SPE 153200

Development of a Fuzzy System Model for Candidate-well Selection for

Hydraulic Fracturing in a Carbonate Reservoir
Mansoor Zoveidavianpoor, SPE, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Faculty of Petroleum and Renewable Energy
Engineering, Ariffin Samsuri, SPE, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Faculty of Petroleum and Renewable Energy
Engineering, Seyed Reza Shadizadeh, SPE, Petroleum University of Technology, Abadan Faculty of Petroleum
Engineering

Copyright 2012, Society of Petroleum Engineers

This paper was prepared for presentation at the SPE Oil and Gas India Conference and Exhibition held in Mumbai, India, 28–30 March 2012.

This paper was selected for presentation by an SPE program committee following review of information contained in an abstract submitted by the author(s). Contents of the paper have not been
reviewed by the Society of Petroleum Engineers and are subject to correction by the author(s). The material does not necessarily reflect any position of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, its
officers, or members. Electronic reproduction, distribution, or storage of any part of this paper without the written consent of the Society of Petroleum Engineers is prohibited. Permission to
reproduce in print is restricted to an abstract of not more than 300 words; illustrations may not be copied. The abstract must contain conspicuous acknowledgment of SPE copyright.

Abstract
With current technology, it is only possible to extract 20% to 25% of the original oil in place from Iranian carbonate
reservoirs, 10% less than the world average. In addition, formation damage is a serious problem in those reservoirs, which
mainly caused by asphaltene precipitation, sand production, and ineffective stimulation method. The majority of mature
carbonate reservoirs in Iran have low permeability and high skin values. Therefore, such reservoirs are capable of producing
at commercial rates only if they are hydraulically fractured. Acid fracturing is usually reported as a standard method for
fracturing in carbonate reservoirs. Hydraulic Fracturing (HF) technology, which was originally applied to overcome near
wellbore damage, is a proper replacement stimulation method. It is evident that to adopt this technology, considerable efforts
have to be strenuous in candidate-well selection. As asserted in the literature, even though a common practice, candidate-well
selection is not a straightforward process and up to now, there has not been a well-defined approach to address this process.
The techniques applied in HF candidate-well selection could be divided into two methods; conventional and advanced
approaches. Conventional methods are not easy to use for nonlinear processes, such as candidate-well selection that goes
through a group of parameters having different attributes and features such as geological aspect, reservoir and fluid
characteristics, production details, etc. and that’s because it is difficult to describe properly all their nonlinearities. However,
it is believed that advanced methods such as Fuzzy Logic (FL) could be better decrease the uncertainty existed in candidate-
well selection. This paper presents a Mamdani fuzzy model where rules for HF candidate-well selection were derived from
multiple knowledge sources such as existing literature, intuition of expert opinion to verify the gathered information. The needs for
adapting HF as replacement stimulation in Iranina carbonate reservoirs are discussed and advanced methods for HF candidate
selection will be reviewed in this paper. Also, the main reasons which show why propped HF is the choice in carbonate
reservoirs will be discussed. Finally, the proposed Fuzzy system model is applied along with a case study in a carbonate
reservoir.

1. Introduction
Formation damage caused by either fluid invasion, during the process of drilling through the reservoir, or introduced by
various mechanisms while producing the reservoir, represents a dominant obstacle to optimum hydrocarbon production. In
order to bypass the damage and increase the hydrocarbon production and recovery factor in carbonate reservoirs, a
replacement stimulation method, rather than the current stimulation method (matrix acidizing), has to be considered. To
remediate damaged wells, enhance hydrocarbon production and increase the recovery factor, HF has been conducted in a
number of diverse situations and shows the capability in prevention and removal of any type of formation damage (Bale et
al., 2001; Veatch and Moschovidis, 1989; Leontaritis et al., 1994), and an improved hydrocarbon recovery (Daneshy, 2010)
in carbonated reservoirs. Vega et al. (1997) and Ortega et al. (1996) stated that HF had simultaneously defeated three main
interrelated problems such as low permeability, sand production, and asphaltene plugs in the North Monagas reservoirs. The
needs for HF in Iranian reservoirs had addressed by Zoveidavianpoor et al., (2011a).
In order to successfully performing the replacement stimulation method, the selection of the first well is of particular
importance. A failure in the diagnostics and execution would have reduced sizeable the potential of HF application. The
2 SPE 153200

process of candidate-well selection will be discarded initially poor producers, and the best candidate actually considered as a
good producer. Identification of best candidate-wells for all sorts of operations is a common practice in the oil and gas
industry. It is a regular event in the oil and gas industry that certain operations will be carried out on a group of wells and the
results are studied and analyzed before the conducting of the same operation on the rest of the wells in the field. The
objective is to select a well/zone or the group of wells/zones for the operation that are most likely to achieve good results; this
process referred to as candidate-well selection. Results indicate that if candidate-well selection is good, production
increments can be significant, particularly in those wells with skin damage and low permeability. Most carbonate reservoirs
have low permeability; therefore, such reservoirs are capable of producing at commercial rates only if they are hydraulically
fractured.
The porpuse of this paper is presenting a Fuzzy system which is able to evaluate a group of wells/layers for selecting the most
likely appropriate wells for hydraulic fracturing. This paper is organized as follows. Section 2 briefly reviewed the literature
that covers the background problems and previous HF in Iranian carbonate reservoirs. The application of HF in carbonate
reservoirs along with their important attributes will be reviewed. In continuing the same section, advanced methods together
with the application of FL will be presented. Section 3 contributes to the description of some basic aspects and development
of FL. Results and discussions are provided in sections 4 and 5 respectively. Lastly, conclusions are given in section 6.

