A Better Way to Forecast Production from Unconventional Gas Wells Conference Paper uri icon

abstract

  • Abstract This work combines two ideasthe stretched exponential decline curve model and the novel paradigm of data-intensive discoveryto provide a controlled production forecast for any individual tight gas/shale gas well on the basis of data gathered through parameter processing for a large group of wells.. Group production for a large number of wells follows stretched exponential decline behavior of production rates, which we model using the corresponding decline curve model. Compared to the Arps model, the new approach offers numerous advantages; the two most significant ones are the bounded nature of estimated ultimate recovery (EUR) without limits on time or rate, and the straight-line behavior of a recovery potential expression that we introduce. This approach moves production forecasts in tight and unconventional gas fields from individual and subjective curve matching to a new methodology we call "group-data controlled forecast." In terms of the novel stretched exponential decline curve model, the combined process offers statistically more consistent reserve estimates and also provides a potential well monitoring tool.

name of conference

  • All Days

published proceedings

  • All Days

altmetric score

  • 6

author list (cited authors)

  • Valk, P. P., & Lee, W. J.

citation count

  • 232

complete list of authors

  • Valkó, Peter P||Lee, W John

publication date

  • September 2010