Common Pitfalls in Mini-Frac Analysis and Their Consequences for Hydraulic Fracture Design

PRESENTER: Robert V. Hawkes
Team Leader, BJ Services Reservoir Services Group, Calgary, AB.

DATE: Wednesday, May 19th, 2010

TIME:12:00 PM
(Cocktails at 11:30)

PLACE: Turner Valley Room, FAIRMONT PALLISER HOTEL
133, 9TH AVE. S.W. CALGARY

Abstract:

Pre-frac reservoir characterization was once considered as simple as ‘perf and flow.’ Even with a growing awareness that reservoir properties can determine a well's success, engineers are trying to characterize complex reservoirs for completion design and deliverability behaviour with little data about key reservoir properties. Mini-frac testing, an important step in achieving better understanding for the reservoir, may be the only practical technique available and yet few warnings have been published concerning the many causes influencing the pressure data. This presentation will provide practical examples of difficult mini-frac test cases ranging from heavy in-situ oil deposits to unconventional ultra-tight gas wells. The analysis of mini-frac pressure data can often result in a non-unique solution, particularly as a result of complex horizontal well completions and formation properties. Finally, through the use of examples and discussion, it will be demonstrated that common pitfalls in mini-frac design and analysis can have consequences for hydraulic fracture design and false expectations of reservoir performance.

Biography:

Robert Hawkes graduated from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) with a diploma in Petroleum Engineering Technology in 1979. Since graduation, he has worked in the Canadian oil industry and is currently a Team Leader with BJ Services Reservoir Services Group where he oversees petrophysical and reservoir engineering services for completion optimization design. Considered a leader in his field, Robert has been published in JCPT and is credited with several design innovations and has been the recipient of numerous awards including the 2006 President’s Award from the Canadian Well Logging Society (CWLS) in technical and presentation excellence in Formation Evaluation as well as the 2008 Outstanding Service Award from the Petroleum Society Canadian Institute of Mining (CIM). Robert was a 2008 Distinguished Lecture with the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) and is the past Chairman of the Petroleum Society of Canada.