Field/project development

Approach With Simple Tools Enables Well-Spacing Optimization for Unconventionals

The complete paper builds on existing tools in the literature to quantify the effect of changing well spacing on well productivity for a given completion design, using a new, simple, intuitive empirical equation.

Comparison of normalized oil EUR vs. well spacing between Midland real data and the mathematical model.
Fig. 1—Comparison of normalized oil EUR vs. well spacing between Midland real data and the mathematical model.

Optimizing economics for unconventional resource development is a delicate balance. To search for the optimal pad design, operators often invest in integrated technical work flows with multiwell fracture modeling and reservoir simulation. Although useful, these work flows are not practical for every asset in a portfolio because they simply take too long. As an alternative approach, the complete paper builds on existing tools in the literature to quantify the effect of changing well spacing on well productivity for a given completion design, using a new, simple, intuitive empirical equation.

Methodology: Understanding Well-Performance Changes With Well Spacing

The four key drivers of pad economics for unconventional plays are commodity prices, reservoir deliverability, completion design, and well spacing.

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