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Mechanical Earth Model (MEM) Construction and Fracturing Design in the Bangestan Oil Reservoirs Using Commercial Software, with an Evaluation of the Impact of Hydraulic Fractures on Well Productivity

Ayati, Erfan | 2025

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  1. Type of Document: M.Sc. Thesis
  2. Language: Farsi
  3. Document No: 58298 (06)
  4. University: Sharif University of Technology
  5. Department: Chemical and Petroleum Engineering
  6. Advisor(s): Bazargan, Mohammad; Taghi Khani, Vahid
  7. Abstract:
  8. Fracturing is one of the most effective well stimulation techniques that significantly enhances hydrocarbon recovery. This operation can generally be performed in two ways: propped hydraulic fracturing and acid fracturing. In the hydraulic fracturing method, fracturing fluid mixed with proppant is injected into the formation at high pressure to exceed the rock breakdown pressure and generate a stable fracture. The proppant prevents the complete closure of the fracture after pumping stops and pressure declines, thereby improving the effective permeability of the reservoir. In contrast, in acid fracturing, after fracture initiation, acid compatible with the reservoir lithology is injected to create etching and stable conductive channels along the fracture faces, thus improving fracture conductivity and providing new pathways for fluid flow. In this study, the Bangestan reservoir of the Ahvaz oil field was selected as the case study. After analyzing the available data, the candidate well for stimulation was identified. Subsequently, a Mechanical Earth Model (MEM) of the reservoir was constructed and calibrated using real field data. Core analysis, empirical correlations, and laboratory test results were employed to estimate shear-wave velocity, calculate static elastic parameters, and determine rock strength properties. In addition, leak-off test (LOT) data and the results of previous acid fracturing operations in offset wells were incorporated to improve the accuracy of in-situ stress estimation. The primary objective of the fracturing simulation was to evaluate the enhancement of ultimate oil recovery considering economic constraints. To design an optimal hydraulic fracturing treatment, critical parameters such as fluid type and volume, proppant concentration and type, acid concentration, and injection rate were analyzed. Based on the evaluation of acid fracturing scenarios, 28% gelled hydrochloric acid was selected as the optimum fluid to enhance fracture conductivity, with a recommended total injection volume of 100,000 gallons. Sensitivity analysis indicated that variations in injection rate and pumping schedule significantly affect fracture dimensions and post-stimulation productivity. To achieve a longer fracture, an injection rate of 30 barrels per minute (bpm) was selected considering surface pump capacity limitations. Finally, a hydraulic fracturing operation was simulated using 20/40 ceramic proppant and a viscous fluid with a minimum viscosity of 100 cP, ensuring both fracture initiation/propagation and effective proppant transport. The results of hydraulic fracturing simulation were compared with those of acid fracturing to evaluate production performance
  9. Keywords:
  10. Simulation ; Hydraulic Fracturing ; Proppant Transport ; Hydrochloric Acid ; Mechanical Earth Model ; Fracturing Fluid ; Acid Fracturing

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