2. Literature Review

2.1 Background of the Problems

This section tends to highlight the needs for HF in Iranian carbonate reservoirs. There are some triggered backgrounds for
considering HF in carbonate reservoirs. In order to classifying, the associated problems in Iranian carbonate reservoirs were
divided in two major problems; general and special (Table 1). The first category shows the six common instances, except
depletion, that often inherently existed. The later is based on the applied stimulation method (matrix acidizing), induced
asphaltene precipitation, special solvents, such as xylene, that utilized to remove asphaltene precipitation, and previous
failure in HF operation.
Once a hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir has faced difficulties to produce economically, two vital questions need answers by the
production team. First, what is the reason(s) of the decreases of the productivity? Second, how the recognized problem(s)
could effectively alleviated and/or eliminated? The answer to the first question changes from reservoir to reservoir, but
mainly depends on the reservoir fluid and rock characteristics, depletion state, production scheme, and applied stimulation
method. Regarding the second question, one may search for a solution other than stimulation jobs, so the question rose
toward; what is done in other technical area? Does infill drilling considered as the only answer? Vincent (2011) shows that
infill drilling was successful 82% of time, compared with a 77% success rate with refracturing. However, he concluded that
restimulation of existing wells had stronger economics than infill drilling. Furthermore, only 7 to 8% of the total production
comes from approximately 70,000 wells that are drilled annually (International Outlook: World Trends, 2003). Actually, the
possibility of further discoveries of giant oil and gas reservoirs in the world is low; new stimulation strategies through
utilization of available technologies, would lead to maximizing recovery rates and efficiencies from the exiting fields.
Additional reserves and extending the productive life of the reservoir and related assets, would be the result of increase in oil
recovery from existing reservoirs. In fact, well stimulation technology has proven to be successful in improving hydrocarbon
recovery (Gidley et al., 1989).
These questions are not intended to pursue as the main objectives in this paper, because the focus of this study is on
developing an advanced HF candidate-well selection (Fuzzy System) procedure. Anyhow, a literature review is performed
toward showing (1) HF technology, which is an ever-increasing focus area for upstream industry, could efficiently overcome
the difficulties in carbonate reservoirs; such as asphaltene deposits and low recovery factor and (2) to act as replacement
stimulation method in those reservoirs. It is clearly indicated in HF experience's literature, to be successful conducted, it is
directly depending on rigorous candidate-well selection, which is the objective in this study.
The impetus behind further literatural research with the problems (Table 1) is to highlight the needs for HF in carbonate
reservoirs (Zoveidavianpoor et al., 2011a). Carbonate reservoirs are by far representing a major portion (more than 65%) of
the world's oil reserves. Primary recovery methods have produced only about one-third of the world's original oil in place,
leaving an estimated 891 billion barrel or more (Ahlbrandt et al., 2005). Thus, they could assume as hot prospects for future
energy demands. Yet they need some individual treatments so that most of the oil can be recovered in the economic way.
Carbonate rocks appear to be more oil-wet than water-wet (Esfahani et al., 2007; Chilingar and Yen, 1983; Treiber et al.,
1972), resulting in low ultimate recovery (Manrique et al., 2007). Furthermore, the presence of fractures affects the dynamics
of fluids in the media and adds new challenges to the fluid flow problems (Farhadinia et al., 2011; Borgia et al., 1998). The
majority of the carbonate reservoirs are in the Middle East and their recovery factors are often low.
SPE 153200 3

2.2 Previous HF operation

Since the first fracture treatment was performed in 1947, HF has been used to accelerate production and improve ultimate
recovery in many reservoirs. Although it has been passed more than 60 years of successfully conducting HF, there is no any
report of prosperous HF operation in Iran. Generally, lack of data/information concerning rock mechanical properties,
regional in-situ stress, and specially no consideration of candidate selection study, where the main reasons of failure in HF
operation in Iran (Alipour and Bohluli, 2010). With current technology, it is only possible to extract 20% to 25% of the OOIP
from Iran’s fractured carbonate reservoirs, 10% less than the world average. It is estimated that 200,000-250,000 bbl/d of
crude production is lost annually due to declines in the mature oil fields (EIA, 2007). In fact, High production rate and
naturally fractured characteristics of the major Iran's carbonate reservoirs contributed to carelessness to this effective
stimulation. It is clearly indicated in HF experience's literature, to be successful conducted, it is directly depending on
rigorous candidate-well selection. In order to have well-adapted HF technology in Iran, detailed geomechanical studies and
well integrity test such as leak-off test, minifrac test, calibration test, etc., have to be performed. These crucial disadvantages
were addressed in references (Shadizadeh and Zoveidavianpoor, 2010; Zoveidavianpoor et al., 2011b).
The needs for HF operation have not yet been considered in Iran. On the other hand, a case of HF operation had been
performed that did not bring about successful results. Consequently, the failure of this operation had added another reason of
HF reluctant in Iran. Another major reason of rare unwillingness to consider this technique is the effective cost of fracturing,
especially when performed one job at a time, assigning all mobilizations and set-up costs to a single treatment; such a
situation is both undesirable and untenable. In addition to the effective cost, Martin and Rylance (2010) discussed two other
unreasonable causes for occasional reluctance to consider this technique; excessive water production and the complexity
associated with the operation and the logistics.

2.3 Carbonate Reservoirs

Carbonate reservoirs contain more than 65% of the world's oil and gas reservoirs. Primary recovery methods have produced
only about one-third of the world's original oil in place, leaving an estimated 891 billion barrel or more (Ahlbrandt et al.,
2005). The majority of primary carbonate grains are composed of unstable minerals such as aragonite and high-Manganese
Calcite, so diagenetic alteration commonly is quite extensive in carbonate rocks (Scholle and Ulmer-Scholle, 2003). Due to
their heterogeneous at all scales, they present greatest challenges to upstream petroleum industry. Different authors had
investigated associate difficulties with carbonate reservoirs. Chilingar et al. (1996) underlined the complexity to acquire
geologic information appropriate for carbonate reservoir characterization. The major causes of this complexity indicated as;
complicate carbonate depositional environment, and post depositional diagenetic alterations of the rock fabric such as
dolomitization. Earlier, Bulnes and Fitting (1945) discussed the problems incorporated with reservoir performance in
limestone. They major point was lack of knowledge and paucity of data concerning the heterogeneous nature of the
geological and engineering properties of these reservoirs. Moreover, economic conditions force the producers to optimize the
ultimate recovery of carbonate reservoirs at a minimum cost (Chilingar et al., 1996). Lack of knowledge or economic
conditions are not the only problems associated with predicting carbonate reservoir performance. For instance, applying the
concept of reservoir analogy in carbonate reservoir was the evident disadvantage, which was discussed elsewhere (Ulmishek
and Harrison, 1984; Galloway et al., 1983; White, 1980). These reservoirs were poorly understood in contrary to sandstone
reservoirs. Although the existence of differences seems widely accepted and is commonly cited as a basis for separate
treatment of carbonate reservoirs (Moore, 2001; Lucia, 1999; Tucker and Wright, 1990), the actual nature and magnitude of
these differences are a topic that suffers from little or no quantitative documentation (Ehrenberg and Nadeau, 2005).

