A Cost/Benefit Review of Completion Choices in the Williston Basin Using a Hybrid Physics-Based-Modeling/Multivariate-Analysis Approach
- Authors
- Michael Mayerhofer (Liberty Oilfield Services) | Oladapo Oduba (Liberty Oilfield Services) | Karn Agarwal (Liberty Oilfield Services) | Howard Melcher (Liberty Oilfield Services) | Ely Lolon (Liberty Oilfield Services) | Jennifer Bartell (Liberty Oilfield Services) | Leen Weijers (Liberty Oilfield Services)
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.2118/187254-PA
- Document ID
- SPE-187254-PA
- Publisher
- Society of Petroleum Engineers
- Source
- SPE Production & Operations
- Volume
- 34
- Issue
- 01
- Publication Date
- February 2019
- Document Type
- Journal Paper
- Pages
- 24 - 40
- Language
- English
- ISSN
- 1930-1855
- Copyright
- 2019.Society of Petroleum Engineers
- Disciplines
- Keywords
- Hydraulic Fracture and completion Optimization, Williston Basin, Multi-Variate Analysis, Data Analytics
- Downloads
- 7 in the last 30 days
- 287 since 2007
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Summary
In the Williston Central Basin, a well-completion design has a significant effect on well productivity and ultimate recovery. More than 12,000 horizontal wells have been drilled and completed while completion practices continue to vary widely across the basin. Several companies have adopted slickwater-only designs, whereas others have dramatically increased proppant mass. Completion strategies have differed depending on the area in the basin. The objective of this paper is to discuss the effect of various completion changes in the Central Basin and determine which particular change delivers the most “bang for the buck” using a metric of dollars spent per barrel of oil (USD/BO).
The approach centered around multivariate analysis (MVA) from an extensive petrophysical/completion/production database to verify what completion and petrophysical parameters independently drive production in different areas. Although MVA has been used by the authors and many others before, statistical models are limited by their ability to provide predictive relationships (mostly simple linear regressions, and unreliable beyond the data range). This paper provides a novel hybrid approach that uses calibrated relationships from physics-based modeling (combination of fracture and numerical reservoir modeling) between completion parameters and production response in combination with statistical MVA results. Specifically, the physics-based model is calibrated or “history matched” to a measured production/completion-parameter response as provided by MVA, thus delivering a constrained and more physically realistic production response to suggested completion changes. This model is then coupled with a completion-cost model to determine which completion method is the most effective to lower USD/BO.
Many common completion-parameter changes, such as increasing stage intensity, moving to plug-and-perforate cemented-well designs, increasing injection rate, and increasing proppant mass per lateral foot and fluid volume per lateral foot, have a positive effect on production and are advantageous to lower USD/BO in all areas of the Middle Bakken and Three Forks. The new hybrid MVA approach indicates that pumping slickwater treatments with average proppant concentrations of 1 lbm/gal and treatment sizes from 545 to 750 lbm/ft at pump rates approaching 100 bbl/min through a stage length of 200 ft (50 stages for a 10,000-ft lateral) might be the economic optimum, provided there are no significant well-communication issues.
File Size | 2 MB | Number of Pages | 17 |
References
Griffin, L. G., Pearson, C. M., Strickland, S. et al. 2013. The Value Proposition for Applying Advanced Completion and Stimulation Designs to the Bakken Central Basin. Presented at the SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, New Orleans, 30 September–2 October. SPE-166479-MS. https://doi.org/10.2118/166479-MS.
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Pearson, C. M., Griffin, L., Wright, C. et al. 2013. Breaking Up is Hard to Do: Creating Hydraulic Fracture Complexity in the Bakken Central Basin. Presented at the SPE Hydraulic Fracturing Technology Conference, The Woodlands, Texas, 4–6 February. SPE-163827-MS. https://doi.org/10.2118/163827-MS.
Weddle, P., Griffin, L., and Pearson, C. M. 2017. Mining the Bakken: Driving Cluster Efficiency Higher Using Particulate Diverters. Presented at the SPE Hydraulic Fracturing Technology Conference, The Woodlands, Texas, 24–26 January. SPE-184828-MS. https://doi.org/10.2118/184828-MS.
Williams, B., Weaver, B. M., and Weijers, L. 2015. Completing the Second Target: Finding Optimal Completion Practices for the Three Forks Formation in the Williston Basin Using Multivariate Statistical Analysis. Presented at the SPE Hydraulic Fracturing Technology Conference, The Woodlands, Texas, 3–5 February. SPE-173377-MS. https://doi.org/10.2118/173377-MS.
Yang, Y., Zoback, M., Simon, M. et al. 2013. An Integrated Geomechanical and Microseismic Study of Multi-Well Hydraulic Fracture Stimulation in the Bakken Formation. Presented at the Unconventional Resources Technology Conference, Denver, 12–14 August. URTEC-1580301-MS.
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