Walker, Ray N. (1997) Cotton Valley Fracture Imaging Project. In: SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, 5-8 October, San Antonio, Texas. Society of Petroleum Engineers.
Full text not available from this repository.Abstract
This paper describes an experiment to image hydraulic fractures in the Cotton Valley sands at approximately 9,500′ depth. The purpose is to determine key geometrical attributes of those hydraulic fractures. A pilot study of one monitor well with a single geophone at normal well spacing and preliminary results from a more detailed study involving two monitor wells with arrays of geophones are presented. In the pilot study, it is shown that microseismic events induced by hydraulic fracturing at a depth of 9,500′ were detected at distances exceeding 1,300′ from the origin. Analysis of results indicated that a more complex geophone array was necessary. An industry consortium of major operators, service companies, government agencies and national laboratories was formed to perform a more detailed study using 96, 3-component geophone sondes distributed among two monitor wells. These monitor wells offset the treatment well using nominal 80 acre spacing rules and will be used as producers. A unique microseismic recording system specifically designed and manufactured for these operating depths (approximately 9,500′) is presented. Imaging is accomplished by using various data analysis techniques including real-time event location. Applications of the technology include optimization of hydraulic fracture designs and accurate mapping of fracture geometry. Fracture models will be developed to accurately depict fracture growth as defined by the finding of this project.
| Item Type: | Book Section |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | Methodology > Other-additional study Region > USA > Texas > Cotton Valley Inducing technology > Unconventional hydrocarbon extraction |
| Project: | SERA > COTTON VALLEY: uconventional hydrocarbon extraction |