Monitoring and imaging the dynamics and extent of hydraulic fracturing fluid movement using ground-based electromagnetics, with application to the Eagle Ford shale Conference Paper uri icon

abstract

  • Copyright 2015, Unconventional Resources Technology Conference. Hydraulic fracturing enables more effective production of hydrocarbons from poorly- or non-producing, low- permeability formations. An important property in hydraulic fracturing, that directly affects well performance, is the distribution of proppant within the formation along the well path. Sufficiently sensitive controlled-source electromagnetic (CSEM) induction techniques are ideal for imaging this distribution due to the conductivity of the fracturing fluid which carries the proppant, and its contrast with that of the surrounding geological medium. We present both modeling and real-world data from the application of CSEM to the monitoring of fluid migration during hydraulic fracturing. First, to predict the expected response using CSEM exploration techniques, we present results from a 1-D numerical model and a 3-D finite element model. The 1-D and 3-D models generate frequency domain responses using Lorentz and Coulomb-gauged potentials, respectively, to solve Maxwell's equations. We have run multiple scenarios for the 1-D and 3-D cases and show that with current technology it is possible to detect the movement and extent of hydraulic fracturing fluid at practical depths. Finally, real-world data from the Eagle Ford formation in Texas are presented which demonstrate CSEM imaging of migration of hydraulic fracturing fluid into the formation. The transmitter and receivers are located on the surface, eliminating the possibility of interference with fracturing operations due to down-hole instrumentation. The ability to image the areal extent and movement of hydraulic fracture fluid makes high-resolution CSEM an efficient tool to directly assess the effectiveness of a hydraulic fracture stage. Near-real-time processing and delivery of results in the field enables data-informed decision-making before the remaining well stages are fractured.

published proceedings

  • Society of Petroleum Engineers - Unconventional Resources Technology Conference, URTeC 2015

author list (cited authors)

  • Hickey, M. S., Trevio, S., & Everett, M. E.

publication date

  • January 2015