Integrated Earth Model for Fracture Network Prediction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for predicting and designing fracture operations in oilfield operations lack a comprehensive understanding of fracture parameters, leading to inaccuracies in predicting and optimizing production at wellsites with complex fracture networks.
Innovation Solution
A method that integrates microseismic events and mechanical earth models to generate fracture parameters, which are then combined with reservoir parameters to create an integrated earth model, allowing for optimized production operations and fracture design across multiple wellbores, using unstructured gridding algorithms and numerical reservoir simulations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional fracture prediction methods are used, then the process is simple, but the accuracy of fracture parameter understanding is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate models (fracture model, reservoir model, gridding system) into an integrated modeling system. The fracture model generates fracture networks, the reservoir model creates geological structures, and the gridding system integrates them into a unified earth model, thereby improving fracture parameter understanding through comprehensive integration rather than isolated analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The unstructured gridding system acts as an intermediary that translates and integrates data between the fracture model and reservoir model. It creates a common computational framework that allows seamless data exchange and integration between different modeling components, enabling accurate fracture parameter analysis without direct complex interactions between all model elements.
2Reliability
If separate fracture and reservoir models are used, then each model is simple, but the integrated prediction accuracy is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the fracture model and reservoir model into a unified integrated earth model. The fracture model outputs fracture networks that are integrated with the reservoir model's geological structures through the gridding system, creating a comprehensive model that simultaneously captures both fracture characteristics and reservoir properties for more reliable production predictions.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated modeling system is segmented into distinct functional modules: the fracture model for generating fracture networks, the reservoir model for creating geological structures, and the gridding system for integration. This segmentation allows each component to remain relatively simple while achieving high integrated prediction accuracy through their coordinated interaction.
3Loss of information
If complex fracture networks are modeled, then the understanding of fracture parameters improves, but the computational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The unstructured gridding system dynamically adapts its mesh density and refinement based on the complexity of the fracture network being modeled. Areas with complex fracture intersections or high stress concentrations receive finer grid resolution, while simpler regions use coarser grids, thereby maintaining complete fracture network information where needed without uniformly increasing computational complexity across the entire model.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of performing oilfield operations at a wellsite is disclosed. The wellsite is positioned about a subterranean formation having multiple wellbores therethrough and a fracture network therein. The fracture network includes natural fractures. The method involves generating fracture parameters including a hydraulic fracture network of a fracture grid for each of the multiple wellbores based on wellsite data including microseismic events and a mechanical earth model, generating reservoir parameters including an updated mechanical earth model of a reservoir grid based on the wellsite data and the fracture parameters, generating integrated wellsite parameters including an integrated earth model by integrating the fracture parameters from the multiple wellbores with the reservoir parameters, and performing production operations at the multiple wellbores based on the integrated wellsite parameters.