Monitor-Centric Fracture Hit Attribution in Multi-Well Hydraulic Stimulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Accurate fracture characterization is challenging when multiple treatment wells are hydraulically fractured simultaneously, as it is difficult to identify which treatment well is responsible for each fracture hit observed in the pressure data.
Innovation Solution
A method for monitor-centric interpretation of offset pressure monitoring measurements, which involves simultaneously hydraulic fracturing treatment stages across multiple treatment wells, measuring pressure data at monitor wells, detecting fracture hits, determining a reasonable velocity window, and assigning detected fracture hits to their likely originating treatment stages based on observation property data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple treatment wells are hydraulically fractured simultaneously to enable three-dimensional fracture characterization, then the ability to characterize fracture geometry in multiple directions is improved, but the difficulty of identifying which treatment well is responsible for each fracture hit increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the pressure data into distinct components by analyzing arrival times and velocity windows for each treatment well. The computing system divides the complex multi-well pressure response into individual fracture hit events that can be attributed to specific treatment stages, allowing separate analysis of each fracture propagation event even when multiple wells are treated simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses iterative feedback by comparing observed pressure responses with predicted responses from each treatment stage. The computing system continuously refines the attribution of fracture hits by analyzing the consistency between measured pressure data and modeled fracture propagation from each well, improving identification accuracy through repeated evaluation and adjustment.
2Loss of information
If offset pressure monitoring is performed during simultaneous hydraulic fracturing of multiple treatment wells, then three-dimensional fracture geometry characterization is enabled, but the complexity of data interpretation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a computing system as an intermediary that automatically performs the complex data interpretation tasks. This intermediary system processes the raw pressure data, applies velocity window analysis, and generates attributed fracture hit information, thereby reducing the manual interpretation complexity while preserving all fracture geometry information from the multi-well monitoring data.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual data interpretation methods with automated computational analysis. The computing system uses algorithmic processing to attribute fracture hits to specific treatment stages, substituting the mechanical/manual process of data analysis with an automated electronic system that can handle the complexity of simultaneous multi-well pressure data interpretation.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for monitor-centric interpretation of offset pressure monitoring measurements includes simultaneously hydraulic fracturing treatment stages corresponding to treatment wells, measuring corresponding pressure data via pressure gauge(s) at monitor well(s), detecting pressure responses corresponding to fracture hits within the pressure data, and determining a reasonable velocity window for when a fracture originating from each treatment stage is likely to affect the pressure data. The method includes detecting treatment stage(s) that are likely to be the origin of each fracture hit based on the reasonable velocity window and, for each fracture hit that only has one likely originating treatment stage, assigning the detected fracture hit to such treatment stage. The method includes determining observation property data corresponding to the treatment stages that have been assigned to the fracture hits and iteratively assigning, based on such data, each unassigned fracture hit to one of the corresponding likely originating treatment stages.