Optimal field development and production design for unconventional reservoirs: A case study from Central Sub-Basin, Permian Basin, New Mexico

The planning and developmental decisions succeeding the discovery of an unconventional oil and gas field is of utmost importance in attaining successful exploitation and production from these tight reservoirs. The development and production of hydrocarbon from these unconventional reservoirs require requires adequate planning and execution which could be challenging, due to the sequence of heterogeneous lithologies of these formations. In this study, we designed and presented a comprehensive field development and production program that is representative of the unconventional oil and gas development in the Central sub-basin of the Permian Basin. To design and achieve optimal field development and production for unconventional reservoirs in the Central sub-basin of the Permian Basin, New Mexico, we utilized field data from an oil and gas well that was drilled to a TVD/MD of 2290 m with a PBTD of 2270 m. Subsequently, we conducted the petrophysical evaluation of the logs and utilized a decline curve analysis for reservoir evaluation of all the members of the formation. We also designed and developed comprehensive drilling, completions, and facilities programs. Lastly, we incorporated an economic analysis of our optimized field development and production design. Our results provide a valuable plan and critical decision-making insight for optimizing field development and production of unconventional reservoirs in the Permian Basin and across the world.