Fracture Stages Optimization in Bakken Shale Formation Available to Purchase

Success of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracture stimulation has helped Bakken oil production grow significantly. In addition to increased length, the number of fracture stages has increased greatly in the past five years. As the number of stages has increased, the cost of completion has become a significant part of the total drilling and completion costs. This paper focuses on examining the efficacy of fracturing stages in Bakken Shale formations based on the field production data. We observe that as the number of stages increases, the efficacy of incremental stages decreases. Beyond certain number, the incremental cost would exceed the incremental benefit.