Differential Pressure-Transient Analysis for Frac Hit Quantification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods struggle to accurately determine and quantify fracture interference between hydraulically fractured wells, leading to reduced oil and gas production and operational safety issues due to 'frac hits,' which are difficult to predict and require long production histories for assessment.
Innovation Solution
A novel differential pressure-transient analysis (DPTA) method that simultaneously evaluates pressure responses from multiple wells to determine the existence and magnitude of frac hits, allowing for rapid quantification of interference and improved production forecasting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If rate transient analysis (RTA) is used to assess frac hits, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases significantly due to requiring long production history
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing pressure transient analysis during the flowback period immediately after hydraulic fracturing, before production begins. This allows frac hit assessment to be conducted in advance rather than requiring months of production data collection, thereby resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and time loss
2Productivity
If well spacing is reduced to increase well density, then productivity increases, but harmful factors increase due to fracture interference and frac hits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by using pressure transient analysis results to provide information about fracture interference and frac hits. This feedback enables engineers to optimize well spacing and fracturing design to minimize harmful interactions while maintaining high productivity, thus resolving the contradiction between increased well density and fracture interference
3Loss of time
If pressure transient analysis is performed during flowback, then loss of time is reduced for rapid frac hit identification, but measurement precision may be compromised due to non-steady state conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by developing analysis methods that specifically account for the dynamic, non-steady state conditions during flowback. Rather than requiring static conditions, the method utilizes the transient pressure data as it naturally occurs, enabling rapid frac hit identification without compromising measurement precision through specialized dynamic analysis techniques
Data Source
AI summary
A method for quantifying frac hits within a few days using a novel pressure-transient analysis technique called differential pressure-transient analysis (DPTA). Unlike pressure transient analysis (PTA) methods, focused on single-well analyses, DPTA evaluates pressure response from two or more wells simultaneously to (1) determine the existence of frac hits, and (2) determine the magnitude of interference, defined as the ratio of inter-connected to total number of primary fractures from a given well. The output from (2) can be subsequently used to accurately predict oil and/or gas production rates for infill and offset wells.