The Impact of Stimulation Treatment Size on Ultimate Recovery From the Hydraulically Fractured Shale Gas Wells

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

Shale gas reservoirs are key to extending a high rate of methane production by a few more decades. Massive stimulation jobs have been developed to produce gas at economic rates. However, optimal design of stimulation and horizontal drilling is challenging due to the unique reservoir conditions. The large stimulation jobs may generate the geometrically complex hydraulic fracture networks that limit gas production. Given importance of mudrock reservoirs, accurately estimating ultimate recovery (EUR) is critical. Here, we study the impacts of the massive hydraulic fracturing jobs on the physics-based scaling curve forecasts. We compare reservoir simulations with varying stimulation job sizes. Also, we incorporate idealized hydraulic fracture geometries into a commercial reservoir simulator and compare the resulting generalized scaling curves. Results show that massive stimulation treatments may not always result in an effective mudrock play development. Additionally, our reservoir simulations reveal a numerical justification for the large fracturing jobs and the unexpected gas production. Finally, we confirm the theoretical predictive power of the scaling curve method.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publication4th EAGE Workshop on Unconventional Resources
PublisherEuropean Association of Geoscientists and Engineers, EAGE
ISBN (Electronic)9789462824478
DOIs
StatePublished - 2022
Event4th EAGE Workshop on Unconventional Resources - Bogota, Colombia
Duration: Dec 1 2022Dec 2 2022

Publication series

Name4th EAGE Workshop on Unconventional Resources

Conference

Conference4th EAGE Workshop on Unconventional Resources
Country/TerritoryColombia
CityBogota
Period12/1/2212/2/22

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 4th EAGE Workshop on Unconventional Resources. All right reserved.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Geochemistry and Petrology
  • Fuel Technology

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