September luncheon: Dr. Mark Mack Sigma3

Making Engineering Decisions Using Advanced Microseismic Processing 

Dr. Mark Mack

Abstract

A case study will show the application of advanced microseismic processing (e.g., Cumulative Moment, Moment Tensor Inversion, Microseismic Reflection Imaging) to answer engineering questions such as the effects of depletion, zipper-fracturing sequence and completion designs on stimulation effectiveness.

Preferential fracture propagation toward previously produced wells can sometimes be observed even in simple plots of event clouds, but the case study will show how more advanced processing techniques can highlight even smaller depletion effects.  The microseismic data is integrated with offset well pressure data to validate and calibrate the results.   These observations of inefficient stimulation can be used to modify job designs, both in the field in real time and in pre-job planning.

The case study will also demonstrate how Moment Tensor Inversion can be used to identify natural fracture orientations and determine whether one completion design activates more sets of natural fractures than others.  Some guidelines will be suggested to enhance activation of natural fractures.

Speaker Biography

Dr. Mark Mack is a consultant specializing in Microseismic and Hydraulic Fracturing Geomechanics, and manages engineering and Geomechanics interpretation for SIGMA³.  Mark has more than 30 years of experience in geomechanics and hydraulic fracture simulation.  He spent 22 years at Schlumberger working on various aspects of hydraulic fracturing, including developing hydraulic fracture models and using geomechanics to apply microseismic measurements. His last position at Schlumberger was as Geomechanics Advisor.  He was the Vice President of Engineering and Chief Operating Officer at Oxane Materials, before joining Itasca/IMaGE where he was the General Manager of Itasca Houston, and the Geomechanics Director for IMaGE. 

Mark Mack has a B.S in Chemical Engineering from the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa, M.S., a Ph.D. in Geomechanics from the University of Minnesota and an MBA from the Edinburgh Business School in Scotland.

Mark has authored or co-authored more than 30 technical papers and three book chapters.