ensure similar conductivity. Two regions were defined, one for the saturation
table and another for the compaction table.

Fluid Characterization
The reservoir fluid is classified as under saturated volatile oil in this pilot area. The reservoir fluid
characterization is based on a downhole fluid sample from Well-X. Pressure, volume, temperature (PVT)
data was tuned by the PVTsim application. Two types of data were generated, one for black oil and the other
for compositional simulation. The equation of state (EOS) parameters were tuned with the experimental
results for the sample. The tuned EOS results were inputted to a compositional simulator.
Simulation runs indicated that there were no discrepancies in the simulation results between black oil and
the compositional case. Based on this finding, the black oil fluid model was used during history matching,
which required multiple iterations for the sensitivity study. To ensure the black fluid model was acceptable,
a final match case with the compositional model provided the same results.

Rock and Fracture Compaction

Fracture conductivity of the hydraulic fractures is a function of bottom-hole pressure (BHP) providing
additional support required to prevent the proppant from crushing. Ultimately, over time the reduction in
reservoir pressure decline impacts conductivity of the fractures. To capture this behavior in the simulation,
rock compaction tables were utilized for each proppant type. In each table a transmissibility multiplier is
provided at different pressure intervals with a unity transmissibility multiplier for the matrix.
The values in the compaction table were modified to match the pressure observed from the bottom- hole
flowing pressure. Figure 12 shows the modified compaction curve for three regions of rock compaction.

Figure 12Rock compaction curves and rock compaction region.

History Matching
The objective of matching the production history period is to have a calibrated model that can be used to
perform sensitivity analysis and to be used for the future performance of the well. In this model we assumed
that matrix properties are less uncertain and fracture properties are more uncertain. This iterative process
involved modifications of the fracture properties, including effective half-length and permeability.
SPE-184830-MS 13

For history match period, the simulation was run under reservoir volume control and matched the BHP,
water cut and gas-oil-ratio. Observed data was divided in two regions: early and late time where the early
time period was matched with tuning for the rock compaction and later was not matched initially. Production
log tool (PLT) data was conducted, which gave us the information about the contribution of each fracture,
Fig. 13.

Figure 13PLT data and fracture closing on its bases.

Results from the PLT data was used to identify fractures with minimum contribution and were shut off in
the model to obtain good production match. History matching was performed with the unstructured model
and equivalent modifications were used for the structured model. The BHP, gas, oil and water production
rates were matched with the actual data, Fig. 14, for the structure and unstructured grid. A maximum 5%
difference was observed between the BHP of the two grids. The difference is the absence of the BHP during
the shut-in period when pressure was building. For this period no observed data was recorded.

Figure 14BHFP, gas, oil and water production rates simulation vs. observed data.
14 SPE-184830-MS

To match the production history, three different approaches were used:

Explained above in which some fractures were closed at a later time.

Reducing permeability matrix.

Changing length and height of the fractures.

The match case by changing length and height is given in Fig. 15.

Figure 15Match case by reducing fracture length.

Sensitivities Analysis
Now that we have fully calibrated the reservoir simulation model, a direct relation can be established
between the well's production performance and reservoir and completion parameters, including:
petrophyisical properties, number of fractures, fracture geometry, spacing between clusters, and fracture
conductivity. This link allows us to carry different sensitivities of completion parameters with the objective
to access the impact on well production performance.
In this study the following analyses were investigated:

Stress shadowing effect.

Sensitivity of key completion parameters, namely: number of clusters, fracture half-length and
fracture height
Forecast of Production Performance from the Offset Multi-Well Pad.

Stress Shadowing Effect

Limited-entry perforating design with multiple clusters in the same stage is proven to be the most cost-
effective and efficient technique for stimulating horizontal wells.
Cluster efficiency is impacted by completion parameters as well as geomechanical properties. Stress
changes occurring during the stimulation of a single stage with multiple clusters in hydraulic fracturing, are
known to affect the fracture propagation in clusters within the same stage and possibly subsequent stages.
Stress shadowing effect is governed by parameters primarily related to completion design and/or
geomechanical properties. The completion design parameters include cluster spacing, perforation design
technique, and pumping rate while the geomechanical properties include breakdown pressure, Young's
modulus, stress contrast, and stress anisotropy. In this study the focus was on sensitivity of stress anisotropy
due the uncertainly of maximum horizontal stress.
Figure 16 summarizes sensitivity of horizontal stress anisotropy with four cases and shows the impact
on fracture orientation.
SPE-184830-MS 15

Figure 16Sensitivity of horizontal stress anisotropy.

