System and method for performing optimized downhole stimulation operations

Abstract

A method of performing a stimulation operation for an unconventional wellsite having natural fractures and hydraulic fractures. The method involves providing at least one treatment parameter with a corresponding objective function value and performing a fracture operation based on the treatment parameter. The fracture operation involves defining a treatment schedule, conducting a hydraulic fracture operation, and estimating production. The objective function value is based on an objective function. The method also involves modifying the treatment parameter and performing the fracture operation based on the modified treatment parameter. The modified treatment parameter has a corresponding modified objective function value based on the objective function. The method continues with optimizing the treatment operation by comparing the objective function value with the modified objective function value, and repeating the modifying and optimizing for new modified treatment parameters until convergence about a desired outcome whereby an optimized parameter is defined at convergence.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of performing an optimized stimulation operation for a wellsite having a wellbore extending into a subterranean formation, the wellsite being an unconventional wellsite having complex fractures extending through the subterranean formation, the method comprising:
 providing at least one treatment parameter with a corresponding at least one objective function value, the at least one objective function value based on an objective function;   performing a fracture operation based on the at least one treatment parameter, the fracture operation comprising defining a treatment schedule, conducting a hydraulic fracture operation, and estimating production;   modifying the at least one treatment parameter and performing the fracture operation based on the modified at least one treatment parameter, the modified at least one treatment parameter having a corresponding modified at least one objective function value based on the objective function;   optimizing the treatment operation by comparing the at least one objective function value with the modified at least one objective function value; and   repeating the modifying and optimizing for at least one new modified at least one treatment parameter until convergence about a desired outcome whereby an optimized parameter is defined at convergence.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising collecting data about the wellsite. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising treating the wellsite according to the treatment schedule and the fracture operation corresponding to the optimized parameter. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising adjusting the treatment schedule and the fracture operation based on one of new data, a new desired outcome, at least one new treatment parameter, at least one new objective function, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fracture operation comprises one of hydraulically fracturing the subterranean formation about the wellbore and simulating hydraulic fracturing. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the objective function is a scalar variable. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the objective function comprises: 
       
         
           
             
               
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         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the convergence occurs where the desired outcome is one of minimized or maximized. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one treatment parameter and the modified at least one treatment parameter comprises a range of values and wherein the performing, modifying and optimizing are repeated for the range of values. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising selecting at least one value from the range of values based on a relation between the at least one objective function value and the estimated production. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one treatment parameter and the at least one modified treatment parameter comprises at least one of proppant parameters, fluid parameters, financial parameters, treatment parameters, wellsite parameters and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising holding at least one objective function value constant during the performing, optimizing and repeating. 
     
     
         13 . A method of performing an optimized stimulation operation for a wellsite having a wellbore extending into a subterranean formation, the wellsite being an unconventional wellsite having complex fractures extending through the subterranean formation, the method comprising:
 collecting data about the wellsite;   providing at least one treatment parameter with a corresponding at least one objective function value, the at least one objective function value based on an objective function;   performing a fracture operation based on the at least one treatment parameter, the fracture operation comprising defining a treatment schedule, conducting a hydraulic fracture operation, and estimating production;   modifying the at least one treatment parameter and performing the fracture operation based on the modified at least one treatment parameter, the modified at least one treatment parameter having a corresponding modified at least one objective function value based on the objective function;   optimizing the treatment operation by comparing the at least one objective function value with the modified at least one objective function value; and   repeating the modifying and optimizing for at least one new modified at least one treatment parameter until convergence about a desired outcome whereby an optimized parameter is defined at convergence.   treating the wellsite according to the treatment schedule and hydraulic fracture operation corresponding to the optimized parameter.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the collecting comprises one of measuring wellsite data, receiving historical data, collecting data from other wellsites, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising adjusting the treating based on one of new data, a new desired outcome, at least one new treatment parameter, at least one new objective function, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . A method of performing an optimized stimulation operation for a wellsite having a wellbore extending into a subterranean formation, the wellsite being an unconventional wellsite having complex fractures extending through the subterranean formation, the method comprising:
 performing reservoir characterization using a reservoir characterization model to generate a mechanical earth model based on integrated wellsite data;   generating a stimulation plan by performing well planning, staging design, stimulation design and production prediction based on the mechanical earth model, the stimulation design and production prediction, comprising:
 providing at least one treatment parameter with a corresponding at least one objective function value, the at least one objective function value based on an objective function; 
 performing a fracture operation based on the at least one treatment parameter, the fracture operation comprising defining a treatment schedule, conducting a hydraulic fracture operation, and estimating production; 
 modifying the at least one treatment parameter and performing the fracture operation based on the modified at least one treatment parameter, the modified at least one treatment parameter having a corresponding modified at least one objective function value based on the objective function; 
 optimizing the treatment operation by comparing the at least one objective function value with the modified at least one objective function value; and 
 repeating the modifying and optimizing for at least one new modified at least one treatment parameter until convergence about a desired outcome whereby an optimized parameter is defined at convergence. 
   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising measuring at least a portion of the combination of petrophysical, geomechanical, geological and geophysical data at the wellsite. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising optimizing the stimulation plan based on the optimized parameter. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising executing the optimized stimulation plan at the wellsite. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising measuring real time data from the wellsite during the executing the optimized stimulation plan. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising performing real time interpretation based on the measured real time data. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising performing real time stimulation design and production prediction based on the real time interpretation.