Discrete Fracture Network (DFN)

Modeling in the Marcellus and other

Shale Formations
Bruce R. Meyer
Meyer & Associates, Inc.
SPE APPLIED
TECHNOLOGY WORKSHOP
Horizontal Well Stimulation
17-18 November 2009
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Discrete Fracture Network (DFN) Model
Outline
Natural Fracture Out Crops
Micro-seismic Fracture Mapping
Discrete Fracture Network Concepts
DFN Model
o Governing Equations
o Features
o Numerical Results
o History Matching
Production DFN
Conclusions/Discussion?
Discrete Fracture Network (DFN) Model
Orthogonal Fractures in Sandstone (Jon Olsen)
An example of saturated fracture spacing comes from the Oil Mountain area in Wyoming. This is an
unfolded outcrop near Oil Mountain, which is a thrust-cored anticline. Here, the fractures running up and
down in the diagram, which parallel the fold axis of the nearby anticline, have very regular spacing that is
about equal to bed thickness for the formation (the Frontier Sandstone).
Saturated Strike Joints
Discrete Fracture Network (DFN) Model
Joint Spacing Proportional to Bed Thickness
Sandstone (Jon Olsen)
Discrete Fracture Network (DFN) Model
Photo -Jon Olsen
Discrete Fracture Network (DFN) Model
Complex Fracture Scenarios
(SPE 115769)
(SPE 114173)
(SPE 119890)
(SPE 115769)
Discrete Fracture Network (DFN) Model
Proppant Transport Scenarios
(SPE 115769)
Discrete Fracture Network (DFN) Model
Discrete Fracture Network Model
Major Axis
Vertical
Fractures
(x-z plane)
Minor Axis
Vertical
Fractures
(y-z plane)
Vertical Axis
Horizontal
Fractures
(x-y plane)
Discrete Fracture Network (DFN) Model
Discrete Fracture Network Model
Major Assumptions
Dominant or primary fracture
Secondary fractures
initiate when
principle planes (propagate perpendicular to
minimum stress)
discrete (saturated or unsaturated)
Ignore interfacial joint dilatancy
Include fracture interaction
Stimulated Reservoir Volume - Ellipsoidal
min f
p o >
Discrete Fracture Network (DFN) Model
Governing Equations Principle Axes
Mass Conservation
2 0
L
w
q q
t
c
V + + =
c
( ) ( ) ( )
0
( ) 0
t
f l sp
q d V t V t V t t t =
}
Momentum Conservation
2 3
1
/
2
p f q w V =
Continuity Equation
( )
f
W
p H
w
E

o
= I
'
Width-Opening Pressure
Discrete Fracture Network (DFN) Model
Mass Conservation Equations
Discrete Fracture Network (DFN) Model
Momentum Equations Principle Axes
Laminar Flow
Discrete Fracture Network (DFN) Model
Momentum Equations Principle Axes
Laminar Flow
Turbulent Flow
Discrete Fracture Network (DFN) Model
Interaction Factors DFN
1 1
/
N N
E ij
i j
N
= =
I = u

3/ 2
2
1 1/ 1
2
ij
ij
h
d
(
| |
(
u = +
|
|
(
\ .

1
N
f i ji
i
i
j
V V
V
q
t t t
=
c cA
c
= + +
c c c

Flow Rate
Stiffness
Fluid Loss
1 1
N N
f i
i
t
i i
V
V
q
t t
= =
c
c
= +
c c

1 1
2 2
i i
N N
i p i
i i
t A A
V v dAdt s dA
= =
= u + u

} } }
1
E E
+ = I +
0 i Ei
E E = +
Discrete Fracture Network (DFN) Model
Elastic Interaction Factor
3/ 2
2
1 1/ 1
2
E
h
d
(
| |
u = +
(
|
\ .
(

h
d
Discrete Fracture Network (DFN) Model
Net Pressure Ratio for Multiple Fractures
Discrete Fracture Network (DFN) Model
Proppant Distribution
Primary Fracture
p f t f DFN
m m m m _ = =
Secondary Fractures
(1 )
s t f t p
m m m m _ = =
1
p f t
m m _ = =
Dominant
p f DFN f DFN
m m V V _ = ~
Uniform
Discrete Fracture Network (DFN) Model
Discrete Fracture Types
Multiple
x-z plane
self-similar
saturated
interaction
DFN
principle planes
spacing; dx,dy,dz
saturated
unsaturated

continuum/discontinuous
interaction
Cluster
principle planes
spacing; dx,dy,dz
saturated
unsaturated
aperture ratio
interaction
1 2 3
, , o o o
Discrete Fracture Network (DFN) Model
Cluster Fractures
Discrete Fracture Network (DFN) Model
DFN - Unsaturated
Discrete Fracture Network (DFN) Model
DFN - Saturated
Discrete Fracture Network (DFN) Model
DFN - Volume to Create 1000 ft Fracture
DFN vs. Planar Bi-Wing Frac
) 2 ( L H w V = q
H
w
Planar Bi-Wing Frac
ft
H w
V
L 000 , 50
50 * 12 / 12 . 0 * 2
75 . 0 * 48 . 7 / 000 , 500
2
~ = =
q
75 . 0
50
. 12 . 0
000 , 500
=
=
=
=
q
ft H
in w
gal V
ft a
DFN
1300 ~
ft b
DFN
650 ~
L
Discrete Fracture Network (DFN) Model
Microseismic - Woodford
Seismic MShale
Half-Length (ft) 700 770
Height (ft) 900 750
DFN Width 800 770
Discrete Fracture Network (DFN) Model
Woodford DFN Modeling 2D Contour
V =180,000 gal
M= 62,000 lbm
Perfs. 120 - 6 shots/ft 20ft
Discrete Fracture Network (DFN) Model
Woodford DFN 3D Contour (Stage 5)
Discrete Fracture Network (DFN) Model
Woodford Top View (Stage 5)
Discrete Fracture Network (DFN) Model
Marcellus Conventional Bi-Wing
V = 386,000 gal
M= 315,000 lbm
5 Clusters 12 perfs 6/ft
Discrete Fracture Network (DFN) Model
Marcellus DFN (5 Cluster)
V = 386,000 gal
M= 315,000 lbm
5 Clusters 12 perfs 6/ft
Discrete Fracture Network (DFN) Model
Marcellus Payne DFN (5 Cluster)
(Top View)
Discrete Fracture Network (DFN) Model
Marcellus Shale (Ex. 1) Microseismic
Map View
Side View
Edge View
Top View
Discrete Fracture Network (DFN) Model
Marcellus Shale Ex. 1 (Single Cluster)
ft y x 30 = A = A
Seismic MShale
Half-Length (ft) 1150 1157
Height (ft) 105 112
DFN Width 685 694
Discrete Fracture Network (DFN) Model
Marcellus Shale Ex. 1
Discrete Fracture Network (DFN) Model
Marcellus Shale Ex. 1
Discrete Fracture Network (DFN) Model
Marcellus Shale Ex. 1
Discrete Fracture Network (DFN) Model
Production Model for DFN
d
J
D
}
=
1
SPE 95941
Multiple Transverse Fracture Optimization
Conclusions
No.
Area = 200 acre
k = 0.0005 mD
CfD = 15, Ix = 1
Multiple Transverse Fractures Interference
Discrete Fracture Network (DFN) Model
Conclusions
DFN may occur if Secondary Fractures Open
DFN vs. a Conventional Bi-Wing Fracture
DFN Fracture Length is Shorter
Stimulated Reservoir Volume is Greater
Proppant Distribution can be much different
Micro-seismic mapping may verify DFN
Production behavior may infer DFN