Full Wavefield 3-D Seismic Fracture Surveys
Imaging Natural and Induced Fractures for Exploration, Frac Monitoring, and Field Development from 1,500 to 25,000 Feet
What is FracSeis?
FracSeis is a surface-based, scattered-wave seismic survey that records the energy signatures of natural fracture systems to image the subsurface.
We record the full wavefield continuously for several weeks to identify the seismic energy of opening and closing fractures, as well as secondary events in the travel path. Waves of natural seismic acoustic data are recorded in a way unrelated to conventional reflection or seismology methods.
The delivered result is an integrated data product that is a processed and interpreted image of the subsurface structure with physical attributes related to fracture behavior. Scattered-wave data is more comprehensive and yields more actionable data than any other survey technology in the industry.
Our proprietary algorithms have been developed over three decades of use in field surveys and production management, as well as numerous theoretical studies and laboratory experiments. They differentiate and accurately bin energies two magnitudes smaller than conventional geophone instrument attenuation.
FracSeis surveys provide vastly improved results over the current industry standard for microseismic and seismic attribute applications, and has unique uses where no tool or strategy has been available before.
FracSeis directly measures the total energy emanating from the surveyed area and maps it in 3-D segments
FracSeis for Conventional and Exploitation
The distribution of fracturing and the type of fluid saturation in the geological environment, along with its structure, is the most valuable information for optimal development of oil and gas fields. A FracSeis survey identifies high production “sweet spots”, reduces the probability of drilling marginal wells, significantly controls capital expenditures for exploration, and accelerates the development of new resources. With the fracture and fluid knowledge of the field a company can plan farther ahead for greater supply chain efficiency and determination of required infrastructure. It is now possible to produce a map of the open fractures, the fluid flow network, and the ground truth of the field.
Delineation of Near-Wellbore Induced Fracture Locations, Orientations and Densities
The animation below shows the total fracture energy being recorded for a single frac stage (left) and the cumulative fracture energy for that stage (right). Below the animation are the frac job stats showing fracture energy (red) and pumping pressure (blue) during the stage. The full wavefield recording of total fracture energy processed and interpreted by FracSeis delivers unprecedented density resolution of both the induced and proppant-supported fracture volumes.
FracSeis for Unconventional and Resource Plays
Data is passively acquired before, during and for weeks after a frac job to measure total induced fracturing and net propped fracture volumes after the most crucial settling period. This also produces the passive survey results of mapped natural fracture systems and pore pressure densities in the surrounding six to nine square miles; a game changer for cost-effective field development.
FracSeis delivers ‘forward vision’ to identify where the field can be economically produced given the current drilling technology or frac generations. The ability to high-grade the formation enables companies to target drilling programs and frac stages for maximum stimulated reservoir volume (SRV) and production.
Eliminating unsuccessful frac stages improves operating efficiency, as well as ROIC. Notice in this example that the stages aren’t regularly spaced and did not start at an end. The natural fracture survey data combined with the induced fracture data from the frac job gives geotechnical and engineering teams the data they need to optimize frac designs.
The green dots are the larger induced fracture events as seen on microseismic surveys (we also generate this data set as a secondary calibration tool). Current seismology products combine this large event data with reservoir modeling to statistically estimate total fracture density and proppant-supported net SRV. However, field results indicate that most formations are too heterogenous to rely on modeling. FracSeis directly images the entire subsurface fracture volume to determine the impact of artificial stimulation.
FracSeis for Field Monitoring and Enhanced Gas and Oil Recovery
Listening arrays may be buried for long-term monitoring programs. Applications include measuring pore pressure draw down, optimization of enhanced resource recovery operations, forecasting drilling hazards, monitoring drilling efficiency, and many other uses.
In EOR, continuous seismic monitoring of fracturing and fluid saturation of the productive zones (delivered in real time or in periods) allows optimization of gas and oil displacement schemes and timing of operations. Precise operating plans tailored to the ground truth of your field and more reliable production forecasting are now possible with a map of the open fractures and the fluid flow network.
FracSeis quantifies the optimal resource extraction from the reservoir by monitoring the miscible front of the injected solution. Flow monitoring identifies lost efficiency in swept zones, or opportunity in missed reserves. The continuous data set reveals optimal locations for injection and recovery wells.
Office Address:
5100 Westheimer Road Suite 428
Houston, Texas 77056
Phone Number: 214-908-6600
Email: ken@fracseis.io