The early detection of "sweet spots" for oil/gas well site selection and fracturing in shale reservoirs is a challenge for many operators. Most of the time, unique parameters are utilized (i.e. brittleness based on geomechanical and geochemical parameters) to determine the "sweet spots" for well site placement. Additionally, the fractures are generally placed equidistantly.
This may create short transverse and/or non-planar hydraulic fractures that are problematic during hydraulic fracturing and may create suboptimal production.
This technology utilizes an integrated approach to site selection and fracture sequencing that allows for the optimal productivity of the well.
This integrated approach utilizes both petrophysics and geomechanical data to develop a Fracturability Index to guide well site selection and fracture positioning in unconventional shale plays. It also, introduces an optimization approach based on mathematical formulations to guide scheduling of fracturing operations in big resources.