Geomechanical Properties and Rock Brittleness Index (BRIX) Using Science to Enhance Your Completions

© Rocsol Technologies Inc.

Do you understand the geomechanical properties of your reservoir and how they will affect the effectiveness of your fracture stimulation and overall production rates? The Rocsol D-Series logging technology uses routinely collected surface drilling data to calculate the geomechanical properties using two modules, D-WOB and D-ROCK. There are No downhole tools. Just give us your drilling EDR data.

The system uses a combined three-dimensional torque and drag (T&D) model to estimate the effective DWOB profile from the horizontal well drilling data. An inverted rate of penetration (ROP) model integrated with the drill bit cutting effects, bit wear effect as a function of drilling data and rock abrasiveness to calculate more accurate profiles of rock strengths, Young’s modulus, porosity, permeability, and Poisson’s ratio. Geomechanical property logs generated by the D-Series technology using drilling data from three sample wells drilled horizontally into shale formations in North America are presented in the figure below.

Rock brittleness is the ability of rock to fail under load and an important reservoir property to characterize unconventional shale reservoirs for optimal stimulation design. The higher Young’s modulus (YM) and the lower Poisson’s ratio (PR) indicate that the rock is more brittle, whereas the higher Poisson’s ratio and the lower Young’s modulus indicate the rock is less brittle. D-ROCK estimates the Brittleness Index (BRIX) using the calculated YM and PR and ranges from 0% to 100%. The higher percentage of BRIX indicates that the rock zone is more brittle and a potentially more favorable location for hydraulic fracturing in the shale formation. The graphical representation of the percent brittleness index (BRIX) logs, as well as the corresponding Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio calculated from the sample drilling data, is shown in the figure below.

The figure also shows the user-defined interface in D-ROCK to input formation-specific BRIX constants and a potential fluid system recommendation chart (Rickman, et. al., 2008) based on the BRIX calculations.

Selectively fracturing your horizontal well, versus a geometric even spacing, will improve proppant placement, reduce break down pressures and increase production. Contact Rocsol Technologies today to evaluate your well.

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