TightFlow Production Optimization of Unconventional and Tight reservoirs

TightFlow is an IFPEN and Beicip-Franlab multidisciplinary innovative methodology aiming at understanding and modeling the impact of hydraulic fracturing on the production of hydrocarbons in unconventional plays. Our targets are any reservoirs with very low permeability, in which hydrocarbon production is obtained by stimulating the formation using hydraulic fracturing methods. In such plays, in which vertical or long expensive horizontal wells with dozens of hydraulic fracturing stages are drilled every year, rationalizing those operations is essential to improve recovery and profits. FracaFlow^(R) and PumaFlow^(R) software are intensively used in this methodology for characterization and simulation of these unconventional and tight reservoirs.

Bridging the gap between Geology, Geomechanics and Reservoir Engineering

TightFlow allows applying reservoir simulation on realistic geologic network of fractures obtained after hydraulic fracturing in naturally fractured formations. It is now well admitted that the number of fractures affecting the formation is huge. TightFlow benefits from the uncompromised description of natural fractures in a Discrete Fracture Network (DFN) with thousands of 3D fractures augmented by propagating fractures related to the stress and frac jobs along the well. Practical and robust modelling technics are applied to offer the best compromise between performance and precision.

Calibration of BHP and Micro Seismic recorded in Frac job

The simulation of the hydraulic fracturing process aims to match observed in-situ bottom-hole pressures and microseismic cloud extension and orientation. The calibration is realized thanks to a monophasic hydrodynamic simulation in the DFN under stress conditions. Fractures behavior is controlled by geomechanical laws. Rock parameters (cohesion, friction angle, elasticity and plastic models values), and fractures dynamic parameters are deduced and reused in other stages to fulfill the construction of a DFN representing the full Stimulated Reservoir Volume (SRV). Proppant effects on fluid flow and well bore pressure are faithfully reproduced.

Advanced Simulation method

TightFlow benefits from the know-how of the PumaFlow^(R) multi-purpose reservoir simulator. Three- phase simulation with matrix and fractures flow in an unstructured grid with several hundreds of thousands nodes is performed to predict production forecast. Realistic- and physic-based results can be obtained along a multidisciplinary workflow assuring the consistency of the results. Gas adsorption, geomechanical law controlling aperture and conductivities can be triggered in the simulations.

Key benefits

Realistic characterization and modelling of hydraulic fracturing
Prediction driven by Geoscience workflow rather than trial and error process
Use of IFPEN/Beicip-Franlab proven technology in fractured reservoir

Downloads

TightFlow Methodology [1]

Software