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Resource Abstract

Refracturing in the Bakken – An Updated Analysis of Data from 341 Wells Across North Dakota

Date Published: 6/9/2023
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Resource Abstract

More than 90% of the estimated oil-in-place in unconventional reservoirs is left unproduced from primary depletion. Refracturing (refrac) is an alternative to unconventional enhanced oil recovery techniques such as rich gas injection. Refracturing an existing well can improve oil recovery by counteracting the effects of suboptimal completion of the well, such as undersized fracture treatments, widely spaced fracture intervals, inoperable completion failures, and damage mechanisms that cause a loss of connectivity to the reservoir. The main goal of this study was to evaluate the performance of existing refractured wells and to estimate the refrac potential for the Bakken petroleum system (BPS) based on learnings from historical refrac performance. The report provides updated results of 1) a compilation and review of the wells that have been refractured in the BPS, 2) an evaluation of the production performance of the refractured wells, 3) an analysis of the impact of refracturing on offset wells (secondhand refrac), 4) an assessment of refrac economics using stochastic modeling combined with decision tree analysis, and 5) an assessment of the potential economic impact of a comprehensive refrac program applied throughout the BPS.

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