2.4 Hydraulic Fracturing in Carbonate Reservoirs

In carbonate reservoirs, acidizing and fracturing appear to be most effective and longest-lasting treatments currently
employed, with fracturing the most optimal (Brown et al., 2003). Various advantages make propped HF a superior type of
hydraulic fracturing in carbonate reservoirs (Zoveidavianpoor et al., 2011a). HF has been proved to be the best alternative to
matrix acidizing (Pujiastuti et al., 2010), and acid fracturing (Yongping et al., 2009; Li et al., 2006; Wang et al., 2006; Abbas
et al., 2006; Olsen et al., 2003). Propped HF has been applied in carbonate reservoirs (Aguilar-Razo, 2000), proved its
capability in sustaining fracture conductivity (Fredd et al., 2000), and turn to be the standard stimulation method in carbonate
reservoirs (Cook and Brekke, 2002). Historically, carbonate fracture acidizing has experienced limited success in geologic
reservoirs characterized by high-closure stress or temperatures above 120° C (Portier et al., 2007). It was claimed that for
reservoirs with a minimum horizontal stresses higher than 5,000 psi, proppant fracturing is the optimum stimulation method
because etching caused by fracture acidizing can not support such high stress (Valko et al., 1998). Increasing the induced
fracture conductivity is, usually, the objective in acid fracturing treatments, which is believed to have direct relationship with
the amount of rock dissolution. As pointed out by Navarre et al., (1998) this objective does not achieved by increasing
amounts of dissolved rock. Another weakness of acid fracturing is its short effective penetration (Nierode and Williams,
1971; Nierode et al., 1972; Roberts and Guin, 1975). On the other hand, propped fracturing has been considered to get longer
effective penetration and increase production rate (Tannich and Nierode, 1986). Moreover, proppant fracturing seems to
provide much better stability over acid treatments (Olsen et al., 2003). Propped HF was more expensive than acid jobs, but
4 SPE 153200

provided higher estimated ultimate recovery (EUR) and typically higher rates of return (ROR) (Rajappa et al., 2009). In
another evidence of superiority of propped HF over acid fracturing, Portier et al. (2007) reported that the failure rate for acid
jobs was 32% compared with 5% for propped fracturing in 1994. Their analysis for acid job failure categorized on two types:
(1) incorrect field procedure (one-third) and (2) incorrect design or improperly identifying well damage (two-thirds). Based
on experience in other naturally fractured reservoirs, Bailey and Wickham (1984) and Bailey (1984) showed that propped
fracturing would recover more reserves than acid fracturing. As discussed by Kalfayan (2007) estimation and/or
measurement of the leak-off coefficient, fracture shape, and proppant conductivity can be take place with a greater degree of
confidence than for acid fracture for carbonates and this is principally because the fluid is non-reactive. Based on the
following reasons, HF is considered to fulfill the need of reservoir, because it has following advantages (Yongping, 2009):
(1) Longer fracture length: the fracturing fluid is inert gel with high viscosity, so the leak-off volume is much lower than
the acid, which makes the propped fracture longer than acid fracturing. This advantage can not only expand the permeable
area to improve the wells production, but also increase the possibility of connecting natural fracture as permeable path with
propped fracture to further improve production. This is especially important for the inhomogeneous carbonate reservoir.
(2) Long-term effective conductivity: because the proppant exits in the fracture, and it can keep the fracture open, the
fracture conductivity (the permeability of the proppant pack times its width) is able to sustain for a long time. This advantage
is elemental to ensure the high and stable production of well.
Frankly speaking, there is no standard and straightforward procedure to differentiate between acid jobs and propped
fracturing. Meanwhile, the majority of the literature discussed some of their aspects. Major criteria in which propped
fracturing are favorable in carbonate reservoirs listed as following (Kalfayan, 2007; Portier et al., 2007; Valko et al., 1998):
(1) acid solubility is low (less than 65-75%), (2) low permeability, (3) high-closure stress (more than 5000 psia), (4) high
formation temperatures (above 120° C), (5) the rock softens or creeps significantly under closure after contact with acid,
which resulting in poor retention.
A qualitative comparison is presented in Table 2. Various advantages make propped HF a superior type of stimulation in
carbonate reservoirs. The main disadvantage regarding propped fracturing is operational cost. Skin-bypass fractures are
cheap, use minimal equipment and are easy to operate. They are of benefit all over the world where limitations such as cost,
deck space, deck loading and crane size often prevent conventional HF. Skin by pass fracturing is a viable alternative to
matrix acidizing. By conducting the HF in the means of skin-bypass, this operation will be a reasonable alternative to matrix
acidizing, particularly in reservoirs which suffers from asphaltene precipitation and positive skin values.

2.5 Hydraulic Fracturing Candidate-well Selection

It has been emphasizing that the success rate has improved with improved candidate-well selection procedure (Vincent,
2011). Various investigations show that the success of HF operation mainly acquired by better candidate-well selection
(Vincent, 2011; Malik et al., 2006; JPT online, 2006; EPA, 2004; Burnstad et al., 2004; Guoynes et al., 2000; Reeves et al.,
1999; McMillan and Suffron, 1995; Conway et al., 1985). It could be say that candidate-well selection is the process of
choosing or recognizing wells that have potential for higher production and better return of investment after stimulation job.
In order to successfully performing HF treatment, the selection of the first well through well-defined methodology is of
particular importance. This objective not only saves money and time but also will establish this technology as a proper
stimulation method in carbonate reservoirs. So, the need for accurate HF candidate-well selection to eliminate possible
failures becomes very important.
Besides reservoir quality and completion, the effectiveness of the HF treatment is a function of three critical parts, which are
tying together: candidate-well selection, treatment design, and field operation (Figure 1). Actually, they are the triangle
success factors that must link together. Applying the best treatment design and field procedures to the wrong candidate-well
will results in a failure of the whole operation. In other words, all of the three factors should perform well to guarantee the
success of HF treatment.
Different investigations are available for choosing techniques for candidate-well selection. Reeves et al. (1999) and (2000)
classified them into three methods: (1) production performance comparisons, (2) pattern recognition technology/virtual
intelligence methods, and (3) production type curve matching. Economides and Martin (2007) categorized candidate-well
selection methodologies on three types: (1) conventional, (2) mixed conventional and advanced, and (3) advanced methods.
Zoveidavianpoor et al (2012) mixed conventional and advanced methods and merged them into the advanced methods. So,
two methods for HF candidate-well selection could be presented; conventional, and advanced approaches. Being familiar
with the conventional methods in candidate-well selection that mainly deals with engineering, geological, etc aspects in
decision making process, is of particular importance in order to increase the performance of the advanced techniques that
mainly utilized Artificial Intelligence methods. Recently, a review of the conventional candidate-well selection for hydraulic
fracturing in oil and gas wells has been presented by Zoveidavianpoor et al (2012). Zoveidavianpoor et al (2012) have
concluded five key issues in conventional candidate-well for HF: (a) screening the wells and formations based on influencing
variables such as skin, permeability, etc is a common practice in the literature, (b) The most important parameters for HF
candidate-well selection are: permeability, porosity, in-situ stress magnitude and distribution, viscosity, skin factor, reservoir
SPE 153200 5

