Development of a Calibrated Fracture-Growth Model and Automated Staging Routine for the Jonah Field (SPE 116304)

One of the most important challenges in the Jonah Field in Sublette County, Wyoming, is to obtain effective fracture-height coverage over the entire 2,800+ ft Lance formation. The Lance formation in Jonah Field is composed of a stacked sequence of 20 to 50 fluvial channel sands interbedded with associated overbank siltstone and floodplain shale deposits. Within this interval, the net-to-gross ratio varies from 25 to 40%. Sandstone bodies occur as individual 10- to 25-ft thick channels and stacked-channel sequences greater than 200 ft in some cases.

Tiltmeter and microseismic fracture mapping was conducted on hundreds of propped-fracture treatments in the Jonah Field. These direct height-growth measurements helped to obtain an understanding about the effectiveness of shale barriers. It was found that a standard triple-combo log suite could be used to identify shale barriers for fracture growth.

A calibrated fracture model was developed for the Jonah Field that ties the log analysis to the fracture-growth behavior that was mapped using direct fracture-mapping technologies and to the net-pressure response measured during propped fracture treatments. These improvements in predictive modeling capabilities have lead to better insight into fracture growth behavior in the Lance formation.

A 3D fracture-growth model was modified to determine perforation strategy and fracture-treatment schedules to obtain effective coverage of the Lance formation in new Jonah wells in a semi-automated process. As a result, the entire process for fracture design can now be performed in an integrated software package.

Category 1: Fracpro
Sub Category 1: Application Examples

Paper Number: SPE 116304

Source: SPE Rocky Mountain Petroleum Technology Conference, 14-16 April 2009, Denver, Colorado

URL: http://www.onepetro.org/mslib/app/Preview.do?paperNumber=SPE-116304-MS&societyCo...