Title: Optimisation of hydraulic fracture placement design in anisotropic shale reservoirs using azimuthal LWD sonic and spectral gamma ray analysis

Authors: Gbenga Folorunso Oluyemi; Tomilayo Simisola Afolabi

Addresses: School of Engineering, Robert Gordon University, AB10 7GJ, Aberdeen, UK ' School of Engineering, Robert Gordon University, AB10 7GJ, Aberdeen, UK

Abstract: Hydraulic fracturing (fracking) of shale resources has become a trend in the oil and gas industry that is associated with exorbitant costs. In order to increase the efficiency of fracture stimulation, considerations have to be given to the anisotropic tendencies of shale petrophysical and geomechanical properties along wellbore laterals where fractures are hydraulically induced. In this study, an approach for the accurate quantification of vertical transverseisotropy (VTI) and resultant anisotropic properties along shale wellbore laterals using an LWD azimuthal sonic log was investigated. Using the case study of a Marcellus shale well in Northeastern Pennsylvania having azimuthal sonic data, a work flow for obtaining anisotropic properties, critical to fracture stimulation design was developed. An algorithm for the characterisation of wellbore geomechanical quality based on estimated VTI anisotropy, anisotropic closure stress and brittleness was also developed..

Keywords: fracking; vertical transverse anisotropy; stimulation; shale resources; geomechanical properties; petrophysical properties.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPE.2018.093154

International Journal of Petroleum Engineering, 2018 Vol.3 No.2, pp.83 - 94

Received: 03 Jul 2017
Accepted: 13 Nov 2017
Published online: 11 Jul 2018 *

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