Rock Heterogeneity 23 October 2014

by Roberto Suarez-Rivera .

W.D.Von Gonten

Laboratories, LLC

“Understanding and working with subsurface: importance of geomechanics and a perspective from the private sector”

Micro-seismic monitoring suggest strong lateral heterogeneity

Production data suggests strong lateral heterogeneity

Log and seismic data confirm strong lateral heterogeneity

Heterogeneity is a key component of the rock mechanical behavior

Heterogeneity

SPE ATW on Horizontal Well Completions on North American Shales • Roberto Suarez-Rivera 11-13 September 2013, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA

sH=sh

sh=sH

Heterogeneity

Suarez-Rivera et al, 2012/2013, also Burghardt et.al., ARMA 2012

Well-1 Well-2 Well-3 Well-4 Well-5 Well-6

Log-Scale and Seismic-Scale Heterogeneity

Well log data Seismic data Suarez-Rivera et al, 2012/2013,

Defining Rock Heterogeneity

By heterogeneity I mean: the natural variability of properties in geologic systems, the effect of interfaces and planes of weakness on the rock behavior the effect of abrupt and transitional changes in rock properties, and the

overall spatial distribution of these. understanding scaling effects

Rock Fabric and Fracture Containment

s V = 3000 psi sH = 1500 psi sh = 1000 psi

The World is a Magical World

The Role of Rock Fabric on the Propagation of Hydraulic Fractures, Invited talk, University of Texas at Austin, 14 October 2012. • Roberto Suarez-Rivera

Rock Fabric and Fracture Containment

s V = 3000 psi sH = 1500 psi sh = 1000 psi

The World is a Magical World

The Role of Rock Fabric on the Propagation of Hydraulic Fractures, Invited talk, University of Texas at Austin, 14 October 2012. • Roberto Suarez-Rivera

sV

sV

sh

Sub-horizontal fractures open along weak planes, and against the maximum principal stress, while the wellbore pressure never reaches this value

Horizontal wellbore configuration

Rock Fabric and Planes of Weakness The World is a Magical World

SPE166505• Regions of hydraulic fracture connectivity • Roberto Suarez-Rivera

Heterogeneity and Hydraulic Fracturing

Exposed surface area

SPE166505• Regions of hydraulic fracture connectivity• R. Suarez-Rivera

Far-wellbore Fracture

Near-wellbore Fracture

Wellbore/ Fracture Connector

Millimeter-Scale to Log-Scale Heterogeneity

Core Heterogeneity Log Heterogeneity

SPWLA 53rd Annual Logging Symposium • R. Suarez-Rivera et al., June 16-20, 2012

Interfaces?

Summary and Conclusions

Rock heterogeneity represents a big opportunity and challenge It affects reservoir characterization and reserves in place It affects the reservoir contact and restricts reservoir production It prevent the industry from understanding cause and effect relationships It makes production procedures inefficient (increasing cost and risk)