Four cases were considered with a horizontal anisotropy ratio of: 1.15 (base case), 1.1, 1.05 and 1. The
sensitivity showed that:

For the base case and case 2 with sigHmax/sig hmin = 1.15 and 1.1, respectively, there was no
indication of stress shadow and all fractures are parallel.
For case 3 with sigHmax/sig hmin = 1.05 a small deviation of outer fractures from inner fractures
is shown from the simulation indicating a slight stress shadow impact, in this case the fractures
developed in this stage may not have the same geometries.
In case 4 with sigHmax/sig hmin = 1, the simulation clearly shows a change in the direction of the
outer fractures. In this case the fractures developed neither have the same geometries nor have the
same direction and may impact fracture development in subsequent stages.

Sensitivity of Key Completion Parameters

The calibrated structured reservoir simulation model was used to simulate the impact of key completion
parameters on production results. The objective of this exercise is to optimize well completion through the
analysis of magnitude of production increase/decrease when changing each parameter coupled with the cost
associated.

Number of Clusters
Increasing the number of clusters has two main limitations, the first one is that the stress shadow, which
was analyzed earlier and in our case even with a 20 ft spacing, it is unlikely to have a stress shadow effect
during stimulation. The second aspect is to achieve the optimum number of clusters that give the net present
value for each well.
The number of cluster' s sensitivity was run for the matched model to simulate the impact on production.
Figure 17 shows the simulation results for four cases of clusters, numbers 44, 84, 116 and 151. The four year
production simulations shows an increase of 76% in cumulative production when the number of clusters
is increased from 44 to 151.
16 SPE-184830-MS

Figure 17Number of clusters sensitivity analysis.

Effective Fracture Half-Length Sensitivity

In the reservoir simulation model the fracture half-length was divided into three regions and each region
is characterized by a length, and a conductivity (linked to compaction tables). During this sensitivity the
length of each region was changed to simulate a better fracture conductivity.
Table 3 summarizes the different cases and represents the change in effective frac half-length for each
region.

Table 3Effective fracture half-length sensitivity cases.

Fracture Region Base Case Case 2 Case 3 Case 4

Region 1 Length (ft) A A 1.39 A 2.20 A 3.50

Region 2 Length (ft) B B 2.00 B 2.50 B 3.50

Region 3 Length (ft) C C 0.73 C 0.56 0.00

Results of the four years of simulation are summarize in Fig. 18 where more than 130% production
increase is achieved by improving fracture conductivity from case 1 to 4 (best case).

Figure 18Effective fracture half-length sensitivity results.

Effective Fracture Height Sensitivity Impact

Sensitivity on fracture height was run using the calibrated model to get its impact on the production results
with different cases as detailed in Table 4.
SPE-184830-MS 17

Table 4Fracture height sensitivity cases (H*=fracture height).

Height Reduction

Stages 44 84 116 151

Fracture height base case H* H H H

Fracture height 50% reduction H/2 H/2 H/2 H/2

Fracture height 75% reduction H/4 H/4 H/4 H/4

Figure 19 represents the simulation results where it shows a loss of 35% of cumulative production when
the fracture height is reduced by half and a loss of 55% of production when the height is reduced by 75%.

Figure 19Fracture height sensitivity.

Production Impact on Offset Well Designs

The offset multi-well pad, consisting of four wells, is planned for stimulation with different designs. Having
the wells landed in zone with the same petrophysical and geological properties, the stimulation is designed
to investigate the number of clusters Well-1 and Well-4 and the proppant/fluid volume's impact on
production. Wells 2 and 3 are designed to sensitize frac fluid and proppant volume while Wells 1 and 4 are
designed to sensitize the number of clusters
The calibrated reservoir simulation model is used to predict the production performance from PAD wells.
According to the model simulations, Well-3 is expected to have the best performance with a 14% increase
in production when compared to Well-1, Table 5.

Table 5PAD wells design.

Well Number of Clusters Total Prop per Stage Volume per Stage Total Prop per Well 4 Year Cum
Production

Base case 1 A B C D E

2 A 0.7 B 1.6 C 1.6 D 1.2 E 1.12

3 A B 1.4 C 1.4 D 1.42 E 1.14

4 A 1.4 B C D 1.45 E 1.1

Conclusions
1. The paper demonstrates that an unconventional reservoir model begins with a solid understanding
of fundamental reservoir properties such as porosity, permeability, organic content, mineralogy, and
18 SPE-184830-MS

mechanical properties along with insights into rock properties such as laminations, natural fractures,
and formation stress behavior from borehole images to fully understanding the production impact
from hydraulic fracturing.
2. The P3D model did not accurately match the treating pressure while honoring the stress model,
indicating the need for a complex fracture model that honors fluid flow, proppant transport, interaction
of fractures and also honors the interaction between hydraulic fractures.
3. Horizontal anisotropy ratio of > 1 indicates no stress shadowing affects and that stress shadowing
does not become apparent until the anisotropy is < 1.0.
4. Fracture half-length is the dominating variable for increasing production with an overall increase of
130% over the base case.
5. Fracture height has a loss of production of up to 55% when the height is reduced by 75%.

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