Filtering Microseismic Data for Hydraulic Fracture Model Calibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Accurate estimation of hydraulic fracture geometry in subterranean formations is challenging due to microseismic events occurring at locations other than the fracture tip, which can lead to inaccurate fracture model updates and increased completion costs.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing geophones and tiltmeters to monitor microseismic events, with a computing device filtering and calibrating a fracture model by determining the uncertainty of observed lengths and using only accurate measurements to update the model, thereby improving the accuracy of hydraulic fracture geometry estimation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If microseismic event data is used to update fracture model, then fracture geometry estimation is improved, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to events occurring at locations other than fracture tip
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and separates reliable microseismic events (those occurring at or near the fracture tip) from unreliable events (those occurring at other locations). By filtering out events that do not meet the reliability criteria, the system maintains measurement precision while eliminating data reliability issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the fracture model is continuously updated with filtered microseismic event data, and the updated model is used to further refine event selection. This iterative process improves both measurement precision and data reliability over time.
2Quantity of substance
If all microseismic events are used for model updating, then data quantity is improved, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to inclusion of inaccurate events
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the reliable portion of microseismic event data (events at or near fracture tip) while discarding unreliable events. This selective extraction maintains sufficient data quantity for model updating while ensuring high measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different quality criteria to different microseismic events based on their spatial location relative to the fracture tip. Events in the vicinity of the fracture tip are considered high quality and included in model updating, while events elsewhere are excluded, thus maintaining measurement precision.
3Productivity
If fracture model is updated with inaccurate measurements, then model updating frequency is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to incorrect geometry estimation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary filtering and validation of microseismic event data before incorporating it into the fracture model. By pre-screening events for reliability and accuracy, the system ensures that only high-quality data updates the model, maintaining manufacturing precision while enabling frequent updates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback loop where the fracture model is continuously refined using only validated microseismic event data. This ensures that each model update improves or maintains geometry estimation accuracy while allowing frequent updates as new reliable events are detected.
Data Source
AI summary
A fracture model for a hydraulic fracture in a wellbore can be updated and calibrated. Information about a microseismic event can be received from a sensor that is monitoring a subterranean formation. The information can be received subsequent to a fracking fluid being introduced into the formation. An observed geometry of a hydraulic fracture can be determined based on the information and a predicted geometry of the fracture can be determined based on properties of the fracking fluid and a fracture model. The fracture model can be updated using the information about the microseismic event where it is determined that an uncertainty value of the observed geometry does not exceed a pre-set maximum. The uncertainty value can be based on the predicted geometry of the hydraulic fracture.