Title: Real-time hydrocarbons sweet spot identification in shale formations while drilling horizontally using geo-mechanical and geophysical parameters

Authors: Alberto Lopez Manriquez; Kamy Sepehrnoori

Addresses: The Wayne H. King Department of Chemical and Natural Gas Engineering, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, 700 University Blvd., Kingsville, TX 78363-8202, USA ' Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering Department, The University of Texas at Austin, 200 E. Dean Keeton St., Stop C0300, Austin, TX 78712-1585, USA

Abstract: This work presents an innovative comprehensive approach to properly identify intervals with the most favourable potential and properties to produce hydrocarbons known as hydrocarbons 'sweet spots'. The approach is applied to horizontal wells in shale formations but not limited to this scenario. One of the singularities of this work rests on the proposal that rock properties are obtained from logging while drilling (LWD) techniques. This self-supported methodology is applied to characterise the reservoir from the stand points of geo-mechanics, geophysics, and geopressure. Rock and fluid properties measured along the horizontal section of the well while drilling served to generate a synthetic acoustic log. Changes in trends of geo-mechanical and geophysical properties such as brittleness and acoustic impedance are used as indicators of hydrocarbons presence. Ultimately, the methodology is proposed to properly select the intervals to complete and to optimise the length of the horizontal section of the well. [Received: March 23, 2017; Accepted: September 5, 2018]

Keywords: hydrocarbons sweet spot; geo-mechanics; brittleness; acoustic impedance; logging while drilling; LWD; unconventional shales; reservoir pressure prediction.

DOI: 10.1504/IJOGCT.2020.107553

International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Technology, 2020 Vol.24 No.3, pp.377 - 393

Accepted: 05 Sep 2018
Published online: 01 Jun 2020 *