pressure, wellbore condition, formation net pay thickness, and water cut, (c) the process of selecting candidate-wells for HF
treatment for the increase of their productivity is considered as a complex and challenging task, (d) there is not a
straightforward process and up to now, there has not been a well-defined and unified approach to address this process, (e)
good wells (with high deliverability) have highest potential to be the best candidates.
The following section will deal with the advanced techniques with particular attention to the application of FL in HF
candidate-well selection.

2.5.1 Advanced Methods in Candidate-well Selection

As the volume of data increases, human cognition is no longer capable of deciphering important information from it by
conventional techniques. Mohaghegh et al. (2005) demonstrated that data mining and machine learning techniques must be
used in order to deduce information and knowledge from the raw data that resides in the databases. Although the required
parameters for selecting a well for HF are relatively identical, classification and manipulation of the structure data is
different. This fact comes from the different characteristics for each reservoir. Thus, there is a need to provide a candidate-
well selection methodology that allows selecting the desired well/layer with minimum time and costs, and provide a
framework to overcome the difficulties in conventional techniques.
For successful stimulation, proper candidate-well selection and treatment design are the keys. As indicated by Moore and
Ramakrishnan (2006) first-pass evaluation using Moving Domain Analysis (MDA) or Artificial Neural Network (ANN)
techniques by utilization of existing data can help prioritize wells for in-depth analysis. Using the ANN methods, Shelley
(1999) described that operators can screen candidate-well before performing more detailed engineering analysis. The number
of hours required to complete the ANN procedures are minimal compared with hours required for conventional geologic and
engineering evaluation. Reeves et al. (1999) developed a multiprocess candidate selection methodology to identify viable re-
stimulation candidates. It consists of production comparisons, engineering based performance assessments, and pattern
recognition technology. Malik et al. (2006) presented new methodology, which uses different trained ANN and is flexible to
design Genetic Algorithms (GA) based on different parameters. To develop a methodology for candidates in a short time
with limited budget, Flores et al. (2009) took advantages from case histories from prior restimulation treatments; they then
evaluated to find trends and success indicators by designing a stimulation workflow. Using this improved methodology,
success was increased to 75%, and costs were reduced by 40%. Emrich et al. (2001) and East and Craig (2006) showed that
diagnostic algorithms improved candidate selection and contributed to improved performance.
The availability of more modern methods offers the opportunity to examine the data, their relationships, and in other ways to
maximize the concealed potential. This should be come as no surprise, given that the comprehensive structured data/database
that should be available from the initial fracture treatments greatly increases the quantity, quality and relationships for the AI
methods to consider (Economides and Martin, 2007). There are a number of different emerging AI approaches that have been
applied in this way in recent years (Mohaghegh et al., 2000) to the manipulation of the typical fracturing data sets. This
approaches are quite varied in their requirements and their upside potential (Oberwinkler et al., 2004; Conway et al., 1985)
and include approaches such as FL, ANN, GA, self-questioning matrices, pattern recognition, self-organizing maps, etc.
Although the work reported by Oberwinkler and Economides (2003) was performed in order to primarily identify re-
fracturing candidate potential, it is an excellent demonstration of the measure of application that can be achieved with the AI
approaches when quality data is available. Grieser et al. (2004) describe a case whereby a conventional approach, including
cross-plots, bar charts, cumulative frequency plots, etc., did not determine any definitive trends or correlations. They then
proceeded to perform a more detailed data-mining exercise and applied the Self-Organizing Map approach. The results were
clear, with definitive trends, which could then be applied to improve the future program. McVey et al. (1996) developed an
ANN, which trained with existing data to identify influential parameters in HF. It was found that the flow parameters (post-
fracture well performance), have more influence than other parameters. Reeves et al. (1999) and (2000) concluded that
virtual intelligence methods were relatively better compared to other approaches. The advantage of various virtual
intelligence techniques is that it can be designed to mimic the thinking process of a completion engineer entrusted with the
job of selecting refracturing candidates, but the downside is data requirement and expertise (Reeves et al., 1999)
Soft computing considered as an emerging technology in AI. This method used whenever it is not possible to develop a
mathematical model from first principles. Soft computing is not a closed and clear-cut discipline. It incorporates an emerging
family of problem-stating and problem-solving methods that attempt to mimic natural intelligence. It has two important
components, i.e., fuzzy logic-based models (FLMs) and experimental data learning methods such as neural networks (NNs)
and Support Vector Machines (SVMs). The aim of soft computing is to: (1) Learn from experimental data (examples,
samples, measurements, records, patterns, observations…) by NNs or SVMs. (2) Embed existing structural human
knowledge such as experience, expertise, and heuristics, rules of thumb into efficient mathematical framework such as IF-
THEN rules (Hamdi-Cherif, 2010).
As indicated in the literature, candidate-well selection for re-fracturing is just as reliant on input data quality and availability
as is candidate-well selection for an initial fracturing treatment, but the uncertainty is increased in initial HF in contrast with
6 SPE 153200

re-HF. It is believed that advanced methods such as FL could be better handle uncertainties (Zadeh, 2006) existed in
candidate-well selection.

