Near real-time return-on-fracturing-investment optimization for fracturing shale and tight reservoirs

1. A method comprising:

calculating, based on sonic data and density data, mechanical properties and closure stress of a portion of shale rocks for fracture modeling;

generating, via a processor, one or more rock mechanical models based on the mechanical properties and closure stress of the portion of shale rocks;

performing, via the processor, one or more fracture modeling simulations based on one or more treatment parameter values;

based on the one or more fracture modeling simulations, generating, via the processor, a neural network model which predicts a fracture productivity indicator of at least one of an effective propped area (EPA) and an effective propped length (EPL);

calculating a return-on-fracturing-investment (ROFI) based on the EPA or EPL predicted by the neural network model based on a linear transient flow theory or boundary dominant flow theory;

generating a parametric study for other wells in the same geological area in real-time or near real-time based on the calculated ROFI; and

optimizing a pumping volume at different stages based on the calculated ROFI.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein calculating the mechanical properties is based on at least one of an isotropic acoustic model, a Stoneley anisotropic acoustic model, and a non Stoneley model.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising interpreting a stiffness tensor associated with the portion of shale rocks based on the at least one of the isotropic acoustic model, the Stoneley anisotropic acoustic model, and the non-Stoneley model.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising interpreting stiffness coefficients and shale anisotropy from the sonic data.

5. The method of claim 3 , further comprising calculating a horizontal and vertical Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio and a fracture closure stress, the one or more fracture modeling simulations being based on the horizontal and vertical Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein a fracture closure stress is based on a stress equation having strains Ch and EH as empirical parameters decided by fitting log derived stress results with DFIT (Diagnostic Fracture Injection Testing) data.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fracture productivity indicator EPA is calculated from the neural network model at different input fracturing treatment parameters, wherein the EPA is a propped payzone area within which a conductivity is no less than a critical conductivity, and wherein the critical conductivity is a minimum conductivity beyond which a fracture behaves like infinite conductive, and wherein the critical conductivity increases with at least one of an increasing reservoir permeability, increasing propped length and decreasing production time.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the linear transient theory or the boundary dominant flow theory is based on an assumption of a single phase fluid, a homogeneous reservoir, and no time effect on petrophysical properties and fluid properties associated with the portion of shale rocks.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein a natural fracture effect is accounted for in at least one of the linear transient theory or the boundary dominant flow theory.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mechanical properties comprise Poisson's ratio and Young's modulus.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the one or more treatment parameter values comprise at least one of a slurry injection rate, a total slurry volume, and a perforation depth.

12. A system comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more computer-readable storage media having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

calculate, based on sonic data and density data, mechanical properties and closure stress of a portion of shale rocks for fracture modeling;

generate one or more rock mechanical models based on the mechanical properties and closure stress of the portion of shale rocks;

perform one or more fracture modeling simulations based on one or more treatment parameter values;

based on the one or more fracture modeling simulations, generate a neural network model which predicts a fracture productivity indicator of at least one of an effective propped area (EPA) and an effective propped length (EPL);

calculate a return-on-fracturing-investment (ROFI) based on the EPA or EPL predicted by the neural network model based on a linear transient flow theory or boundary dominant flow theory;

generate a parametric study for other wells in the same geological area in real-time or near real-time based on the calculated ROFI; and

optimize a pumping volume at different stages based on the calculated ROFI.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein calculating the mechanical properties is based on at least one of an isotropic acoustic model, a Stoneley anisotropic acoustic model, and a non-Stoneley model.

14. The system of claim 13 , the one or more computer-readable storage media having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to: interpret a stiffness tensor associated with the portion of shale rocks based on the at least one of the isotropic acoustic model, the Stoneley anisotropic acoustic model, and the non-Stoneley model.

15. The system of claim 14 , the one or more computer-readable storage media having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to: calculate a horizontal and vertical Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio and a fracture closure stress, the one or more fracture modeling simulations being based on the horizontal and vertical Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising:

instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

calculate, based on sonic data and density data, mechanical properties and closure stress of a portion of shale rocks for fracture modeling;

generate one or more rock mechanical models based on the mechanical properties and closure stress of the portion of shale rocks;

perform one or more fracture modeling simulations based on one or more treatment parameter values;

based on the one or more fracture modeling simulations, generate a neural network model which predicts a fracture productivity indicator of at least one of an effective propped area (EPA) and an effective propped length (EPL);

calculate a return-on-fracturing-investment (ROFI) based on the EPA or EPL predicted by the neural network model based on a linear transient flow theory or boundary dominant flow theory;

generate a parametric study for other wells in the same geological area in real-time or near real-time based on the calculated ROFI; and

optimize a pumping volume at different stages based on the calculated ROFI.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the fracture productivity indicator EPA is calculated from the neural network model at different input fracturing treatment parameters, wherein the EPA is a propped payzone area within which a conductivity is no less than a critical conductivity, and wherein the critical conductivity is a minimum conductivity beyond which a fracture behaves like infinite conductive, and wherein the critical conductivity increases with at least one of an increasing reservoir permeability, increasing propped length and decreasing production time.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the mechanical properties comprise Poisson's ratio and Young's modulus, and wherein the one or more treatment parameter values comprise at least one of a slurry injection rate, a total slurry volume, and a perforation depth.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , storing additional instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to calculate the mechanical properties is based on at least one of an isotropic acoustic model, a Stoneley anisotropic acoustic model, and a non-Stoneley model.