Simulation of a hydraulic fracturing stage in the Vaca Muerta Formation, with Microseismic Monitoring correlation

"In present work, a finite element model is developed for the hydraulic fracturing process applicable to a stage of a horizontal well in a shale formation, using the joint representation of the clusters that compose it. Based on the advancement of the fracture, several permeability evolution models are proposed and calibrated, and with actual DFIT curves the corresponding Model-Generated Stimulated Reservoir Volume (MGSRV) is determined. The model is calibrated for a well located in the Vaca Muerta formation, and the model is validated with a stage of interest from this well using its microseismic data. As the simulation time progresses, the resulting MGSRV increases progressively, and in the process, a higher proportion of microseismic events weighted by the energy associated with them is reached, indicating a high similarity with the fracture growth indicated by the microseismic report corresponding to the stage. Good agreement between the stimulated volume and the microsesimic data is found."