Geo-mechanical modeling and selection of suitable layer for hydraulic fracturing operation in an oil reservoir (south west of Iran)

• Hydraulic fracturing is one of the prevalent methods with high performance.
• The conditions for hydraulic fracturing operation in Sarvak formation (south west of Iran) are introduced.
• In this study, wells in three sections of east, center, and west sides of the field are compared.

According to the growth of demands to oil resources, increasing the rate of oil production seems necessary. However, oil production declines with time as a result of pressure drop in reservoir as well as sealing of microscopic cracks and pores in the reservoir rock. Hydraulic fracturing is one of the common methods with high performance, which is widely applied to oil and gas reservoirs. In this study, wells in three sections of east, center, and west sides of a field are compared regarding the suitable layer for hydraulic fracturing operation. Firstly, elastic modulus were obtained in both dynamic and static conditions, then uniaxial compressive strength (UCS), type of shear and tensile failures, the most accurate model of failure in wells, safe and stable mud window, the best zone and layers, and finally reference pressures are determined as nominates for hydraulic fracturing. Types of shear failure in minimum, and maximum range of model and in tensile model were determined to be “Shear failure wide breakout (SWBO)”, “Shear narrow breakout (SNBO)”, and “Tensile vertical failure (TVER)”, respectively. The range of safe mud window (SMW) in the studied wells was almost in the same range as it was in every three spots of the field. This range was determined between 5200-8800psi and 5800-10100psi for Ilam and Sarvak zones, respectively. Initial fracture pressure ranges for selected layers were determined 11,759–14,722, 11,910–14,164, and 11,848–14,953psi for the eastern, central, and western wells. Thus, western wells have the best situation for Hydraulic fracturing operation. Finally, it was concluded that the operation is more economic in Sarvak zone and western wells.