Enhancing the Productivity of the Marcellus Shale Horizontal Wells with Improved Treatment Design

ABSTRACT: This study investigates the impact of stress shadowing on hydraulic fracture geometry and the resulting gas production from the Marcellus Shale, specifically examining how fracture spacing and injected fluid volume influence stress shadowing and its impact on fracture length, width, and the gas recovery. The goal is to optimize hydraulic fracture design to mitigate stress shadowing and enhance gas production in unconventional reservoirs. A reservoir model for a horizontal well completed in Marcellus shale was constructed based on hydraulic fracture treatment data and petrophysical properties from Well MIP-6H and nearby wells. The model was employed to study the effects of treatment size and fracture spacing on stress shadowing and gas recovery. The investigation indicated that stress shadowing intensifies with increased fluid injection volume per stage, especially at close stage spacing (150 ft), leading to reductions in total fracture volume. Close fracture spacing also reduced the average fracture width, height, conductivity, causing and consequently the gas recovery. Wider spacing (300 ft. and 450 ft.) lessens stress shadowing's impact. The study emphasizes the importance of considering stress shadowing when optimizing hydraulic fracture spacing in the Marcellus Shale to maximize gas recovery