The preferred placement of a producer well in unconventional reservoirs is based on available information about the presence of natural fractures and formation stresses. Identifying the depth intervals with natural fractures and the relative magnitudes of the maximum and minimum horizontal stresses enables placement of a producer well that will support effective hydraulic fractures. In the complete paper, the authors apply a work flow to crossdipole sonic data acquired in a vertical pilot well drilled in the Permian Basin.
Introduction
The authors describe processing, analysis, and interpretation of sonic data acquired in a vertical pilot well with the goal of identifying optimal depth intervals and azimuths for drilling a lateral producer well with a potential for enhanced hydrocarbon productivity. The preferred placement of a lateral producer well requires drilling through an oil-rich layer that exhibits higher fracturability.
Theory
Borehole sonic data consist of monopole headwave slownesses and borehole Stoneley dispersions together with dipole headwave slownesses and borehole flexural dispersions.
