Monitoring, Modeling Techniques Help Optimize Eagle Ford Completions
Authors: Carpenter Chris 
Published: April 2024

_

This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper SPE 212367, “Sealed Wellbore Pressure Monitoring and Calibrated Fracture Modeling: The Next Step in Unconventional Completions Optimization,” by Karen Olson, SPE, Joshua Merritt, and Rair Barraez, SPE, Well Data Labs, et al. The paper has not been peer reviewed.

_

Sealed wellbore pressure monitoring (SWPM) has been used across North and South America, with more than 16,000 stages monitored. A recent development is the added capability of a fracture model that can automatically history-match the volume to first response (VFR) determined from SWPM. The complete paper’s focus is a case study of the Department of Energy Eagle Ford refracturing project, where a range of completion designs were trialed while monitoring offset SWPM and fiber-optic strain.

Introduction of the Hydraulic Fracture Test Site 1 (HFTS1), Phase 3

Background. The HFTS1 Phase 3 was conducted at the Zgabay unit in northwest DeWitt County, Texas. This unit was initially developed with horizontal multistage completions and has been producing since 2013.

The 10 original wells in the unit, and the four new drilled wells, are landed in the approximately 100-ft-thick Lower Eagle Ford Shale. Of the four new drills, Well 14H is a dedicated observation well instrumented with various diagnostics, including a permanent fiber-optic cable. Well 12H, another new drill, was monitored using a wireline-deployable fiber. Both of these wells featured downhole gauges, while Wells 11H and 13H featured surface gauges.

The focus of the refracturing strain diagnostics— SWPM and fiber—was to characterize new fracture growth and interaction with pre-existing fractures during the liner refracturing of parent Wells 5H and 3H.

Completion Designs. Multiple stage and cluster architectures were tested on the Zgabay Wells 3H and 5H. Four single-cluster stages were performed per well. Both a high (2,000-psi target) and low (500-psi target) perforation friction design was tested on seven-, 12-, and 22-cluster stages. Well 3H maintained a slightly tighter cluster spacing (10–15 ft) compared with the 12–20 ft spacing of Well 5H. The main method of measuring the effect of different designs is strain monitoring using SWPM and fiber optics.

Technology Background

SWPM. SWPM uses an uncompleted wellbore to monitor fracture intersections from offset-well stimulations. The monitor well collecting the SWPM data cannot be connected to a formation through perforations or other types of access points. The wellbore should be filled with low-compressibility fluid, with pressure added to the monitor well. Fractures intersecting the sealed wellbore cause local deformation, which results in a small volume reduction in the closed system and generates a discernable and distinct pressure response.

The total slurry injected into the stage of the active well when the first fracture arrival is identified using SWPM is the VFR. VFRs are used as a proxy for cluster efficiency and to calculate fracture-growth rates.

The field execution of SWPM does not require any tools to enter the wellbore. Multiple sealed wellbores can be used as monitor wells for a single treatment well.