- Conference Article
- 10.2118/230630-ms
Simulation and Comparison of In-Well Strain Data Across Two Horizontal Wells: Identifying Differences in Completion Design
- Jan 27, 2026
- Ziwei Liu + 4 more +4
Abstract Through recent advancements in Rayleigh Frequency Shift Distributed Strain Sensing (RFS-DSS), the ability to derive cluster level production insights has improved significantly. This study focuses on two horizontal wells in the Delaware Basin, each landed in different layers. The objective is to compare in-well production strain during shut-in to understand differences in effective fracture geometry and identify how variations in completion design and geology contribute to these differences. This study conducts a comprehensive analysis that compares in-well production strain attributes, such as mechanical strain magnitude, widths and depth alignment with perforation clusters, between two horizontal wells in the Delaware Basin. Using these strain attributes to further characterize the effective fracture geometry, a coupled fluid flow and geomechanics model was employed to simulate and calibrate strain change behaviors. Additionally, the study systematically examines completion design and operational history to identify key factors driving the observed differences between the wells. Key findings from analysis showed that attributes such as average strain peak, notably differed by as much as 400%. Additionally, the mechanical strain change peaks in the Well 3H often showed misalignment with the perforation cluster depths, indicative of higher frac tortuosity. In contrast, Well B4H shows that strain peaks align exactly with perforation locations. Completion design in B4H has a significant impact on both the strain peak magnitude and zero-strain width, whereas these effects were less of an influence in the 3H. Furthermore, the calibration of the coupled flow/geomechanics model indicated that the fracture conductivity was lower in the 3H when compared to the B4H. The difference in proppant amount has been identified and may contribute to the reduced conductivity observed in 3H. Additionally, the wells are located in different geological layers, which may be another reason for the observed variation. This study reveals differences in calibrated fracture geometry across geological layers in the Delaware Basin and highlights the impact of completion designs, using high-resolution in-well strain measurements from fiber-based monitoring during the production phase. The findings provide practical guidance to obtain information for optimizing horizontal well landing depths and improving completion designs in future wells.
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