MINIFRAC ANALYSIS IN UNCONVENTIONAL RESERVOIRS

Trican Reservoir Solutions

MINIFRAC (GENERAL CONCEPTS)
Definition:
A minifrac test refers to a test in which a small volume of fluid is
injected into formation at a defined rate to create a fracture(s).
Injection rate, pressure and falloff pressure are recorded for analysis.

Recommended Operational Practices:

Set all data recording units to record data every second. Confirm maximum recording memory on all recording units is sufficient.
Purge wellhead and surface lines of any gases. Fill wellbore and perform the minifrac with a non-gelled, incompressible fluid (i.e., water, frac oil, or
methanol-water in cold areas).
Rig into wellhead to ensure surface pressure recorders are isolated and can continue recording without disturbance while rigging out pumping equipment.
Ensure both pressure and rate are recorded electronically. If rate is unavailable, make sure to document the fluid volume pumped after breakdown.

Breakdown Pressure

Bottomhole Pressure

Objectives:
A minifrac test can be used to obtain:
Pre-Closure Analysis:
Fracture closure pressure and time
Net pressure
Fracturing fluid efficiency
Fluid leak-off mechanisms and flow regimes
Post-Closure Analysis:
Flow regimes
Reservoir (pore) pressure
System permeability
To estimate reservoir permeability, the following guidelines for
shut-in times are recommended:
1 day, if k>0.1 md.
1 week, if k>0.01 md.
2 weeks, if k>0.001 md.
1 month, if k>0.0001 md.
Recommended injection for low permeability reservoirs:
Injection rate: 0.5 - 2 m3/min
Injection time: 3 - 5 minutes
Inject non-gelled fluid

Typical Minifrac Injection Test:

General Rules of Minifrac Analysis:

1. The choice of ISIP will affect net pressure calculations, but not the slope on derivate curves (flow regime identification).
2. A constant slope (straight line) on the semi-log derivative G-function plot, a 3/2 slope on the Bourdet log-log derivative plot with a corresponding
-1/2 slope on the Primary Pressure Derivative (PPD) plot are all signatures of normal leakoff. This corresponds to the 1/2 slope observed on the
log-log delta-time pressure derivative plot.
3. A concave down on the semi-log derivative G-function plot is a signature of Pressure Dependent Leakoff (PDL). PDL also has a characteristic of 1/4 slope,
both on the Bourdet log-log derivative plot and on log-log delta time. PDL is identified with a slope of -3/4 on the Primary Pressure Derivative (PPD) plot.
4. A concave up on the semi-log derivative G-function plot is a signature of Height Recession (HR) or Transverse Storage (TS), and has a characteristic slope
of > 3/2 on the Bourdet log-log derivative plot, with a corresponding zero or increasing slope on the Primary Pressure Derivative (PPD) plot. When the slope
of the Bourdet log-log derivative curve drops below 3/2, closure occurs. During this time, the corresponding PPD slope steepens.
5. The end of the Carter leakoff flow regime, if present, indicates the fracture closure, unless HR/TS is observed, when rule #4 applies. If Carter leakoff is not
observed, the end of any fracture linear flow regime will be considered a fracture closure event. This needs to be reviewed on a case by case basis.
6. Multiple fracture closure events might occur in some cases.
7. If linear, bilinear, or radial flow regimes occur after Carter leakoff ends, these are after-closure flow events.
8. If early-time radial flow occurs (before fracture closure) and transitions into a steeper slope, this could be evidence of T-shaped fracture (both
vertical and horizontal fracture components exist).
9. Reservoir (pore) pressure can be determined from infinite acting radial or linear flow, however, the error in the value obtained from linear flow is
optimistic by 3-5% of actual pore pressure.
10. When radial flow is obtained, permeability can be determined with a high level of confidence. If radial flow is not observed, the estimated
permeability will be optimistic.

End of Pumping
Fracture Closure
Pressure

ISIP (?)

Formation Pseudo
Linear Flow
Formation Pseudo
Radial Flow
Pumping Rate

PRE-CLOSURE
(Fracture Dominated)

AFTER-CLOSURE
(Reservoir Dominated)
Time

Instantaneous Shut-In Pressure (ISIP) Determination:

SHUT-IN PRESSURE

SHUT-IN PRESSURE

Friction
Pressure

ISIP (?)

ISIP (?)

