The effect of sufficient barrier layers on hydraulic fracturing design efficiency in one of the Iranian South hydrocarbon reservoirs

Hydraulic fracturing and matrix stimulation are two major methods of the reservoir stimulation. Hydraulic fracturing, which is the newest technique and technically more complex, is very useful in low permeability reservoirs. Although it has been used widely in hydrocarbon production wells, it is a new method in Iran. In this paper, the effect of sufficient barrier layers on hydraulic fracturing design efficiency was done for Bangestan reservoir (one of hydrocarbon reservoirs in south of Iran). To do this, at first, mechanical earth model (MEM) was developed. This model comprise of in situ stresses and physical properties of reservoir rock (like porosity and water saturation obtained from petrophysical well logs analysis) and determination of the rock fracture pressures and fracture propagation. Then, zone 5 and Sarvak zone of Bangestan reservoir were selected as candidate layers for hydraulic fracturing modelling. Finally, hydraulic fracture was designed for selected layers. In this design, the created fracture length in zone 5 is very shorter than the created fracture length in Sarvak zone. The results show that hydraulic fracturing can be done in Sarvak zone more successful than zone 5, which shows the importance of sufficient barrier layers in hydraulic fracture efficiency.