Geomechanics of Montney unconventional hydrocarbon source rock - From fundamental micro-mechanical characterization of the rock to well and multi-well scale modelling

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The significant surge in hydrocarbon production from unconventional resources in the past decade is largely due to the technological advances in horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing (i.e., fracking), which made it possible to extract hydrocarbon from low-permeability (tight) reservoirs formerly inaccessible or uneconomical to exploit, such as the Triassic Montney formation sitting on the Alberta-British Columbia boundary, northwest of Edmonton, which is now considered one of North America's premier natural shale gas resource plays. This CRD project will combine advanced numerical simulations, innovative lab experimentations, and field data to develop more reliable geomechanics-based approaches to understand the reservoir response at all stages, from exploration to production. These approaches will improve the industry's ability to accurately simulate operations in the Montney formation, with the largest share owned by our industry partner Petronas Canada. Furthermore, we propose to add values to Petronas Canada's surface and downhole seismic recordings of microseismic events associated with fracking by improving source characterization (location/origin time/mechanism) based on available 3D seismic background models. More accurate source locations will help refine the underlying fracture networks, while the additional source mechanisms will be used to indicate the brittle failure types in the reservoir in response to stimulation. The research will (i) develop a methodology for the geomechanical characterization of the Montney source rock; (ii) optimize the design of proppant emplacement using a lab calibrated numerical model; and (iii) minimize the risk associated with induced seismicity by optimizing key controlling stimulation and production parameters. Focusing on combining fundamental rock mechanics principles with geophysics imaging, this research project will advance the understanding of the role of pre-existing and hydraulically-induced fractures and geological heterogeneities on the reservoir response under changing conditions associated with the various stages of development, from well completion, to stimulation, and then to production.