Net Fracture
Pressure

Net Fracture
Pressure

FRACTURE CLOSURE

FRACTURE CLOSURE

ISIP = Pws Pf

PRE-CLOSURE ANALYSIS

ISIP = Pws

TYPE CURVE ANALYSIS

Pre-closure analysis is used to determine Instantaneous Shut-In Pressure (ISIP), Fracture Closure Pressure (Pc) and time (tc), Fracture Gradient (ISIP/TVD), Net Pressure (Pnet), and Fluid Efficiency ().
PRESSURE DEPENDENT LEAKOFF:
Natural fractures intersect with hydraulic fractures

HEIGHT RECESSION:
Fracture grows into higher stress zones before
receding back
High
Stress
Zone

Induced Hydraulic Fractures

Typical Log-Log Flow Regime Semi-Log Derivative

T-SHAPED FRACTURE:
Fracture pressure is greater than overburden stress,
creating both vertical and horizontal fracture components
Horizontal Fracture

Log, Derivative (tdP/dt)

NORMAL (IDEAL) LEAKOFF:

Constant fracture area
Homogenous matrix

Low
Stress
Zone

>1

Strip Chart

1/2
1

High
Stress
Zone

Strip Chart

-1

1/4

Vertical Fracture

Natural Fractures

-1/2

1/2

BEFORE CLOSURE

Strip Chart

CLOSURE
Log, t

AFTER CLOSURE

Strip Chart
Typical Log-Log Flow Regime Bourdet Derivative
Pressure
Injection Rate

Pressure
Injection Rate

Pressure

Pressure

Pressure

Pressure

Hydraulic Port Opening

Pressure
Injection Rate

Log, Derivative (teqdP/dteq)

Pressure
Injection Rate

Overburden stress

1/2
>3/2

3/2

1
1/4
1/2
1

Pressure (P)

First Derivative (dp/dG)

2
= 1/

Fracture Closure

3/

m=

m=

1/2

-1/2

Fracture Closure

m = 1/4

Semi-Log Derivative (tdP/dt)

2
= 1/

m=

-1/2
=-

Primary Pressure Derivative

(dP/dt)

PPD, Semi-Log Derivative

1/
m=

Bourdet Derivative (teq dP/d teq)

=
m

/2

-3

Fracture Closure

3/
2

PPD, Semi-Log Derivative

m=

BEFORE CLOSURE

1/2

m=

-1/2

Flow Regime

Fracture Closure

IN-SITU STRESSES AND

FRACTURE ORIENTATION

Fracture Closure
m

The in-situ formation stresses are described below:

Vertical (overburden) stress (v)
Maximum horizontal stress (Hmax)
Minimum horizontal stress (Hmin)
Hydraulic fractures open perpendicular to the
lowest in-situ stress.

m=0

2
= 1/

Primary Pressure Derivative

(dP/dt)

-3

Fracture Closure

/2

AFTER CLOSURE

Derivative Function
Delta Time Equivalent
PPD
Time1
dP/dt
t dP/dt teq dP /dteq

Before Closure

-1/2

2
3/

CLOSURE
Log, t

Table of Flow Regimes:

Semi-Log Derivative (tdP/dt)

HEIGHT RECESSION:
Log-Log (Equivalent Time & PPD) Plot

m=

-1

-2

1/2

Fracture Closure

-1/2

-1/2

-3/2

m=

NORMAL (IDEAL) LEAK-OFF:

Log-Log (Equivalent Time & PPD) Plot
m=

Bourdet Derivative (teq dP/dteq )

m=0

2
= 1/

There are various ways to perform after closure

analysis. A recommended methodology is to use
the following plots:
Bourdet derivative plot
Primary pressure derivative plot
Soliman/Craig linear and radial flow plots

1/2

Semi-Log Derivative (tdP/dt)

Log-Log (Delta and Equivalent Time) Plot

Fracture Closure

Bourdet Derivative (teq dP/d teq)

-1/2

m=0
m=

Semi-Log Derivative (tdP/dt)

Post-closure analysis is used to identify reservoir

properties, such as reservoir pressure, transmissibility,
and permeability.

First Derivative (dp/dG)

3/
2

Semi-Log Derivative

Bourdet Derivative (teq dP/dteq )

-1/2

POST-CLOSURE ANALYSIS

Fracture Closure

>> -1

-1

G-Function Time

Fracture Closure

1/2

m=

Pressure (P)

Fracture Closure

2
= 1/

Semi-Log Derivative (Gdp/dG)

First Derivative (dp/dG)

Log-Log (Delta and Equivalent Time) Plot

m=

Semi-Log Derivative

3/
2

Fracture Closure
m

Semi-Log Derivative

Bourdet Derivative (teq dP/dteq )

-3/4

Fracture Closure

AFTER CLOSURE

Typical Log-Log Flow Regime Primary Pressure Derivative

G-Function Time

Log-Log (Delta and Equivalent Time) Plot

1/
m=

Fracture Closure

G-Function Time

Log-Log (Delta and Equivalent Time) Plot

Pressure (P)

First Derivative (dp/dG)

Fracture Closure

G-Function Time

Fracture Closure

CLOSURE
Log, t

Fracture Closure

Log, Derivative (dP/dt)

Fracture Closure

Semi-Log Derivative (Gdp/dG)

BEFORE CLOSURE

/2

Fracture Closure

Semi-Log Derivative (Gdp/dG)

G-Function Plot

=3

Pressure (P)

PDL

Time

Fracture Closure

G-Function Plot

Semi-Log Derivative

Semi-Log Derivative (Gdp/dG)

