Multigrid Fracture Stimulated Reservoir Volume Mapping Coupled with a Novel Mathematical Optimization Approach to Shale Reservoir Well and Fracture Design

摘要

This paper introduces a grid-based fracture-stimulated reservoir volume (SRV) concept. SRV is defined as a volume occupied by fluid in a fracture, whether created or caused by intersection with natural fractures. Fracturing of the optimum zones is believed to contribute to higher hydrocarbon production from shale and tight formations. This requires choosing placement of fractures along the designed path of horizontal wells to maximize expected SRV. Additionally, a new linear programming-based approach to mathematically optimize the placement of SRV in shale reservoirs is presented. The approach may be useful in pad drilling and fracturing as well as development of applications for use with shale formations. This work aims to globally optimize the placement of surface well pads, the location and number of wells attached to the pads, and the location of the fractures throughout the wells. This optimum placement will also take into account numerous practical constraints, including the length of wells, the number of wells associated with a pad, numerous overlap constraints inherent in unconventional gas and oil well development, the spacing between wells and fractures, etc. One approach to this challenge to optimize is based on maximizing the fracturability index (FI) values assigned to the cells of the model values explored by the final network, and will be constrained by the previously mentioned considerations as well as a global maximum number of wells and a maximum development budget. In addition, the mathematical framework allows for easy extensibility to other constraints, and can be customized based on these constraints.