2.6 Fuzzy Logic Application in Petroleum Engineering

Over the years, FL has shown itself to be an appropriate alternative for engineering judgment to deal with the uncertainties
encountered in decision-making processes. Up to now, many researchers have studied the potential application of FL to
petroleum engineering systems. FL have been applied in the various fields of petroleum engineering and earth sciences in
order to solve numerous problems, e.g. planning and completion of multilateral wells (Garrouch et al., 2004), EOR project
risk analysis (Chung et al., 1995), UBD candidate-well selection (Garrouch and Lababidi, 2003), permeability and litho-
facies estimation (Cuddy, 1997), rock engineering systems (Khademi Hamidi, 2010), HF treatments (Xiong et al., 1999;
Xiong et al., 1996; Xiong et al., 1995; Xiong and Holditch, 1995), and HF candidate-well selection (Xiong and Holditch,
1993; Yang, 2009; Yin and Wu, 2009). They have shown that the application of FL in candidate-well selection for stimulation is
a promising approach. The literature survey indicates that fuzzy set theory is about to establish itself as a reliable new
methodology for dealing with any sort of ambiguity and uncertainty, specially in HF candidate-well selection, design, and
execution.

3. Methodology

3.1 Fuzzy Logic

FL is an extension of conventional Boolean logic (zeros and ones) developed to handle the concept of partial truth – truth
values between “completely true” and “completely false”. Dr. Lotfi Zadeh introduced it in the 1960’s as a means to model
uncertainty (Zadeh, 1965). Zadeh says that rather than regarding fuzzy theory as a single theory, we should regard the process
of fuzzification as a methodology to generalize any specific theory from a crisp (discrete) to a continuous (fuzzy) form.
According to Zadeh (2006), uncertainty is an unavoidable attribute of information. By using the rules of probability,
scientists were capable of dealing with such uncertainties in information. With FS theory coming into existence, it is
performed better by FL. Zadeh (2008), in answering the question "is there a need for FL?", believes that, today, close to four
decades after its conception, FL is a precise logic of imprecision and approximate reasoning, which shows itself to be more
effective than an attempt at the formalization/mechanization of human reasoning capabilities. FSs theory, as a soft computing
technique, has established itself as a new methodology for dealing with any sort of ambiguity and uncertainty. Soft
computing, as introduced by Zadeh (1992), includes approaches to human reasoning, which try to make use of the human
tolerance for incompleteness, uncertainty, imprecision, vagueness, and fuzziness in decision-making problems (Jang et al.,
1997). Hamdi-Cherif (2010) had listed some of the advantage and disadvantages of FL models as follows:
(a) Advantages: (1) Human knowledge embedding; FL models are efficient tools for embedding human knowledge into
useful algorithms. (2) Approximators; FL Models are good approximators of any multivariate nonlinear function. (3) No need
for explicit modeling; FL Models are useful when no mathematical model is available or when it is impossible to obtain it.
(4) Robustness; FL Models operate successfully under a lack of precise sensor information. (5) Genericity. FL Models are
appropriate tool in generic decision-making.
(b) Disadvantages: (1) Structuring knowledge; human experts may have problems in structuring their knowledge. (2)
Inconsistencies and human subjectivity; human expert mat sway between extreme decisions or tend to hide their knowledge.
(3) Exponential explosion; the number of rules increases exponentially with increase in the number of fuzzy subsets per input
variable. (4) High constraints; learning, i.e., changing Membership Functions (MFs) shapes is highly constrained, typically
more complex than neural networks.

3.1.1 Fuzzy Sets

Fuzzy sets (FSs) are sets whose elements have degrees of membership. FS theory permits the gradual assessment of the
membership of elements in a set; this is described with the aid of a MF valued in the real unit interval [0, 1]. An example of a
FS is shown in Figure 2. When only integer numbers are considered in the x domain, FS can be represented as {0/2, 0.5/3,
1/4, 1/5, 0.7/6, 0.35/7, 0/8}, where 0/2 means that number 2 has a membership degree of 0 in the T1 FS, 0.5/3 means number
3 has a membership degree of 0.5 in the FS, etc. In contrast, for a crisp set, the membership degree of each element in it can
be either 0 or 1; there is no value (e.g., 0.5) in between. The MF μA(x) describes the membership of the elements x of the
base set X in the FS A, whereby for μA(x) a large class of functions can be taken. Reasonable functions are often piecewise
linear functions, such as triangular or trapezoidal functions.
A MF μA(x) is defined as degree of truth of the fuzzy variable in x in the FS V and is a number among 0 and 1 inclusive. A
MF can be built based upon the input or output, which we call the MF base. For example, Figure 3 shows the MFs for
temperature based on input. On the other hand, we can build MFs for skin factor based on the output, which is the favorite
degree to well stimulation candidate (Figure 4). Building MFs requires domain expertise. The MFs base should be same for
all fuzzy variables in a fuzzy system. If the base of all MFs is upon the output, the number of MFs for each fuzzy variable in
SPE 153200 7

the system should be identical (Xiong and Holditch, 1993). The MF, μX (x), of a FS can either be chosen based on the user’s
opinion (hence, the MFs from two individuals could be quite different depending upon their experiences, perspectives,
cultures, etc.), or, it can be designed using optimization procedures (Horikawa et al., 1992; Jang, 1992; Wang and Mendel,
1992).
Selection of operators solely depends on the problems of applications. The shaded region in Figure 5 shows the MF of the FS
A∩B, which results from the intersection of FSs A and B. Here μA and μB are the MFs for the FSs sets A and B respectively.
For example, μA could be a MF for the FS of skin value or water saturation. Triangular or trapezoidal functions usually
considered as linear functions. As shown in Figure 5, the two FSs have presented as triangular MFs.
Normally, a MF selected by trial and error to be representing the base set. There are five basic MFs. These functions along
with their descriptions represented in Table 3.

