Understanding Development Drivers in Horizontal Wellbores in the Midland Basin

Abstract

The Permian Basin in North American has been the driving force behind global energy growth, resulting from the exploitation of unconventional resources. The combination of high quality stacked resources, horizontal drilling, completion tools, and hydraulic fracturing innovations has accelerated the learning curve in this basin over the past few years: which was the impetus of this study. This paper utilizes an integrated model approach to understand reservoir performance on a pad with four wells completed across multiple horizons in the Midland Basin. Rich multi-domain data sets were utilized that included seismic, wireline triple-combo, compressional and shear log suites, core (rock mechanics testing, geochemical analysis (XRF and XRD) and routine core analysis), completion data (fracture treatments with pre-and post-job shut-in pressures), and production data including 1,500 days of production history with bottom-hole pressure gauge data. 3-D surface seismic, high tier logs, and core data were used initially to create a facies model. Properties were distributed into a geo-model using the existing vertical well-control and seismic as constraints. A sector model was then built that enabled modeling of 4 development wells that consisted of parent well, followed by 3 child-wells. The history matching of fracture treatments and production data with bottom-hole pressure data resulted in significant understanding of key parameters driving subsurface performance. A workflow, representing the seamless integration of said models, is presented that enables an improved understanding of what impact sequence and timing of operations has on the subsurface contact area as well as the implied change in well performance if an optimal strategy is executed. Geomechanical facies that drive vertical connectivity and fracture geometry, as well as reservoir parameters that impact fracture contact with the reservoir, were identified.