A Comparison of Hydraulic-Fracture Modeling With Downhole and Surface Microseismic Data in a Stacked Fluvial Pay System

Abstract

Summary This paper presents a study that combines and compares the results of hydraulic-fracture mapping and modeling using both downhole and surface microseismic arrays. There were three objectives for the study: developing detailed post-treatment models of hydraulic-fracturing treatments in the subject well, Well D1, which was monitored with downhole microseismic tools; developing detailed post-treatment models of the hydraulic-fracturing treatments in the subject well, Well S1, which was monitored with surface microseismic tools; and determining the match characteristics of the downhole and surface microseismic data to hydraulic-fracture models developed for both Wells D1 and S1. Input data for this project were obtained from two wells in the Greater Natural Buttes field, Uinta basin, Utah. Ten fracture models were built using five stages each from the two subject wells, Wells D1 and S1, and detailed pressure matches were made. Comparisons of the match characteristics from the multiple inputs were then developed. The hydraulic-fracture-stimulation models were graphically integrated with the microseismic events using visualization software. This software allowed the final model-simulated fracture geometries to be plotted along with the microseismic events in 3D space, thus allowing the viewer to see a full integration of data in a stacked fluvial pay system. Results from the integration process show good agreement in geometries and depth for most stages in the downhole-monitored well, whereas comparisons of surface microseismic-mapping measurements with the simulated fracture geometries yielded variable results. When combined with additional inputs such as geologic models, the integration methodology used in this project provides an excellent tool for hydraulic-fracture modeling and reservoir management in stacked pay systems.