3.1.2 Fuzzy Logic System

FL is useful for modelling inference under imprecision and FL can be used in a rule-based system. Creating a FLS consists of
four basic steps: a) for each variable, whether an input variable or a result variable, a set of MFs must be defined. A MF
defines the degree to which the value of a variable belongs to the group and is usually a linguistic term, such as high or low.
b) Statements, or rules, are defined that relate the MFs of each variable to the result, normally through a series of IF–THEN
statements. For example, one rule would be: IF the snowpack (condition) is low (linguistic term represented by a MF) THEN
the runoff (conclusion) is low (linguistic term represented by a MF). c) The rules are mathematically evaluated and the results
are combined. Each rule is evaluated through a process called implication, and the results of all of the rules are combined in a
process called aggregation. d) The resulting function is evaluated as a crisp number through a process called defuzzification.
A typical FLS consists of a fuzzifier, defuzzifier, rule base, MFs and an inference procedure, as presented in Figure 6.
Figure 6 illustrates a typical structure of FLS, which consist of four components: (a) A fuzzy rule base, (b) Fuzzifier, (c)
Fuzzy inference engine, and (d) Defuzzifier. The structure of FLS briefly explained as follows.
a) Rule Base: fuzzy rule bases include many fuzzy rules, which represent the expertise of the expert domain. Each fuzzy
rule has the format as follow:

V: IF x1 is F1 and … and xn is Fn: THEN y is G1 n=1, 2, …, N ……………………… (1)

where input x=(x1,…,xn)T ∈U ; the output y∈ V ; F1 and G1 are FSs in Ui and V, respectively. Each IF-THEN rule defines a
fuzzy implication F1 *…*Fn ⇒ G, which is the FS defined in the product space. F1 is linguistic value defined by FSs on the
ranges (universes of discourse) x and y, respectively. The if-part of the rule “x is F1” is called the antecedent or premise,
while the then-part of the rule “y is G1” is called the consequent or conclusion.
Fuzzy systems are based on the preliminary information given to the system as fuzzy rules. These rules, which are written as
linguistic commands, are usually not so precise. In fact, they are written to enable decision to be made in cases where there is
imprecise or no preliminary information about the system under considerations. The following rules represent instances of
typical fuzzy rules utilized in this research. As could be seen, the presented rules have multiple antecedents and single
consequences.

b) Fuzzification: The Fuzzifier maps the crisp input x=(x1,…,xn)T ∈U into a FS in U. The logic operations with FSs are
performed with the MFs. Although there various other interpretations for FL operations, the following definitions are very
convenient in embedded control applications:

truth(X and Y) = Min(truth(X), truth(Y))……………………………………………………………………(2)

truth(X or Y) = Max(truth(X), truth(Y))……………………………………….………………………...…..(3)

truth(not X) = 1.0 - truth(X)………………………………………………………………………………… (4)

c) Inference Engine: The inference engine combines rules and gives a mapping from input (U) to output FSs (V). This
inference engine is different from that of conventional expert systems, which only considers two truth values: TRUTH or
FALSE.
d) Defuzzification: After fuzzy reasoning, we have a linguistic output variable that needs to be translated into a crisp value.
The objective is to derive a single crisp numeric value that best represents the inferred fuzzy values of the linguistic output
variable. Defuzzification is such inverse transformation, which maps the output from the fuzzy domain back into the crisp
8 SPE 153200

domain. There are several defuzzification techniques. The most widely used defuzzification technique uses the centroid of
area method as follows:

Centroid of area ZCOA = _Z μA(z) z dz _Z μA(z) dz ……………………………………………………………(5)

where μA(z) is the aggregated output MF. A paper proposed an inference scheme in which the conclusion of a fuzzy rule is
constituted by a weighted linear combination of the crisp inputs rather than a FS.
Table 4 shows the standard operations in FLS. Whilst the operations according to intersection and union are based on
min/max operations, the complement is an algebraic one. Union and intersection can also be defined in an algebraic manner
but giving different results.

4. Results

4.1 System Implementation

In this section, we are going to illustrate the proposed fuzzy system in prioritizing twenty one wells in a carbonate reservoir
with seven criteria such as Permeability, Skin, Net pay thickness, Reservoir pressure, production rate, porosity, and water cut.
The hierarchy of the model is shown in Figure 7.

The proposed fuzzy system in this paper uses a collection of fuzzy MFs and rules to reason about data. Two multiple inputs
and an output presented in (2) and (3). Here very low, low, medium, and high, are FSs defined on permeability, skin, …; and
excellent, good, possible, and not are FSs defined on candidate-well suitability. The antecedent (the rule’s premise) describes
to what degree the rule applies, while the rule’s consequent assigns a MF to each of one or more output variables. In what
follows, the most popular fuzzy inference system (Mamdani) that has been widely deployed in various applications is
introduced (Figure 8). A Mamdani fuzzy knowledge base system is a fuzzy logic rule based system (FRBS) initially proposed
by Mamdani in 1974 as a FL controller. One uses a combination of fuzzification, fuzzy inference and defuzzification together
with a knowledge base comprising database of FSs and a rule-base of fuzzy rules. The Mamdani scheme is a type of fuzzy
relational model where each rule is represented by an IF–THEN relationship. It is also called a linguistic model because both
the condition (antecedent) and the conclusion (consequent) are fuzzy propositions.
As could be observed from Figure 8, Mamdani Fuzzy inference system comprises of five parts: fuzzification of the input
variables, application of the fuzzy operator (AND or OR) in the antecedent, implication from the antecedent to the
consequent, aggregation of the consequents across the rules, and defuzzification.
The linguistic variables for criteria and their corresponded MFs are shown in Figures 9-15. Also, the membership of output
candidate-well selection is illustrated in Figure 16.
Gaussian is a famous fuzzy MF that is often used to represent vague, linguistic terms, which is given by:
( x −ci )2
−
2σ i 2
μ ( x;σ i , ci ) = exp …………………………………………………….……...……………………….………(6)

where ci and σi are the centre and width of the ith FS Ai, respectively.

Z-shaped and S-shaped built-in MF were other types of functions that utilized to build the MFs in this paper. These spline-
based functions of x are so named because of their Z-shape and S-shape. The parameters a and b locate the extremes of the
sloped portion of the curve as given by (7) and (8) respectivelly:

⎧ 1, x≤a
⎪ 2
⎪1 − 2⎛ x − a ⎞ , a ≤ x ≤ a + b
⎪⎪ ⎜ ⎟
⎝b−a⎠ 2
f ( x; a , b ) = ⎨ 2
⎪ ⎛ x−b⎞ a+b
⎪ 2⎜⎝ b − a ⎟⎠ , ≤ x≤b
2 ………………………………………………………………………..(7)
⎪
⎪⎩ 0, x≥b
SPE 153200 9

⎧ 0, x≤a
⎪ 2
⎪ 2⎛ x − a ⎞ , a ≤ x ≤ a + b
⎪⎪ ⎜ ⎟
⎝b−a⎠ 2 ……………………………………………………………………..(8)
f ( x; a , b ) = ⎨ 2
⎪ ⎛ x−b⎞ a+b
⎪1 − 2⎜⎝ b − a ⎟⎠ , 2
≤ x≤b
⎪
⎪⎩ 1, x≥b
According to Expert's opinions and presented MFs for every input variables and the single output, (9) and (10) demonstrate
two of the applied multiple antecedents and single consequences in the proposed Fuzzy system. It is mentionable that the
entire input criterion has been related with AND function.

