Doctoral Dissertations

Abstract

"Treatment design for hydraulic fracturing historically has been deterministic in nature. In a deterministic design, required variables can be determined and are assumed to be laterally continuous. This is difficult for geologic settings in general, but nearly impossible in fluvial geologic environments where the second assumption is violated.

Recent work has employed statistical methods to account for the complexity and heterogeneity in fluvial environments. Statistical design tools have been used to assist with improving the design process in complex fluvial geologic systems. Currently, the statistical design tools must be created using a "trial and error" process, which requires first completing/fracturing a statistically significant number of wells.

This study begins with fundamental geostatistics for formation properties of sand body thickness, areal extent, etc., and with the search for a methodology for fracture treatment design based on geostatistics and basic well data. The first objective is to calibrate a complex geologic environment using a planar 3-D fracture geometry model, along with petrophysical data from logs, fracturing pressure data, and micro-seismic diagnostic data. Multiple design theories are proposed to create an optimized treatment pump schedule based on that theory. Production from the predicted fracture geometry is then tested against multiple alternate geologic models created based on the geostatistics of the sand bodies in the field. Numerical reservoir simulations will be performed, and their outcomes will be analyzed in order to determine the optimal treatment design methodology. The results here demonstrate that the use of fundamental well data and geostatistics can lead to an optimum design methodology in a complex formation"--Abstract, page iii.

Advisor(s)

Dunn-Norman, Shari

Committee Member(s)

Cawlfield, Jeffrey D.
Nygaard, Runar
Smith, Michael B.
Flori, Ralph E.

Department(s)

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering

Degree Name

Ph. D. in Petroleum Engineering

Publisher

Missouri University of Science and Technology

Publication Date

Spring 2012

Pagination

xvi, 154 pages, maps

Note about bibliography

Includes bibliographical references (pages 150-153).

Rights

© 2012 Prue Elizabeth Smith, All rights reserved.

Document Type

Dissertation - Open Access

File Type

text

Language

English

Subject Headings

AlluviumHydraulic fracturing -- MethodologyOil wells -- Hydraulic fracturing

Thesis Number

T 10014

Print OCLC #

817730514

Electronic OCLC #

909383001

Download

Share

 
COinS