Optimization of Hydraulic Fracture Stages and Sequencing in Unconventional Formations

The work introduces an approach for shale gas and oil play screening criteria. It combines a mathematically developed approach with geomechanical and geochemical developed indices. It identifies operationally approved methods from analogous reservoir development to increase the potential recovery of shale natural gas and oil accumulations.

1. Fracturing Chronology: Milestones of the Hydraulic Fracturing Process 2. Shale Gas and Oil Play Screening Criteria 3. Fracturability Index Maps for Fracture Placement in Shale Plays 4. Is Fracturability Index a Mineralogical Index? A New Approach for Fracturing Decisions 5. Sequencing and Determination of Horizontal Wells and Fractures in Shale Plays: Building a Combined Targeted Treatment Scheme 6. A Computational Comparison between Optimization Techniques for Well Placement Problem: Mathematical Formulations, Genetic Algorithms, and Very Fast Simulated Annealing 7. Two-Dimensional Mathematical Optimization Approach for Well Placement and Fracture Design of Shale Reservoirs 8. Multigrid Fracture-Stimulated Reservoir Volume Mapping Coupled with a Novel Mathematical Optimization Approach to Shale Reservoir Well and Fracture Design 9. Summary, Conclusions, and Recommendations for Future Directions