IF (Permeability is Very Low) AND (Skin is High) AND (Net Pay Thickness is High) AND (Formation Pressure is High)
AND (Production Rate is High) AND (Porosity is Very Low) AND (Water Saturation is Low) THEN (Candidate-well is
Excellent) ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. (9)

IF (Permeability is High) AND (Skin is Low) AND (Net Pay Thickness is High) AND (Formation Pressure is Medium) AND
(Production Rate is Medium) AND (Porosity is High) AND (Water Saturation is High) THEN (Candidate-well is Not)
…………………………………………………………………………………………..…………………………… (10)

The rule viewer of the Mamdani fuzzy system is shown in Figure 17.

5. Discussion
This paper presents a bottom-up study that begins by introducing the major problems in Iranian carbonate reservoirs, explains
how and why they are complicated and important. As explains afterwards, for the sake of alleviation and/or elimination of the
background problems (Table 1), the consideration of a new strategy for the stimulation of Iranian carbonate reservoirs is very
vital for their future energy demand. Carbonate reservoirs are by far representing a major portion (more than 65%) of the
world's oil reserves. As indicated by Ahlbrandt et al. (2005), primary recovery methods have produced only about one-third
of the world's original oil in place, leaving an estimated 891 billion barrel or more. Thus, they could assume as hot prospects
for future energy demands. Yet they need some individual treatments so that most of the oil can be recovered in the economic
way. Carbonate rocks appear to be more oil-wet than water-wet, resulting in low ultimate recovery, Furthermore, the
presence of fractures affects the dynamics of fluids in the media and adds new challenges to the fluid flow problems.
Actually, these questions were not intended to pursue as the main objectives in this study, because the focus of this study is
on developing an advanced HF candidate-well selection procedure. The impetus behind further literatural research with the
problems is to highlight the needs for HF in carbonate reservoirs. The reader can consult the related topics from
Zoveidavianpoor et al. (2011a) and Zoveidavianpoor et al. (2010).
HF has proven its value for improving the productivity, and there is a significant and increasing body of evidence in diverse
situations and shows the capability in prevention and removal of any type of formation damage (Bale et al., 2001; Leontaritis
et al., 1994; Jennings, 1991; Veatch and Moschovidis, 1989), its role to reduce water cut (Liu et al., 2010), and improvement
in hydrocarbon recovery (Daneshy, 2010) in carbonated reservoirs. Vega et al. (1997) and Ortega et al. (1996) stated that HF
had simultaneously defeated three main interrelated problems such as low permeability, sand production, and asphaltene
plugs in carbonate reservoirs. The needs for HF in Iranian reservoirs had addressed by Zoveidavianpoor et al. (2011a).
In order to successfully performing the replacement stimulation method, the selection of the first well through well-defined
methodology is of particular importance. Indeed, accurate candidate-well selection for HF treatment not only saves money
and time but also will establish this technology as a proper replacement stimulation method in carbonate reservoirs. So, the
need for accurate candidate-well selection to eliminate possible failures becomes very important.
Determining whether a well or a formation is a proper candidate for HF treatment is respected as a difficult task. This
complexity does continue when several stimulation candidate wells have been recognized; how the best candidate well could
be identified among those selected wells? In other words, how the candidate-wells could be ranked based on their
desirability? Actually ranking itself is inherently associated with difficulty since each situation is not the same.
There are different approaches to find out if a well or formation is a good HF candidate. The early efforts use fracture
propagation models, reservoir performance models, and economic models. Cost and time ate two major challenges of the
mentioned mathematical models, which mainly utilized by experts. Also, the accuracy of input parameters plays critical role
in the certainty of the solution. Frankly, not only the accuracy but also lack of sufficient data makes decision making to
associate with complication and vagueness.
10 SPE 153200

