Characterization Of The Barnett Shale Using Borehole Images And Other Tools

Andy Duncan1

¹Fronterra Geosciences

The Barnett Shale is not a typical fractured reservoir. Many fractures identified in core and borehole images are cemented and therefore contribute little to storage capacity or permeability. During hydraulic stimulation some of the natural fractures are re-opened, expanding the treatment zone and improving the production. Horizontal wellbores in the Barnett Shale must be properly positioned to achieve optimum drainage. To do this operators have to take advantage of the present day in-situ stress fracture directions and distribution. This is accomplished by using a rigorous methodology for fracture characterization during borehole image log evaluation.

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