Time

Pressure, First & Semi-Log Derivative

G-Function Plot
Pressure, First, & Semi-Log Derivative

Pressure, First, & Semi-Log Derivative

G-Function Plot

Time

Pressure, First & Semi-Log Derivative

Time

Carter leakoff2
Early Time

Carter leakoff2
Late Time

1/2

3/2

-1/2

Fracture Linear

1/2

1/2

-1/2

Fracture Bilinear

1/4

1/4

-3/4

-1

Formation Linear

-1/2

1/2

-3/2

Fracture Bilinear 3

-3/4

1/4

-7/4

Formation Radial

-1

-2

Radial
After Closure

v
m
=
-2

Bourdet Derivative (teq dP/d teq)

Gives System Permeability and

Reservoir Pressure

Formation Linear Flow Analysis Soliman/Craig Method

Fracture Closure Pressure

Hmax

Formation Radial Flow Analysis Soliman/Craig Method

Pressure

Bottomhole Pressure

Hmin

With Bourdet Derivative

For low permeability reservoirs.
3
Bilinear flow regimes are not shown on type curves.
1
2

Pressure

PRE-CLOSURE
(Fracture Dominated)

CL
Ct
E
E
EOJ
G(tD)

REFERENCES
k = constant*V*/m*h

Time

P* = Reservoir
Pressure

AFTER-CLOSURE
(Reservoir Dominated)

Fluid leakoff coefficient

Total system compressibility
Plane strain modulus = E / (1 v2)
Youngs modulus
End of job
Dimensionless pressure difference function

P* = Reservoir Pressure

AFTER CLOSURE

G-FUNCTION AND LEAKOFF

C H E tP
Pws Pw (tD) = L 2P
G(tD)
H
Low leakoff (=1):
G(tD) = 4 (g(tD) g0)
tD= (ttp)/tp
g(tD) = 43 ((1+tD)1.5 tD1.51)
gO = 43
The results are the same for high leakoff cases ( = 0.5).
NOMENCLATURE

Pressure

Formation Pseudo Radial Flow

Pumping Rate

Pressure

Formation Pseudo Linear Flow

g(tD)
go
H
h
Hp
HR

BEFORE CLOSURE
1/ tp+t

AFTER CLOSURE
1/(tp + t)

EQUIVALENT TIME
teq = t . tp /(t + tp)
BOURDET DERIVATIVE FUNCTION
dP
dt

= [(P1 / t1) t2 + (P2 / t2) t1] / (t1 + t2)

i

Average decline rate function

Value of g(tD) at shut-in (tD = 0)
Fracture height
Net pay thickness
Fluid loss height
Height recession

ISIP
K
Lf
m
P
Pc

Instantaneous shut-in pressure

Formation effective permeability
Fracture half length
Slope of the line
Bottomhole pressure
Fracture closure pressure

Pf
Pi
Pnet
Pws
P*
PDL

BEFORE CLOSURE

1. Nolte, K. G. 1979. Determination of fracture parameters from fracturing pressure decline. SPE-8341.
2. Bourdet, D., Ayoub, J. A., and Pirard, Y. M.1989. Use of pressure derivative in well test interpretation. SPE-12777.
3. Soliman, M. Y., Craig, D., Bartko, K., et al. 2005. New methods for determination of formation permeability, reservoir pressure, and fracture properties from a minifrac
test. ARMA/USRMS 05-658.
4. Barree, R. D., Barree, V. L., and Craig, D. 2007. Holistic fracture diagnostics: Consistent interpretation of prefrac injection tests using multiple analysis methods.
SPE-107877.
5. Mohamed, I. M., Nasralla, R. A., Sayed, M. A., et al. 2011. Evaluation of after-closure analysis techniques for tight and shale gas formations. SPE-140136.
6. Bachman, R. C., Walters, D. A., Hawkes, R. A., et al. 2012. Reappraisal of the G time concept in mini-frac analysis. SPE-160169.

FORMATION LINEAR FLOW REGIME

0.5
0.5

1
V
Pws P = 31.05
Ct KLf2
tp + t
4h
0.5
1
For linear flow, a plot of P vs
on cartesian coordinates gives a
tp + t
0.5
V

and y intercept of P .
straight line with a slope of 31.05
Ct KLf2
4h
Friction pressure
Initial reservoir pressure
Net pressure
Bottomhole pressure at shut-in
Estimated reservoir pressure
Pressure dependent leakoff

PPD
TS
t
tc
teq
tp

Primary pressure derivative

Transverse fracture storage
Total time
Fracture closure time
Equivalent time
Pumping time

V
P
t
tD

FORMATION RADIAL FLOW REGIME

1
1,694.4 V
Pws P =
tp + t
kh
1
For radial flow, a plot of P vs
tp + t

on cartesian coordinates gives a straight line with a slope of

1,694.4 V and y intercept of P . System permeability can be calculated from the slope.

kh

Injected volume
Pws Pi
Shut-In time
Dimensionless shut-in time
Area exponent (depends on fluid efficiency)
Ratio of average and wellbore pressure at shut-in

v
Hmax
Hmin

Fluid efficiency
Formation fluid viscosity
Vertical (overburden) stress
Maximum horizontal stress
Minimum horizontal stress

Poissons ratio
Porosity

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