Numerical Modeling of Hydraulic Fracture Propagation and Comparison with Microseismic Data at a Field Site

A hydraulic fracturing site in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA was selected to be a research site for the Marcellus Shale Energy and Environment Laboratory (MSEEL) project which was funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The field site has two previously drilled horizontal wells and two newly drilled horizontal wells for extracting natural gas. A separate exploratory vertical “science well” was also drilled and an array of geophones was used to extract important seismic/microseismic event information during hydraulic fracture propagation. Microseismic data collected from the geophones was then used to approximate the extent of hydraulic fractures. Numerical modeling was performed to determine the extent of all hydraulic fractures at the site. The 58 stages encompassing two wells were individually numerically modeled. Available geologic, geomechanical, and treatment data was utilized in the numerical modeling of all stages at both horizontal wells. Comparisons were then made with available microseismic data collected at the field site during hydraulic fracturing operations. Model calibration was based on a statistical methodology and available microseismic data. Results show a good match between estimates/measurements and model calculations of fracture/microseismic cloud height.