Monitoring horizontal well hydraulic stimulations and geomechanical deformation processes in the unconventional shales of the Midland Basin using fiber-based time-lapse VSPs, microseismic, and strain data

Abstract

Abstract A variety of methods are utilized in an instrumented vertical wellbore to invert for and estimate the heights and lateral extents of the hydraulic fracture treatment. Data were acquired with externally mounted dual- and single-mode fiber optics for measuring strain, acoustics, and temperature. In addition, external pressure gauges, internal conventional tiltmeters, and geophones were also utilized. This instrumented well was used multiple times to record a number of nearby offset horizontal hydraulic stimulations and to record a time-lapse vertical seismic profile. By using multiple data acquisition techniques, we obtained a more comprehensive and accurate estimation of the hydraulic fracture geometry and the dynamic processes taking place internal to the propagating fractures. Furthermore, these data could be used to calibrate fracture models and the fracture interaction with the surrounding unconventional reservoir.