A new fracture diagnostic technology for mapping hydraulic fracture dimensions is introduced: downhole tiltmeter fracture mapping. Downhole tilt fracture mapping involves deploying wireline-conveyed tiltmeter arrays in offset wellbores to measure hydraulic fracture growth versus time. This technology has been employed to map over 100 fracture treatments in the last eighteen months. Allowing, for the first time, the gathering of statistically significant data-sets on how hydraulic fractures actually do grow - albeit, within only a few fields so far. In addition to providing fracture diagnostic data (fracture length, height, width and asymmetry), this new capability allows enhanced utilization of hydraulic fracture models because model predictions can be "calibrated" with insitu observations of fracture growth.
The mapping concept is quite simple: creating a hydraulic fracture involves parting the rock and deforming the reservoir. Downhole tiltmeter mapping involves measuring the fracture-induced deformation in a nearby offset well(s) versus time and depth and inverting the data to obtain the created fracture dimensions. The principles are the same as for surface tiltmeter mapping, but the different array geometry make it very sensitive to fracture dimensions and less sensitive to fracture orientation - just the reverse of surface tiltmeter mapping. This paper will explain the fundamental concepts, the implementation strategy (wireline arrays, processing and modeling), present three field case studies, and briefly discuss the implications on fracture modeling.
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