Comparison of Single-Entry Coiled Tubing-Activated Frac Sleeves vs. Multi-Cluster Plug-and-Perf Completion in the Permian and Anadarko Basin: A Case Study

摘要

Maximizing ultimate recovery in unconventional wells presents many completion challenges. Among the most relevant, is consistently initiating multiple dominant fractures in close proximity to each other along the lateral. The most common fracturing method, Plug-and-Perf (PnP), relies on stimulating multiple clusters at once, leaving much of the pay zone unstimulated due to fractures initiating at the path of least resistance instead. These unstimulated sections create gaps in the fracture networks, which result in lower well profitability by hindering production and reducing estimate ultimate recovery (EUR). An alternative completion system, coiled tubing-activated frac sleeves (CTFS), is a method that provides accurate fracture placement and greater efficiency. This paper evaluates the production performance of this single-entry fracturing technique compared to the traditional multi-entry PnP method in the Granite Wash and Bone Spring formations. In this study, production analysis was done to compare performance CTFS vs PnP wells. Monthly well production data was derived from public sources. Decline curve analysis was used to appraise the estimated ultimate reserves for each well compared to the other wells in the immediate surrounding area. To complement the decline curve analysis study, a single stage reservoir simulation study is also included in order to compare the performance of the two completion methods. Three and six clusters for PnP stage and 3 entries for the single-entry completion were first simulated in hydraulic fracturing software. The estimated fracture geometry and conductivities were then used to generate a single stage reservoir simulation model. The properties of the reservoir were based on Wolfcamp formation. The simulation estimated cumulated recovery in 30 years.