Well

Comple)on Design 2

Unconven)onal Produc)on
Shale Gas
 Learning Objec)ves

This module discusses the following topics:

Origin of Shale Gas
Fracturing Gas Shale
Fracturing Fluids
Microseismic of Fracturing Operations
Fracturing Design
Simultaneous Frac
Dynamic Diversion
Case Study: Barnett Shale
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 Unconven)onal Gas

Gas has been produced from conventional sources: sandstones

and carbonates.

This conventional production is limited by the natural permeability

of these reservoirs.

Unconventional gas sources are the ones with extremely low

permeability, requiring recent production technologies hydraulic
fracturing of shale reservoirs, connecting the natural fissures and
pores and enabling the gas to be produced.

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 Shale Gas

Rocks as impermeable as concrete

Estimated gas in place in the USA: 500 x 1012 ft3 (500 tcf) to
780 tcf
Rich shales: Barnett Shale, Illinois, Michigan, and
Appalachian basins
Recent advances in drilling and completions (CT, perforating
and fracturing), and increase in gas prices, made shale gas
production economical

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 Shale

Shale is the most common sedimentary rock

Ultralow permeabilities
Rich in organic carbon
Thermogenic gas forms when the organic matter transforms
under rising temperature.
Gas is adsorbed onto the organic material or into the pores
of the shale
Influx of water and presence of bacteria will support the
generation of biogenic gas
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 Thermally Mature Shales

The amounts of oil and gas give an indication of how much

heat has been in the reservoir and for how long
Thermally mature shales had enough heat and pressure to
produce hydrocarbons
The most thermally mature shale contain only dry gas
Less mature shales have wet gas
Least mature shales may contain oil
Methane may have small percentages of CO2, N2, ethane
and propane.
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 Gas Shale Reservoirs

Barnett shale 50 x 109 ft3 (50 bcf)

to 200 bcf of gas per square mile
1st gas shale well in 1821
Until recently were not considered
productive
Hydraulic fracturing and horizontal
drilling are the technologies behind
recent surge
Horizontal wells cost twice a vertical one, but produce three times more
In 1999 there were 4 horizontal wells in Barnett shale, in 2004 there were
744 horizontal wells
Hydraulic fractures inter-connect natural fractures
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Shale Gas Produc)on and Number of Wells

Version (Management
2.0 Report, Hart Energy Publishing)
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 Number of Ver)cal and Horizontal Well in
BarneO Shale

(SPE 110562)
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 Fracturing in Gas Shale Wells

Half-wing length up to 3,000 ft

In deep high-pressure shale, slick-water and proppant

In shallow reservoirs, nitrogen foamed fluids

Intermediate Strength Proppants (ISP) can be used to enhance frac

permeability

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 Visco-elas)c, solids free, fracturing uid

Visco-elastic, solids free,

fracturing fluid

High viscosity (frac opening

is very small with slick-water)

Very high retained

permeability

Excellent proppant
transportation
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Microseismic in 4-stage
frac in Barnett shale

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 Microseismic in BarneO Shale Frac (map
view)

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 Microseismic in BarneO Shale Frac
(transverse view)

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 Frac Design

Clusters with 2 to 4 perforations, every 500 ft of lateral section

Ideally, there should be many more small stages fractures, but it is not
economical

Fractures transverse to the horizontal drain have low efficiency

If well is drilled perpendicular to the minimum in-situ stress, there will be

only one fracture and possibly connecting more natural fractures

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 Well Direc)ons

Minimum in-situ
stress

Maximum in-situ
stress

Actual Technique Future Possible Technique

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 Simultaneous Frac

Fracturing 2 or more adjacent wells simultaneously to

expose the shale to more pressure and increase the network
of fractures
Field results indicate 100% enhancement in rates related to
stand-alone wells while IP enhanced 21 to 55% (SPE
116124)
For best chance of success, simultaneous frac should be
performed in initial wells to develop a new lease (SPE
116124)

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 Dynamic Diversion

(from Schlumberger)

In cemented wellbores or open holes

In conjunction with real-time microseismic
Diverting fluids are pumped during the fracturing treatment
Fluids are placed using bullheading technique no special equipment is required
After treatment, fluids degrade to soluble byproducts that are flown back with the
treating
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 Case study: BarneO Shale well

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 Case study: BarneO Shale well

Comparison of microseismic before and after StimMORE* refracturing treatment

* Mark
Version of Schlumberger
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 BarneO Shale Massive Frac

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 Integrated Model Approach

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