Optimization of Hydraulic Fracture Stages and Sequencing in Unconventional Formations

Shale gas and/or oil play identification is subject to many screening processes for characteristics such as porosity, permeability, and brittleness. Evaluating shale gas and/or oil reservoirs and identifying potential sweet spots (portions of the reservoir rock that have high-quality kerogen content and brittle rock) requires taking into consideration multiple rock, reservoir, and geological parameters that govern production. The early determination of sweet spots for well site selection and fracturing in shale reservoirs is a challenge for many operators. With this limitation in mind, Optimization of Hydraulic Fracture Stages and Sequencing in Unconventional Formations develops an approach to improve the industry's ability to evaluate shale gas and oil plays and is structured to lead the reader from general shale oil and gas characteristics to detailed sweet-spot classifications. The approach uses a new candidate selection and evaluation algorithm and screening criteria based on key geomechanical, petrophysical, and geochemical parameters and indices to obtain results consistent with existing shale plays and gain insights on the best development strategies going forward. The work introduces new criteria that accurately guide the development process in unconventional reservoirs in addition to reducing uncertainty and cost.

Dr. Ahmed Alzahabi is currently an Assistant Professor at University of Texas at the Permian Basin. He earned a PhD and a MS, both in petroleum engineering from Texas Tech University and a MS from Cairo University. He previously served as a researcher at the Energy Industry Partnerships, working in the field of energy to solve complex problems for the industry. He is experienced in introducing new technologies in well-placement and fracture stages in conventional and unconventional oil and gas reservoirs.

Dr. Alzahabi teaches production, reservoir engineering, shale reservoirs, multi-stage hydraulic fracturing modeling, and optimum horizontal well placement in unconventional reservoirs. Dr. Alzahabi’s research involved Permian Wolfcamp. He has developed six US patents, edited and reviewed multiple journals, and is active in SPWLA, SPE, NAGPS, SEG, and AAPG. He has contributed a chapter and served as author in two books on Fracturing Horizontal Wells and PVT Property Correlation.

Mohamed Soliman is Department Chair and the William C. Miller endowed chair professor of Petroleum Engineering at University of Houston. He received his PhD from Stanford University in 1979. He is a distinguished member of SPE and a licensed professional engineer by the State of Texas. He is also a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI). He has authored and co-authored more 200 technical papers and holds 29 US patents. He is also the editor of Fracturing Horizontal Wells published by McGraw Hill in July 2016. His areas of interest include well test analysis, diagnostic testing, fracturing and numerical simulation.