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f Appraising Unconventional Resource Plays: Separating Reservoir Quality from Completion Effectiveness
- Publisher: European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers
- Source: Conference Proceedings, IPTC 2012:International Petroleum Technology Conference, Feb 2012, cp-280-00143
Abstract
Appraisal wells in unconventional, very low permeability, resource plays require large hydraulic fracture treatments to assess<br>economic viability. In many cases, drainage area and hydrocarbon recovery are defined by the areal extent and effectiveness<br>of the hydraulic fracture treatment. To increase the drainage area and recovery per well, multiple hydraulic fracture<br>treatments in horizontal and vertical wells are now common, resulting in more complex and expensive completions.<br>Therefore, appraising the completion and hydraulic fracture treatment are just as important as appraising the reservoir. Unlike<br>conventional reservoirs, the complexity and heterogeneity of unconventional resources can make reliable reservoir<br>characterization difficult, which can result in significant uncertainty when evaluating appraisal well performance. Therefore,<br>applying the appropriate technologies for unconventional reservoirs and a holistic approach are essential to properly separate<br>reservoir quality from completion effectiveness.