Speaker Robert Meek, Pioneer Natural Resources
Authors: R.A. Meek, R.A. Hull, H. Bello

The development of unconventional reservoirs is dependent on horizontal and vertical well spacing, completion strategy, and timing among other factors.  By combining a number of different tools a more accurate estimate of the SRV can be determined.

Data were acquired with a vertical observation well that was instrumented externally with dual and single mode fiber optics for strain, acoustics (DAS), temperature (DTS), and external pressure gauges as well as internally instrumented with conventional tiltmeters and geophones. We used this instrumented well multiple times to record a number of nearby offset horizontal hydraulic stimulations as well as for a 3D 4D vertical seismic profile (VSP). We hade the following observations using these various tools:

• Microseismic events can be observed on DAS down to a certain magnitude level but conventional geophones record weaker events
• MS events often occur along distinct depths that could be considered bedding planes
• MS events do not extend as far down as tiltmeters, time-lapse VSP, or pressure gauges, possibly due to a ductile zone.
• DAS microseismic data has good waveform consistency, high aperture (over 3000’) and receiver spacing (3ft)
• DAS was not able to image offset perfs due to amplitude sensitivity.
• No directional/azimuthal data are available for DAS MS, only depth and distance from the observation well can be acquired.
• Time-lapse DAS 3D VSP showed that the height/width of the anomaly appeared to vary over time.

In summary, by employing multiple sensors, including a fiber based DAS system, we are able to better characterize the stimulation as well as relate and understand key physical processes occurring within the hydraulic stimulation.

Robert A. Meek is a Technical Specialist in the Geophysical Technology group at Pioneer Natural Resources in Irving, Texas.  His focus is on rock property estimation using prestack inversion, microseismic and surface seismic analysis, neural networks, DAS, and time lapse vertical seismic profiling.  He began his career in 1987 as a geophysicist at Mobil Oil developing coherent noise removal algorithms, subsalt imaging and forward modeling.  He then joined Conoco in Ponca City, Oklahoma and transferred to Stavanger, Norway where he performed AVO analysis and modeling, prestack depth migration velocity model building and processing QC.  He has authored several patents, papers and technical presentations.  Robert holds a B.S. in geology from the University of North Dakota and an M.S. in geophysics from Southern Methodist University.

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