Pressure-Monitoring Technique Uses Sealed Wellbore Pressure as Source

A pressure-monitoring technique using an offset sealed wellbore as a monitoring source has led to advancements in quantifying cluster efficiencies of hydraulic stimulations in real time. Sealed wellbore pressure monitoring (SWPM) is a low-cost, nonintrusive method used to evaluate and quantify fracture-growth rates and fracture-driven interactions during a hydraulic stimulation. The measurements can be made with only a surface pressure gauge on a monitor well. To date, more than 1,500 stages have been monitored using the technique.