Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to a method for hydraulic fracturing a subterranean formation traversed by a wellbore including characterizing the formation using measured properties of the formation, including mechanical properties of geological interfaces, identifying a formation fracture height wherein the identifying comprises calculating a contact of a hydraulic fracture surface with geological interfaces, and fracturing the formation wherein a fluid viscosity or a fluid flow rate or both are selected using the calculating. Embodiments herein also relate to a method for hydraulic fracturing a subterranean formation traversed by a wellbore including measuring the formation comprising mechanical properties of geological interfaces, characterizing the formation using the measurements, calculating a formation fracture height using the formation characterization, calculating an optimum fracture height using the measurements, and comparing the optimum fracture height to the formation fracture height.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for performing stimulation operations at a wellsite having a subterranean formation with a reservoir therein. The method involves acquiring integrated wellsite data (e.g., geomechanical, geological, and/or geophysical properties of the formation, and/or geometrical properties of the mechanical discontinuities in the formation). The method also involves generating a mechanical earth model using the integrated wellsite data, and identifying a crossing behavior between an induced hydraulic fracture and at least one discontinuity in the formation. The method also involves optimizing a stimulation plan to achieve an optimized crossing behavior. The stimulation plan includes at least one of fluid viscosity, rate of injection of the fracturing fluid, and concentration of a fluid loss additive. The optimization may further include adjusting the stimulation plan to achieve the optimized crossing behavior between the induced hydraulic fracture and the discontinuity in the formation.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods for forming a transverse fracture in a subterranean formation surrounding a wellbore including measuring a property along the length of the formation surrounding the wellbore, forming a stress profile of the formation, identifying a region of the formation to remove using the stress profile, removing the region with a device in the wellbore, and introducing a fluid into the wellbore, wherein a transverse fracture is more likely to form than if the region was not removed. Some embodiments benefit from computing the energy required to initiate and propagate a fracture from the region, optimizing the fluid introduction to minimize the energy required, and optimizing the geometry of the region.

Abstract: Hydraulic fracturing design is provided. In one possible implementation, a computer-readable tangible medium includes instructions directing a processor to access initial conditions of a wellbore as well as potential completion types. The computer-readable tangible medium also has instructions directing the processor to determine a desirable finalized fracturing design for the wellbore by iteratively varying one or more fracturing properties for each of the potential completion types.

Abstract: A method can include receiving data that characterizes anisotropy of a formation; receiving a model that models one or more planes of weakness in an anisotropic formation; and, based at least in part on the model and the data, outputting information germane to stability of a bore in an anisotropic formation.

Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to a method for recovering hydrocarbons from a formation including collecting and analyzing a formation sample, drilling operation data, and wellbore pressure measurement, estimating a reservoir and completion quality, and performing an oil field service in a region of the formation comprising the quality. In some embodiments, the formation sample is a solid collected from the drilling operation or includes cuttings or a core sample.

Abstract: In one possible implementation an in-situ property determination system includes a displacement tool configured for use in a wellbore. The displacement tool includes four or more pads symmetrically located about an axis of the displacement tool, with each pad having a contact surface configured to contact a wall of the wellbore. The four or more pads can extend from a first position proximate an outer surface of the displacement tool to a second position in contact with the wall of the wellbore such that the four or more pads deform the wellbore into an at least approximately circular cross section. The system also includes a recordation device to record force displacement information associated with extending the four or more pads from the first position to the second position.

Abstract: The subject disclosure relates to determining an optimum orientation for perforations around the circumference of a subsurface borehole and optimum wellbore fluid initiation pressure for hydraulic fracturing in anisotropic formations.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for determining elastic properties for a heterogeneous anisotropic geological formation is described herein. The method includes grouping sonic velocity data from a borehole section (or borehole sections) into a number of clusters (e.g., one or more clusters). The sonic velocity data is grouped into clusters using petrophysical log data from the borehole section. The method also includes inverting the sonic velocity data for the clusters to determine elastic properties for each cluster. In some cases, the elastic properties for the clusters are combined to determine a relationship between the elastic properties and formation heterogeneity.

Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to a method for hydraulic fracturing a subterranean formation traversed by a wellbore including characterizing the formation using measured properties of the formation, including mechanical properties of geological interfaces, identifying a formation fracture height wherein the identifying comprises calculating a contact of a hydraulic fracture surface with geological interfaces, and fracturing the formation wherein a fluid viscosity or a fluid flow rate or both are selected using the calculating. Embodiments herein also relate to a method for hydraulic fracturing a subterranean formation traversed by a wellbore including measuring the formation comprising mechanical properties of geological interfaces, characterizing the formation using the measurements, calculating a formation fracture height using the formation characterization, calculating an optimum fracture height using the measurements, and comparing the optimum fracture height to the formation fracture height.

Abstract: Methods and related systems are described for measuring acoustic signals in a borehole during a fracturing operation. The system includes a downhole toolstring designed and adapted for deployment in a borehole formed within a subterranean rock formation. A downhole rock fracturing tool opens and propagates a fracture in the subterranean rock formation. Dipole and/or quadrupole acoustic sources transmit acoustic energy into the subterranean rock formation. A receiver array measures acoustic energy traveling through the subterranean rock formation before, during and after the fracture induction. Geophones mounted on extendable arms can be used to measure shear wave acoustic energy travelling in the rock formation. The toolstring can be constructed such that the sources and receivers straddle the fracture zone during the fracturing.

Abstract: The subject disclosure relates to determining an optimum orientation for perforations around the circumference of a subsurface borehole and optimum wellbore fluid initiation pressure for hydraulic fracturing in anisotropic formations.

Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to a method for recovering hydrocarbons from a formation including collecting and analyzing a formation sample, drilling operation data, and wellbore pressure measurement, estimating a reservoir and completion quality, and performing an oil field service in a region of the formation comprising the quality. In some embodiments, the formation sample is a solid collected from the drilling operation or includes cuttings or a core sample.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods for forming a transverse fracture in a subterranean formation surrounding a wellbore including measuring a property along the length of the formation surrounding the wellbore, forming a stress profile of the formation, identifying a region of the formation to remove using the stress profile, removing the region with a device in the wellbore, and introducing a fluid into the wellbore, wherein a transverse fracture is more likely to form than if the region was not removed. Some embodiments benefit from computing the energy required to initiate and propagate a fracture from the region, optimizing the fluid introduction to minimize the energy required, and optimizing the geometry of the region.

Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to a method for recovering hydrocarbons from a formation including collecting and analyzing a formation sample, drilling operation data, and wellbore pressure measurement, estimating a reservoir and completion quality, and performing an oil field service in a region of the formation comprising the quality. In some embodiments, the formation sample is a solid collected from the drilling operation or includes cuttings or a core sample.

Abstract: A method can include receiving data that characterizes anisotropy of a formation; receiving a model that models one or more planes of weakness in an anisotropic formation; and, based at least in part on the model and the data, outputting information germane to stability of a bore in an anisotropic formation.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for determining elastic properties for a heterogeneous anisotropic geological formation is described herein. The method includes grouping sonic velocity data from a borehole section (or borehole sections) into a number of clusters (e.g., one or more clusters). The sonic velocity data is grouped into clusters using petrophysical log data from the borehole section. The method also includes inverting the sonic velocity data for the clusters to determine elastic properties for each cluster. In some cases, the elastic properties for the clusters are combined to determine a relationship between the elastic properties and formation heterogeneity.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for performing stimulation operations at a wellsite having a subterranean formation with a reservoir therein. The method involves acquiring integrated wellsite data (e.g., geomechanical, geological, and/or geophysical properties of the formation, and/or geometrical properties of the mechanical discontinuities in the formation). The method also involves generating a mechanical earth model using the integrated wellsite data, and identifying a crossing behavior between an induced hydraulic fracture and at least one discontinuity in the formation. The method also involves optimizing a stimulation plan to achieve an optimized crossing behavior. The stimulation plan includes at least one of fluid viscosity, rate of injection of the fracturing fluid, and concentration of a fluid loss additive. The optimization may further include adjusting the stimulation plan to achieve the optimized crossing behavior between the induced hydraulic fracture and the discontinuity in the formation.

Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to a method for recovering hydrocarbons from a formation including collecting and analyzing a formation sample, drilling operation data, and wellbore pressure measurement, estimating a reservoir and completion quality, and performing an oil field service in a region of the formation comprising the quality. In some embodiments, the formation sample is a solid collected from the drilling operation or includes cuttings or a core sample.

Abstract: The subject disclosure relates to determining an optimum orientation for perforations around the circumference of a subsurface borehole and optimum wellbore fluid initiation pressure for hydraulic fracturing in anisotropic formations.