Reservoir and Completion Considerations for the Refracturing of Horizontal Wells

Abstract

Abstract Horizontal well developments, focused on transverse hydraulic fracture stimulation, have evolved rapidly over the past decade. Many of these completions may have missed or bypassed significant reserves that were intended to be produced from the well. This paper discusses the potential reasons for these inefficient completions, candidate selection for refracturing, and the impacts of offset depletion/infill wells on refracturing. Rate transient post-treatment stimulation analysis is a powerful tool that can help to determine if and when a horizontal well is receptive to refracturing. Such analysis can help to determine if a well is underperforming, and if that underperformance is due to an inefficient completion or due to reservoir conditions. The paper discusses the importance of appropriate well conditioning/unloading prior to determining if a refracturing may or may not be successful. The impacts of "bashing" into offset depletion during refracturing treatments is also discussed, along with appropriate design considerations to minimize such impacts. Refracturing can be an important tool to the industry and deserves the attention that it is currently receiving. However, success of such treatments is not guaranteed in every well and the criteria for candidate selection should be a top focus when evaluating such a program.