Abstract

Multi pad drilling and completion programs known as cube projects have emerged in the Midland Basin as operators transition from Exploration to Development mode. Several large-scale cube programs have been executed by a number of operators from 2016 to present. These large-scale development programs offer both an opportunity and a challenge to acquire downhole microseismic data during multi-pad, simultaneous drilling and completion operations.

In 2017, Energen initiated a downhole microseismic program on the Campbell West Lease located in Martin County, Texas. This development operation consists of eighteen 10,500’ lateral wells, four drilling pads, four frac crews and five stacked stratigraphic landing zones.

Horizontal and vertical downhole tools were deployed during simultaneous hydraulic fracturing operations to monitor and map microseismic events from four geologic treatment intervals: Wolfcamp B, Wolfcamp A, Lower Spraberry and Middle Spraberry. Microseismic operations were organized into three phases to mitigate treatment downtime during downhole tool array rig-in/rig-out, microseismic monitoring and re-staging surface equipment.

Planning, coordination, communication and a bit of luck led to a successful downhole microseismic program. Operationally, the job was executed under budget with no Frac-Ops downtime or safety issues. High quality microseismic events were recorded for all targeted geologic landing zones.

A “pre-job planning to rig-down” review of Energen’s operational experience identified key learnings for future multi-pad, multi zone, downhole microseismic programs.