Re-analysis of the MWX (Multi-Well Experiment) fracture stimulation data from the Fluvial zone of the Mesaverde Formation and comparison with Paludal and Coastal zone behavior

To investigate Western US tight gas sands, DOE established the Multi-Well Experiment (MWX), a field research facility near Rifle, Colorado, where three closely spaced wells were drilled through the lenticular Mesaverde formation in the Piceance basin. Testing included extensive coring and core analysis, production testing, and instrumented fracture stimulation experiments. Because one of the more important aspects of the MWX project was to establish the predictability of well stimulation procedures, extensive fracture testing was conducted in the Paludal, Coastal, and Fluvial zones. This report focuses on a review and re-analysis of the MWX stimulation data obtained in the Fluvial zone. This follows a similar re-analysis of the Paludal and Coastal zone data which compared stress analysis methods, defined a relationship between stress and lithology, identified weaknesses in the fluid loss pressure decline analysis, and demonstrated a methodology for combining history matching of injection/decline pressures with the pressure decline analysis to better characterize the leak-off and geometry associated with the hydraulic fracture. Where appropriate, the techniques and results from the analysis of the three Mesaverde zones are compared and discussed, helping to set forth guidelines for future testing in this formation. 11 refs., 69 figs., 10 tabs.