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A Data-Driven, Machine Learning Analysis of Parent–Child Well Interactions in the Bakken

Date Published: 6/9/2023
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Resource Abstract

This report summarizes the EERC’s analysis of parent-child well interactions in the Bakken. As unconventional reservoirs mature, fracture interactions between existing wells (parent wells) and newly developed wells (child wells) significantly impact reservoir productivity. In the Bakken, these parent-child interactions are growing more intense because the average time between parent well and child well completion dates has been increasing, resulting in the broadening of the pressure depletion zone surrounding the parent wells. During completion of the child well(s), this pressure depletion surrounding the parent well leads to asymmetric fracture growth from the child well(s) towards the parent well. The asymmetric fracture growth eventually impacts the production volumes of both the parent and child wells, especially when tightly spaced. This study focused on the impact of parent-child well interactions on production in the Bakken. The study’s primary goal was to utilize machine learning-based approaches to characterize the causes of production impacts from parent-child well interactions and evaluate combinations of well spacing and completion designs to maximize parent-child well production and minimize frac-hits risk. The study also investigated the impact of re-fracturing of the parent well on parent-child well interactions and strategies to reduce frac-hits and promote uniform fracture growth while stimulating child wells. To characterize the causes of production impacts from parent–child well interactions, five well design parameters were examined: (1) well spacing, (2) injected proppant in the child well, (3) injected proppant in the parent well, (4) time difference between parent and child well completions, and (5) cumulative oil production of the parent well. This report summarizes the methods and results and discusses future work for subsequent BPOP phases.

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