Applying complex fracture model and integrated workflow in unconventional reservoirs

Due to the complex fractures generated in stimulation of unconventional reservoirs, proper reservoir characterization is essential to obtain more reliable input to the fracture model and to reduce the uncertainties. Complex fractures also present new challenges for the reservoir simulators to properly model the production through the often partially propped complex fracture networks. To enable efficient development and optimization of the completion strategy and treatment design, the fracture model must be closely integrated in a platform that provides efficient workflow to easily build or leverage available geological and geomechanical models as input to the fracture model, calibrate against microseismic measurement, and link to the reservoir simulator for production simulation. This paper presents the integrated workflow in which the complex fracture model is built and illustrates the design optimization process through an example.