SPE-199713
Parenting Strategies for Underperforming Children
Chad Senters
Presented at SPE Hydraulic Fracturing Technology Conference and Exhibition, 2020
Abstract
Negative fracture driven interactions (FDIs) have the potential to damage offset producing wells. Overlap in drainage area during hydrocarbon production can significantly increase drilling and completion costs as well. If wells are not drilled and completed optimally, then the recovery of hydrocarbon between the wells can suffer significantly. This paper outlines methods to test and optimize drilling and completion programs through the surveillance of inter-well communication and FDIs.
Inter-well communication and FDIs are influenced by several factors, including well spacing, landing intervals, well completion, stimulation treatment design, etc. The relationship between primary and infill wells has a significant impact on inter-well communication. Completion diagnostics characterize the communication between wells.
The case histories in the paper include the results of inter-well communication and FDI findings on multiple projects. These results provide insight into future decisions, such as well spacing, staggered landing depths, frac order, treatment design, completion type, and mitigation techniques. Several mitigation techniques are available for the primary (parent) wells as well as the infill (child) wells. Mitigation techniques on primary wells include shutting it in, refracturing, and/or injecting fluid at lower rates prior to the infill completion. Mitigation techniques on infill wells include the use of near-wellbore and far-field diverting agents, and perforation cluster design.
There is still much to learn on the effects of FDIs and inter-well communication for both primary and infill wells. The case histories presented in this paper show examples of how to detect and manage the effects of FDIs and inter-well communication as well as their mitigation techniques.