American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015 - 69

TABLE 1
Results of Four Placement Simulations with Selected Landing Depths (Red)
Setting Depth
(TVD ft)

Frac Length
(ft)

Propped Length
(ft)

Frac Height
(ft)

Propped Height
(ft)

Dimensionless Fracture
Conductivity (Fcd)

10,480

592.5

545.3

286.5

263.6

2.461

10,520

576.3

529.5

272.2

250.2

2.476

10,553

568.6

520.0

276.7

253.2

2.526

10,590

555.2

502.6

305.6

276.9

2.563

TABLE 2
Summary of Generic Case Study Wells with Milestone Events and Comparative Production
Well

Bone Spring
Interval

Start Date

A

3rd

5/27/14

B

3rd

7/7/14

C

rd

D

2

nd

E

2nd

F

2nd

3

Best 60-Day Oil
(bbl)

Best 60-Day Gas
(MMcf)

Proppant and fluid

24,878

31.381

Lateral setting depth

43,871

69.764

12/23/14

Multistage port

33,242

30.332

7/21/14

Proppant and fluid

32,433

12.987

9/22/14

Lateral setting depth and multistage port

51,107

49.796

12/9/14

Multistage port

83,737

136.144

ping, net pressure matching-especially
when step-rate tests were employed-suggested a perforation efficiency issue.
Consequently, with perforation cluster
efficiency lower than 74 percent, concern
was raised that entire clusters were being
eliminated, thereby restricting stimulation
treatment to only two and perhaps one of
the three targeted fractures. Accordingly,
a multisleeve frac system was employed
in the completion, allowing each sleeve
port to be opened individually during
frac treatment. While the straightforward
process is similar to using one perforation
cluster per stage, the ability to use coiled
tubing with less water and eliminating
plug drill-outs reduced the time and cost
appreciably, even with up to a threefold

Milestone Event

increase in the number of stages.
Throughout the ongoing study, production rates of example wells were evaluated relative to instituting the various
technology and/or best practice enhancements (Table 2). Results from the study
wells, which were not benchmarked for
reservoir quality, showed the best 60day oil and gas production rates after incorporating all the hurdles, either singularly
or in combination.
The study accentuates the inherent
value of comprehensive diagnostic assessments in the well planning stage to
modify lateral placement and ensure the
thickest and richest pay zones are thoroughly covered and exploited. Furthermore, the increased understanding of the

changes in reservoir quality along the
lateral in both vertical and horizontal aspects have been confirmed as significant
elements in designing the drilling and
completion programs, and essential in
optimizing overall well spacing.
r

LYLE
LEHMAN

FIGURE 4
Selected 10,553-Foot Landing Depth Simulation

Lyle Lehman is director of fracture
design and evaluation for STRATAGEN, a CARBO business. He leads a
team that utilizes the company's matrix- and shale-based reservoir stimulation workflows. Lehman's experience includes optimizing fracturing
treatments in low-permeability reservoirs around the world. Before joining
STRATAGEN in 2007, he worked for
Halliburton Energy Services, including
serving as North American regional
practice manager for drilling and
completion optimization. Lehman holds
seven U.S. patents related to fracture
stimulation. He has a B.S. in chemistry
from the University of Oklahoma.
AUGUST 2015 69
American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2015

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