Interwell Connectivity in Tight Formations

Simple item page
dc.contributor.advisorJensen, Jerry Lee
dc.contributor.authorMirzayev, Mammad
dc.contributor.committeememberClarkson, Christopher R.
dc.contributor.committeememberKrause, Federico F.
dc.date2018-06
dc.date.accessioned2018-05-08T14:34:02Z
dc.date.available2018-05-08T14:34:02Z
dc.date.issued2018-05-03
dc.description.abstractA significant amount of oil and gas are present in formations having permeability less than 0.1 md. Although these tight reservoirs typically have small well spacings, not all well pairs exhibit connectivity because of the reservoir heterogeneity. Measuring connectivity can improve model realism and identify important geological controls sufficiently that field management can be made more reliable. In this study, we use the Capacitance Model (CM) to evaluate interwell connectivity. In order to render the CM suitable for tight reservoirs, we modified the model by adding a pseudo-well (CM-PW). This modification lets us apply the model to any areal window of interest and cope with long-transient periods in the production well flow rates. The CM-PW was tested with several heterogeneous simulation cases, which revealed that calculated connectivities from the tight permeability reservoirs agreed with results from higher permeability cases with only minor errors (< 7%). We applied the CM-PW to selected waterflooded areas from the East Pembina (Cardium Formation) and the Forget North (Bakken Formation) fields. As a further improvement on the existing CM analysis, horizontal wells were included in our field analyses. In the East Pembina Field, we could identify the effects of net local principal stress and hydraulic fracturing proppant amounts on the interwell connectivity. Pre-stimulation interwell connectivities are consistent with the maximum horizontal stress direction. We found that a change in connectivity was directly proportional with proppant tonnage. Also, the effect of the conglomerate layer on connectivity was studied. We found that strongest pseudo well connectivities are directed to the conglomerate-bearing region and the connectivities were related to the formation flow capacity. Finally, we also observed connectivity behavior consistent with the expected sandbody extent as identified through geological studies. In the Forget North Field connectivity study, we correlated well-to-well connectivities with geological and seismic analyses. We found that the natural fracture intensity and the Lodgepole Formation aquifer may be causes of long distance connectivity. It is well known that the CM evaluation is affected by the formation diffusivity. Using the analogy with heat conduction, we propose a method to determine an “area of influence” for an injection well. The method includes recognition that, in addition to the diffusivity, the injection rate frequency content affects the area size. The method was applied to determine the areal window size for the CM-PW application in tight oil reservoirs. From simulated and field applications, we observed that the interwell distance at the connectivity limit is within 3 to 5% of the interwell distance estimated from the heat conduction-based method. The modified CM allows us to extend the application to important new reservoir cases. The two field studies once again show the important role of geological features on reservoir communication. Finally, the importance of the injection rate frequency spectrum on the CM measurement opens up a new understanding of the injection well influence in reservoir performance.en_US
dc.identifier.citationMirzayev, M. (2018). Interwell Connectivity in Tight Formations (Doctoral thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/31895en_US
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/31895
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1880/106613
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisher.facultyGraduate Studies
dc.publisher.facultySchulich School of Engineering
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Calgaryen
dc.publisher.placeCalgaryen
dc.rightsUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.
dc.subjectReservoir Characterization
dc.subjectInterwell Connectivity
dc.subjectTight Formations
dc.subjectCapacitance Model
dc.subjectCM-PW
dc.subjectBakken Formation
dc.subjectCardium Formation
dc.subjectHalo Oil Reservoir
dc.subject.classificationEngineeringen_US
dc.subject.classificationEngineering--Petroleumen_US
dc.titleInterwell Connectivity in Tight Formations
dc.typedoctoral thesis
thesis.degree.disciplineChemical and Petroleum Engineering
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Calgary
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophy (PhD)
ucalgary.item.requestcopytrue
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
ucalgary_2018_mirzayev_mammad.pdf
Size:
7.5 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Doctoral thesis
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.74 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Download
Collections
Open Theses and Dissertations