Rapid Diagnostics and Rapid Lookbacks in the Duvernay Formation

Project Summary

Subsurface Dynamics was tasked with identifying the critical performance drivers on a series of offsetting Duvernay wells showing dramatically different productivity over the first 18 months of production.

Scope of Work

STAGE 01: SSD utilized its proprietary flowback analysis (FBA) workflow and software platform to provide rapid, cost-effective diagnostics to differentiate between hydraulic fracture efficacy and reservoir quality. Analysis utilized typical post-frac production test data previously collected by Artis (0 added field costs).

STAGE 02: SSD implemented simplified numerical simulation to provide confirmation that the critical fracture and matrix parameters estimated from the short-term flowback data could reproduce the productivity trends observed in the field, without sacrificing on execution time or cost.

18-Month Oil Rate-Cumulative for 3 Study Wells

FBA History-Match on Top Performing Study Well

Results

• The executed completions and petrophysical formation properties of the study wells were comparable. Outperforming well was completed with tighter cluster spacing - remains critical to avoid over-capitalization and detrimental cluster interference while pumping.

• Based on the rapid FBA diagnostic, the outperforming well showed moderately higher residual fracture conductivity (after damage) and matrix permeability, while showing significantly larger conductive fracture area.

• Analysis indicates that well performance is driven primarily by hydraulic fracture conductive area. No degradation in fracture conductivity or geometry associated with tighter cluster spacing.

• Study provided critical insights into well performance and optimal completion design at a fraction of the cost of fully integrated analysis.

Comparison of Fracture and Matrix Parameters Estimated Using FBA

About Subsurface Dynamics FBA

FBA (Flowback Analysis) is a state-of-the-art technique providing rapid diagnostics and rapid lookbacks to help you get ahead of capital spending. Without incurring additional field costs, it provides critical insights 6-12 months sooner than conventional methods.

FBA is a streamlined, simple-to-use cloud-based software package. It was developed with a focus on data integration, automation, and producing high-quality outputs from typical engineering workflows, with limited manpower and intervention.