Simulation and Performance Optimization of Tight Oil Reservoirs with Multistage Hydraulic Fractures

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The world's traditional hydrocarbon reserves are in rapid decline and will be unable to meet the future demand for energy. At present, the combination of horizontal wells and the multi-stage hydraulic fracturing technologies has been the key to unlocking the vast reserves of the tight formations, which otherwise cannot be economically produced. Tight oil production in North America is estimated to be over 2,000,000 barrels per day by 2020. However, hydraulic fracturing has also become a contentious environmental and health issue with France banning the practice and a moratorium in place in New South Wales (Australia), Karoo basin (South Africa), Quebec (Canada), and some of the states of the US. Thus, the long term goal of the proposed research program aims to facilitate the development of tight oil formations in Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin in a both an efficient and environmental friendly manner. The short term (<5 years) objectives of the program, which are the subject of this Discovery Grant application focus on providing a systemic tool to predict post-treatment well productivity and optimize reservoir performance in tight oil formations. Theoretically, a complex and accurate multiphase flow model in hydraulic fractures in tight oil reservoirs will be built and calibrated. New optimization algorithm will be investigated to optimize reservoir performance in fractured tight oil formations. The economic impact of modeling massive multi-stage hydraulic fracturing is huge, given the trillion dollars of resources involved. Upon completion of the proposed project, a thorough understanding of the post-treatment well productivity and reservoir performance and in tight oil reservoirs will be achieved. The open dissemination of this work will ensure the results are accessible to all stakeholders and the research community as a whole. This will advance knowledge in the field significantly. Meanwhile, as more technological improvements are researched, developed and applied by industry to increase the recovery of tight oil resources, highly skilled workers such as engineers, geoscientists, technicians and environmental specialists will be in high demand. The students trained during this program will help to fill this gap.