Microseismic energy density and event trend constraints on model DFN development for hydraulically fractured reservoirs: Marcellus shale, southwestern Pennsylvania, U. S. A.

摘要

In this study we use energy-weighted microseismic event density to approximate the intensity of fractures produced in response to hydraulic fracture stimulation of three Marcellus shale gas wells in southwestern Pennsylvania, USA. Since microseismic energy release is directly related to surface area of ruptured fractures, the energy based estimate of fracture intensity is related to total rupture area produced in response to hydraulic fracture stimulation. The energy weighted estimate is computed by replacing individual events with an equivalent integer multiple of the lowest energy event. This provides an event density that is proportional to total energy release. The energy-weighted grid representing the stimulated reservoir volume (SRV) provides constraints on the distribution of fractures in a model discrete fracture network (DFN) of the stimulated region.