Fracture Hit Prediction via Pressure Template Matching
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for determining fracture geometry in well productivity, especially for infill drilled wells, face challenges in distinguishing between stress shadow and direct fluid communication between fractures, leading to inefficient fracturing operations and potential detrimental effects on existing wells.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing high-frequency pressure monitoring and spectral density analysis to differentiate between stress shadow and direct fluid migration, allowing for real-time discrimination and prediction of fracture hit scenarios, thereby optimizing fracturing operations by stopping or adjusting pumping strategies based on pressure data comparison with pre-calculated scenarios.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If pressure monitoring is used to determine fracture geometry, then fracture parameters can be assessed, but it is difficult to distinguish between stress shadow and direct fluid communication between fractures
Solution Approach 1:
The method pre-calculates pressure responses for various fracture geometries and scenarios (including both stress shadow and direct fluid communication) before the actual fracturing operation. These pre-calculated pressure templates are stored and ready for comparison with real-time monitoring data, enabling rapid identification of the actual fracture scenario without complex real-time calculations
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors pressure in the parent well during child well fracturing operations and compares the actual pressure response against pre-calculated pressure templates for different fracture scenarios. This feedback loop enables real-time identification of whether stress shadow or direct fluid communication is occurring, allowing for immediate operational adjustments
2Loss of information
If multiple pressure gauges are placed in different parts of the wellbore to determine fracture geometry, then more geometric information can be obtained, but the operation time and service cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using multiple physical pressure gauges in different wellbore locations, the method creates virtual pressure measurements through numerical simulation. Pre-calculated pressure responses for various fracture geometries serve as templates that are matched against actual single-point pressure data, eliminating the need for multiple physical sensors while still providing comprehensive geometric information
Solution Approach 2:
The method replaces the mechanical system of multiple physical pressure gauges with a computational approach using numerical simulation and pressure template matching. The complex physical measurement system is substituted with algorithms that can infer fracture geometry from single-point pressure data combined with pre-calculated models
3Reliability
If high frequency pressure monitoring is implemented to detect fracture hit, then direct fluid migration can be identified, but data processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Pressure templates for identifying direct fluid communication (fracture hit) are pre-calculated and stored before the fracturing operation. These templates include characteristic pressure response patterns for different fracture scenarios. During operation, the high-frequency pressure data is simply compared against these pre-prepared templates, avoiding the need for complex real-time analysis algorithms
Solution Approach 2:
The method uses disposable, pre-calculated pressure templates that can be quickly generated and discarded after use. Each fracturing operation uses appropriate pre-calculated templates, and these can be regenerated for different scenarios without investing in complex, permanent data processing systems. The templates are simple numerical datasets rather than complex computational infrastructure
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach reduces operational time and costs by accurately predicting and preventing fracture hits, ensuring efficient fracturing operations and minimizing interference between wells, while providing precise fracture geometry parameters with reduced uncertainties.
Implementation Method 1
A fracture hit is detected by monitoring a pressure signal in the parent well with a pressure sensor
Implementation Method 2
high frequency pressure monitoring, allowing getting more information... analyzing the spectral density of pressure from parent and child wells
Data Source
AI summary
A method is offered to predict and prevent the event of fracture hit (direct fluid communication) between a parent well and a child (active) well. The growth of a child well creates 3D stress field in the vicinity of a parent well. The growth of a child well is simulated using the geomechanic-transport model. A model of interaction between the child well and parent well is provided. The simulations for different job designs create a set of pressure scenario in the parent both for the cases with and without fracture hit (fracture hit catalogue). Comparison (matching) of actual pressure data in the parent and child well with the pre-calculated pressure scenarios indicate the risk of fracture development with a fracture hit, which means a stop in fracturing stimulation.