Abstract: New Petrophysical Process Improves Reservoir Optimization by Linking Stimulation Design, Reservoir Modeling and Economic Evaluation

KESSLER, CALVIN, Halliburton Energy Services

The NMR permeability combined with newly developed petrophysical analysis improves the candidate selection process for various production enhancement treatments such as matrix acidizing, acid fracturing, and traditional hydraulic proppant fracturing. The new petrophysical model allows automatic zoning based on various log data consisting normally of permeability, stress contrasts, or lithology. The automatic zoning provides information for stimulation design, reservoir simulations, and economic forecasting.

The traditional stress zoning, which has enabled widespread usage of 3D modeling for the design of a stimulation treatment, is now enhanced by an accurate permeability profile and automatic zoning. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) logging provides a continuous high-quality permeability that falls within the accuracy range required for 3D hydraulic fracture design programs and reservoir simulators to predict production.

Combining the stimulation design and productivity calculations allows the operator to select the ideal stimulation treatment based on the highest return on investment. The automatic zoning creates a process for enhancing both the stimulation design and reservoir simulations with minimal time and effort. The intermediate result is to determine the most economical production enhancement scenarios such as treatment type and job size.

Once the stimulation is performed, monitoring the production rates and declines allows the process to be enhanced. Production data can lead to an improved NMR permeability by optimising the permeability coefficient in the Coates permeability equation. The final step is to repeat this process for additional wells in the reservoir with the ultimate goal of optimizing the reservoir development.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90911©2000 AAPG Pacific Section and Western Region Society of Petroleum Engineers, Long Beach, California