Case Study: a leading water production company reduces water production risk in Barnett Shale fracturing with SLB MDT tester stress modeling

Modeling MDT Tester Stresses Guides Barnett Shale Fracturing to Prevent Water Production

SLB worked with a leading water production company to assess the in situ stress regime of the Barnett Shale and nearby formations. The company needed to understand fracture growth risk, especially the possibility that hydraulic fractures could extend into the underlying water-bearing Ellenburger carbonate and increase water production after stimulation.

SLB used the MDT modular formation dynamics tester with the Dual-Packer Module to perform multiple, precisely placed fracture injections and monitor closure pressure in selected intervals. These measurements calibrated sonic-log-based stress estimates into a continuous stress profile, which was then used to model fracture geometry and predict fracture height growth more confidently, improving placement decisions and helping reduce the risk of Ellenburger water production.