Production optimization of a tight sandstone gas reservoir with well completions: A numerical simulation study

Tight gas sands have significant gas reserves, which requires cost-effective well completion technology and reservoir development plans for viable commercial exploitation. In this study, a new approach for well completion method coupled with a suitable reservoir development plan is proposed. Several well completion and well placement options are examined for optimum gas recovery and maximum economic returns. A commercially available numerical reservoir simulator (Exodus™ version 6.00) has been used extensively to study the various reservoir development scenarios. A novel hydraulic fracturing configuration involving a pair of vertical wells is proposed and is found to show excellent performance compared to more traditional hydraulic fracturing and horizontal well configurations.