Got Diversion? Real Time Analysis to Identify Success or Failure

Abstract

Successful diversion is traditionally identified as a sudden treating pressure increase upon the diverter material reaching the perforations. However, the real value is derived from sustaining that diversion for subsequent proppant placement. The charting overlay approach focuses on that sustained diversion. With validation from fiber optic data, the overlay method has a proven track record of real-time diagnostics, eliminating the need for time-consuming, resource intensive high cost evaluations. That real-time application allows treatments to be confidently optimized while pumping, increasing stimulation effectiveness and operational efficiencies. Through the process of overlaying treating pressures before and after diversion, the effectiveness of the diverter can be qualified and adjustments made for subsequent diverter drops. The charting overlay method, which consists of plotting early time treatment data on top of later treatment data, provides better accuracy and a more thorough analysis than the traditional method of evaluating pressure increase, or ‘hit’ pressure, when diverter arrives on formation. When compared to fiber optic data utilizing a dynamic acoustic sensing (DAS) tool, the charting overlay method indicated successful diversion every time the DAS data showed diversion from cluster to cluster. The comparison with the DAS data further proved that the charting overlays can be used for real-time diversion analysis. This method is useful to those who are using diverting agents to create more efficient stimulation. Through the use of the charting overlay technique, diversion strategies can be adjusted real-time to improve the diversion and increase cluster efficiency.