Prediction of Vertical Hydraulic Fracture Migration Using Compressional and Shear Wave Slowness

Abstract

Abstract Documented field results of vertical hydraulic fracturing suggest that quite often the created fracture migrates vertically away from the formation of interest (the hydrocarbon-bearing zone), thereby producing undesirable results. The single set of information needed to help answer questions concerning fracture migration consists primarily of in-situ stress, tensile strength, and elastic constants of the rock material in and around the formation of interest. This paper describes the use of full waveform data from a sonic wireline tool to determine the relative stress distribution and the resultant induced hydraulic fracture height. Compressional and shear wave slowness, derived from the sonic waveforms, are used to calculate the dynamic elastic rock properties. A transversely isotropic model is used to compute the in-situ stress from the elastic properties. Advantages of the use of wireline measured data are discussed, as are the limitations of the technique. Final evaluation of the technique is shown through the comparison of predicted and poststimulation measured vertical fracture height. Two field cases are presented to illustrate the technique.