Efficient Application of Advanced Mud-logging in Unconventional Reservoirs: A Cost-effective Methodology from Borehole Geology to Fracture-Stimulation

The unconventional reservoirs need efficient stimulation, and often advanced well-log data are required to meet that objective with characterization of best reservoir quality and completion quality intervals. However, often the operational and economical constraints later in the development phase could mean minimal access to high-tier measurements. The borehole geology data collected in form of mud-gas and cutting could often play a very important role in such cases, where advanced analysis of this data could provide cost-effective and efficient answers towards identification of best intervals for hydro-fracturing.

In the study well, advanced mud-logging information was used for the selection and design of hydraulic fractures leading to cost-effective approach for “factory mode” unconventional wells for mineralogy, TOC data and geochemical data acquisition as complementary source of information for geo-steering in horizontal drains. The earlier studies of the cuttings and gas against the fracture-stages identified from well-logs in previous well, integrated with the production data provided the confidence of using the cuttings-based methodology to deploy in the study-well where well-logs could not be acquired due to operational constraints.