Validation of Conductive Fracture Imaging with Cross Well Strain and Permanent Fiber Optic Flow – February

Host:  Society of Petroleum Engineers, Denver Section

Event:  February 27 2024 Technical Happy Hour

Time:  February 27th, 4-6 (HH begins at 4, Talk at 430, Social until 6)

Location:  Ovintiv 40^th Floor, 370 17^th St, Denver, CO 80202

Study Group Category:  Completion 

Speaker: Scott Taylor, Co-Founder, CEO Reservoir Imaging Solutions LLC

1. Title:  Validation of Conductive Fracture Imaging with Cross Well Strain and Permanent Fiber Optic Flow   

Abstract:

 The study applies Conductive Fracture Imaging (CFI) on Hydraulic Fracturing Test Site-2 in the Delaware Basin, USA, acquired in 2019. The CFI results are independently delivered and compared with strain data recorded by permanent distributed fiber optic sensor arrays in a vertical data well (the Boxwood 5PH) and two horizontal wells (Boxwood 3H and Boxwood 4H). Boxwood 4H’s permanent fiber provides Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) cluster flow and proppant allocation analytics, as well as distributed strain sensing (DSS) for cluster level shut-in pressure build-up tests.

The objective of this study is to directly compare CFI results with in-well DAS and DSS fiber optic measurements. CFI utilizes microseismic events as active sources for reflection imaging of the conductive portion of hydraulic fractures, offering high-resolution images of the seismically active zone for precise description of cluster level fluid allocation and conductivity.

CFI has been benchmarked successfully against established fiber optic diagnostics, providing insights into conductive fracture geometries, cluster efficiencies, and in-well production flow profiling. Key advantages of CFI include imaging fluid and proppant allocation at the cluster level, offering a four-dimensional view of dynamic transport, estimating fracture height, and providing valuable data on hydraulic and conductive fracture geometries.

The study reveals strong correlations between CFI and cross-well strain intensity measured by fiber monitors, as well as good agreement with in-well DAS stimulation fluid allocation. Furthermore, CFI shows clear correlations with cluster level DSS strain changes during the production phase, accurately resolving cluster positions along the wellbore. Cluster level reflectivity values from CFI demonstrate a robust agreement with DSS strain change peak values observed on the same clusters.

Bio:

Scott has over 20 years’ direct experience spanning finance, energy, mining, defense, and civil engineering industries. He graduated from Franklin College (Lugano) Switzerland with BSc in Finance 2002. Scott started his career raising money for both public and private markets as well as mining project in commodities trading. He co-founded Reservoir Imaging Solutions (RIS) in 2019, a technology-driven subsurface imaging company that was recognized by Darcy Partners as one of the top 10 subsurface oilfield technologies in 2022. Scott also founded Lithos in 2022 and took it public (CBOE:LITS) in Q2 of 2023. Lithos is a technology company focused on delivering sustainable lithium production from brine reservoirs. Scott has prior technical and financial experience in exploration, development, and pilot scale production on mines in Canada, Mexico and the Russian Federation. His experience also includes five years working for an engineering company in the mining and energy space which included resource development and drill programs on mines, and his skill-set enables him to work hands-on in the field and advising to use modern subsurface imaging techniques. He is a published author, has 5 issued patents, and is an invited speaker and member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers and the Society of Exploration Geophysicists.

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