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AAPG Southwest Section

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A New Approach to Solving Lateral Wells Complexity

Abstract

The Greater Permian Basin (GPB) formed and was divided into several sub-basins. It continued to uncover why the Midland Basin and the Delaware Basin were different based on variances in sedimentary depositions and tectonics. The Delaware Basin represents a syn-tectonic deposition; shaping the complexity of the lateral facies variation, which in turn represents a real challenge for lateral wells evaluation and completion design.

The Wolfcamp Formation is deepest in the center of the basin, measuring approximately 12,000 feet deep, concluding major sea level fluctuations outlining high frequency of depositional cycles.

Identifying the depositional facies and solving the structural framework, including faults and fracture analysis, will input to the completion strategy, differentiating the reservoir quality (RQ) and completion quality (CQ) for a better fracking stage placement.

This case study is approaching a new technique integrating the depositional facies, fracture identification from borehole images, Anisotropic mechanical properties with their correspondence minimum horizontal stress profile along the well combined with the compressional borehole acoustic reflection survey to reveal the dilemma of understanding the reservoir and preparing the stimulation of the well.