Reservoir geomechanics using the Material Point Method (MPM) to model interaction between hydraulic and natural fractures, predict differential stress and strain validated with microseismicity. Includes elastic and poroelastic modeling for modeling well interferences.
Features:
FracGeo advanced geomechanical technology is based on the Material Point Method (MPM) and is able to simulate 1) the initial heterogeneous reservoir stress magnitude and orientation resulting from the interaction between regional stress and natural fractures, and 2) the interaction between hydraulic fractures and natural fractures during stimulation. This unique technology opens new doors to derive a better understanding of the frac stage performance. This provides the ability to create completion optimization workflows. Unlike other geomechanical tools, GMXPredictor’s simulated strain predicts the main features of the microseismicity--confirming the validity of the input data (continuous natural fracture models) and the continuum mechanics approach used to simulate the interaction between the hydraulic and natural fractures responsible for the shearing observed in the microseismicity
- Provides the horizontal differential stress that could be used to identify areas where the fracing treatment needs to be changed or stages to be refraced
- Provides local stress rotations and the direction of propagation of a hydraulic fracture at each stage
- Simulates the hydraulic fracturing process and provides the strain which is a good proxy for the stimulated reservoir volume, or microseismicity. The strain is used to estimate the geomechanical half lengths which are used as constraints in frac design
- Able to account for stress shadowing between the stages but also between wells during zipper fracs
- Accounts for pressure depletion using poroelaticity to model frac hits
Gallery:
Who We Are & What We Offer
FracGeo provides decision makers, asset managers, engineers and geoscientists with Reservoir Management solutions for conventional and unconventional reservoirs. FracGeo was started in 2014 with the mission of building a fully integrated software workbench for modeling unconventional reservoirs with a robust geomechanical approach. Based on Continuous Fractured Modeling (CFM) and powered by neural network based algorithms, the aim was to capture all relevant elements of fractured reservoirs – petrophysical, geological and geophysical , and build the best representatives' models for sweet spot detection, engineering simulations and production forecasting.
Along the way, as a direct response to the demand generated by the growing shale business in North America, additional capabilities were built to handle more complex geomechanical problems, hydraulic fracture generation and propagation in the presence of natural fractures. This was done by combining the advantages of Material Point Method (MPM), a meshless numerical method and CFM. These remain as modular add-ons to our reservoir characterization portfolio.
A third area of expertise also developed – in the collection, curation and analysis of drilling data to gain foresight on geomechanical properties of a reservoir prior to hydraulic stimulation. A patent was awarded based on original work undertaken by principals of the company.
The first prototype software package, FracPredictor was widely tested by many industrial collaborators and clients. Much valuable feedback was collected, and the company utilized the 2020 and 2021 disruptive breaks to regroup, redesign and streamline our software. The new software and technologies were widely applied in the successful development of a large tight oil play in Africa.
Today, three distinct product lines make up our software portfolio : Flow Palette, Stim Palette and Drill Guidance. We offer both the finished tools as well as the underlying IP on commercial terms.
