SPE Unconventional Reservoir Fracturing Workshop
February 23 - 24, 2016 - Muscat TX USSociety of Petroleum Engineers
mramathany@spe.org
Phone:97144575866
The need to satisfy local energy demand and increase margins for export in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) have brought attention to unconventional reservoir exploration and development in the area. Tight and shale gas and oil activities in several MENA countries have increased and this activity is expected to pick up pace as we move further into this decade. Hydraulic fracturing is a cornerstone technology to unlock and fully develop the potential of unconventional reservoirs (UCR). Fracturing UCRs has evolved through the years from a one-size-fits-all execution centric approach to an integral one. Today it is recognised that it is vital to understand the unique characteristics of unconventional reservoirs to design all phases related to hydraulic fracturing: characterisation of the reservoir, well design and placement, sweet spot selection, pre-frac testing, fracturing process and its real-time monitoring, post-frac evaluation, and overall field optimisation. As progress is made in the learning curve developing the regional unconventional reservoirs, implementing innovative and suitable technologies is vital to improve recovery from these reservoirs. This understanding has been reflected in the technical sessions carefully selected for this workshop encompassing the planning and design, execution, and the evaluation of fracturing treatments for UCRs. This workshop aims at identifying good practices to help accelerate the learning curve associated with the development of unconventional reservoirs in the region. These practices should consider the regional constraints such as the unique reservoir characteristics, economic environment, and water supply. The workshop is designed to blend regional and international knowledge associated with tight gas and shale gas reservoirs. This knowledge is focused on multi-stage hydraulic fracturing applications. The workshop includes keynote speeches, technical presentations, panel discussions, and Q&A.