Hydraulic Fracturing Stress Regime Analysis for Borehole Trajectory Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hydraulic fracturing in hydrocarbon reservoirs with localized stress regime heterogeneity, caused by tectonic effects and complex geology, poses challenges due to variations in principal stresses, leading to ineffective well stimulation and production in regions like the Middle East, where deep high pressure/high temperature formations with tight rocks hinder economic hydrocarbon production.
Innovation Solution
A method that involves identifying and analyzing stress regimes along a borehole to select optimal reservoir access locations by calculating differential stress and adjusting well trajectories to extend through normal stress regimes, thereby overcoming fracture placement challenges in non-normal stress regimes, and using data from petro-physical evaluations and Mechanical Earth Models to optimize completion designs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hydraulic fracturing is performed in formations with localized stress regime heterogeneity, then fracture initiation and propagation become unpredictable and ineffective, but drilling and completing wells in such complex geomechanical environments is necessary to access hydrocarbon resources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing stress regime analysis and identifying normal stress regime zones before hydraulic fracturing operations. The method involves calculating differential stress, locating normal stress regimes, and selecting reservoir access locations in advance, which enables reliable fracture initiation and propagation while avoiding areas with adverse stress conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by selecting specific reservoir access locations within the borehole that are situated in normal stress regime zones. Rather than treating the entire formation uniformly, the method identifies and targets localized areas with favorable geomechanical properties (normal stress regimes) for fracturing operations, thereby ensuring reliable fracture behavior in each specific location
2Productivity
If well trajectories are drilled to access deep high pressure/high temperature formations, then hydrocarbon production potential increases, but fracture placement becomes challenging due to non-normal stress regimes at depth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing stress regime analysis and identifying normal stress regime zones before hydraulic fracturing operations. The method involves calculating differential stress, locating normal stress regimes, and selecting reservoir access locations in advance, which enables reliable fracture initiation and propagation while avoiding areas with adverse stress conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by using differential stress calculations to identify and select reservoir access locations based on specific geomechanical parameters. By changing the selection criterion from uniform depth-based spacing to stress-regime-based location selection, the method optimizes fracture placement in deep high pressure/high temperature formations
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes identifying one or more stress regime types along at least a portion of a borehole, where the stress regime types are selected from a normal stress regime, a thrust stress regime and a strike-slip stress regime, and selecting reservoir access locations along the borehole based on the type of stress regime identified along the borehole.