Abstract
Real-Data/Real-Time analysis of fracture stimulation data is a valuable tool for fracture engineering in the field, especially in fields where there is a large variation in well to well behaviour. The differences in behaviour can be due to reservoir heterogeneity, differences in depletion, lateral heterogeneity, different fracture growth mechanisms and varying completion types. In such cases, a standard "cookbook" fracture design is not possible.
In this paper, the authors present a case study based on 12 fracture treatments in 10 wells in the Arman field, a moderate permeability oil reservoir with significant water and gas production. The field is also under water flood in some zones, leading to large variations in reservoir pressure from zone to zone. We first look at using real-data analysis to calibrate a fracture growth model by comparing predicted results for a fracture treatment design with the actual pressure data recorded during the treatment. We also give examples of dealing with such real-world issues as operational problems, reservoir heterogeneity, tortuosity, multiple fractures, high spurt loss and calibration of tip-screenout behaviour, and show the successful application of a fracture modelling tool to deal with these issues.