The main point that should be concentrated on is selection a target well and formation for HF treatment is still associated
with inaccuracy because of uncertain (fuzzy) nature of data and information. This problem comes from several reasons
including incomplete data, handwriting error, different types of data formats, device error, etc. In addition, choosing a target
formation(s) among a vast numbers of zones/sub-layers within huge numbers of hydrocarbon producing wells in a reservoir
is considered a difficult task, particularly if the selection goes through a group of parameters having different attributes and
features; such as geological aspect, reservoir and fluid characteristics, production details, etc. Thus, to improve the quality of
data and execution time, for example in a reservoir with huge amount of data to process, there is a need to manage
uncertainty of data to be able to extract desired data and proper decision-making. Consequently, handling uncertainty and
process the data required intelligent methods with knowledge based approaches. The trend of candidate-well selection
process for HF treatment had recognized to be complex, nonlinear, un-equilibrium, and adherent with ambiguity and
uncertainty. FL has proven well its versatility and broad potential in academic/industrial communities to handle a vague,
uncertain data and especially to incorporate and simulate human expert knowledge.
A Mamdani fuzzy knowledge-base system is a fuzzy logic rule-based system (FRBS) has been applied/developed in this
study in order to choose and rank the target wells/formations. The structure of the proposed system is shown in Figure 8. The
advantage of this system is that its simple and could be easily utilized by Matlab Fuzzy Logic Toolbox. In developing and
representing the domain knowledge, the following methodology has been adopted: (a) identify the variables or parameters of
interest, (b) determine the indicators (FSs) of the variables of interest, (c) establish scales for each FS and the variables of
interest, (d) establish the rules, and (e) survey experts to provide consequents for the rules.
Seven variables had been selected as the criteria for predicting and/or ranking the wells. The most important parameters were
permeability, skin factore, water cut, and porosity. The qualitative importance of the selected criteria (Fuzzy variables) had
been taken into account by designing the related FSs for each of them. As shown in Figure 9 through Figure 15, the numbers
of indicators are 4, 4, 3, 3, 3, 4, and 3 that allocated for permeability, skin, net pay thickness, formation pressure, production
rate, and water cut respectively. In contrast to the previous studies (Xiong and Holditch, 1993, Yang, 2009, and Yin and Wu,
2009), no specific weights were allocated for each of the criteria and this disadvantage overwhelmed by the nature of the
Mamdani Fuzzy inference rule base system.
Previous studies such as Xiong and Holditch (1993), Yang (2009), and Yin and Wu (2009), demonstrated that FL is a
promising tool that can be used for stimulation candidate-well selection. Xiong and Holitch (1993) used a FL evaluation
method to select and rank candidate wells for different stimulation treatments such as hydraulic fracturing, acid fracturing,
and matrix acidizing. They called their method "fuzzy expert system", which selects a candidate well based on nine fuzzy
variables. Yang (2009) determined and analyzed the factors influencing the effect of oil well fracturing. He called his model a
"fuzzy mathematics model" to choose target well and formation for HF from twelve factors (fuzzy variables). In the third
study, Yin and Wu (2009) analyzed quantitatively the main factors of influencing the fracturing effects, gives the relation
between fracturing effects and the parameters, and divides the grade intervals of each influencing factor quantitatively, then
establishes fuzzy judging mathematical model of choosing fracturing well. Table 6 shows the fuzzy system application in the
mentioned studies in candidate-well selection. The major steps toward establishing the fuzzy system in each of the study are
presented in Table 6.
The nature of candidate-well selection is non-linear because it consists of several input parameters, which are qualitatively
and quantitatively different with each other. This is the privilege of FS theory that enables a convenient framework to
combine and analyze these data even independently of their source or characteristics. There are some problems associated
with the current fuzzy systems applied in the field of candidate-well selection. The first problem is the structure identification
of the relation R that links the inputs to the output. In fuzzy system modeling, the structure represented by means of fuzzy if–
then rules. None of mentioned literatures had shown or even discussed the rule base section of their created FL system. This
important step correlated to weighting factor, which is different in all proposed methods. As could be seen from Table 7,
there are noticeable differences between their allocated weighing factors, which could finally affect the candidate-well
selection process result. Gaussian fuzzy MFs are quite popular in the FL literature, as they are the basis for the all literature in
HF candidate-well selection. Consider a FS (very low, low, medium, high, and very high) for a fuzzy variable such as
porosity. As can be seen from Table 7, different boundaries were associated with it. It worth to note that this difference is in
some way is logical, because the nature and characteristics of reservoir are dissimilar from region to region. Therefore, it's
clear that there are uncertainties and we need a model to capture them. Secondly, this heterogeneity in the relative importance
of the fuzzy variable, which makes the weighting factor, is not the only noticeable problem. The number of the variables is
different in each work; 9, 12, and 7 for Xiong, Yang, and Yin & Wu respectively. This may be justify, because the structure
of the fuzzy if–then rules, is determined a priori subjectively from other sources such as experts’ knowledge. However, these
rules varied among the experts and even for the same expert at different times. Third, by applying inaccurate rules and
incorrect functions, the achievement will be possible imprecise conclusions. For example, ignoring the effects of fluidity in
the system (Yin and Wu, 2009), low weight and priority for skin factor (Yang, 2009), and participation a variable such as
wellbore condition in the system, which could be affect the system results in a mature filed by decreasing the number of
selected parameters (Xiong and Holditch, 1993). Finally, as it is obvious in Table 6, the basic steps of the proposed works are
SPE 153200 11

all similar and in contrast with the current development in FL system, the literature in candidate-well selection has not
experienced a considerable progress.
By reviewing both successful and unsuccessful results of fracturing treatments, Jenning (1991) and Parrot (1979) showed that
better wells make better fracture stimulation candidate. Indeed, various investigations confirmed that good wells (with high
deliverability) have highest potential to be the best candidates (Green et al., 2006; Husen et al., 2003; Sencenbaugh et al.,
2001; Jenning, 2000; Reeves et al., 2000; Ely et al., 2000; Reeves et al., 1999; Smith and Hannah, 1996; Reese, 1994; Branch
and Drennan, 1991; Niemeyer and Reinart, 1986). A review of the outputs of the selected/ranked wells in this study are
shown in order as depicted in Table 5, gives us the result that the wells Numbers 35, 60, 59, and 63 are excellent candidate-
wells; wells Numbers 14, 64, 34, 24, 14, 15, 48, 25, and 46 are good candidates; wells Numbers 56, 41, 29, and 65 are
possible candidates; and wells Numbers 36, 37, 43, 50, and 62 are not considered candidate.

6. Conclusion
1- HF is the most effective stimulation treatment in carbonate reservoirs
2- Candidate-well selection is a vital part of HF, which has to be conducted by a rigorous and proper methodology. Artificial
Intelligent methods such as FL gained wide acceptance in academic and industry in dealing with modelling inference under
imprecision.
3- In this paper, the Mamdani Fuzzy system model is trained and tested with a case study in an Iranian carbonate reservoir.
The proposed model is used to accurately predict and rank twenty one wells against seven criteria. The results of the model
were reasonable based on the fact that good wells are good candidates for fracturing.
4- The proposed system could provide outcomes to assist in selecting and ranking candidate wells for HF treatment

Acknowledgment
The authors of this chapter would like to express their gratitude to University Teknologi Malaysia and Petroleum University of Technology
due to their supports during this study.

References
Abass, H. H., Al-Mulhem, A. A., Alqam, M. S. and Mirajuddin, K. R. (2006). Acid Fracturing or Proppant Fracturing in
Carbonate Formation? A Rock Mechanic’s View. Paper SPE 102590 presented at the 2006 SPE Annual Technical
Conference and Exhibition. 24-27 September. San Antonio, Texas, USA.
Aguilar-Razo, R. (2000). Propped Fracturing in Gas Carbonate Formations in Mexico. Paper SPE 58987 presented at the SPE
International Petroleum Conference and Exhibition. 1-3 February. Villahermosa, Mexico.
Ahlbrandt, T. S., Charpentier, R. R., Klett, T. R., Schmoker, J. W., Schenk, C. J. and Ulmishek, G. F. (2005). Global
Resource Estimates from Total Petroleum Systems (AAPG Memoir). (1st ed.). USA. American Association of
Petroleum Geologists, USA. 325 pages.
Alipour, M. and Bohluli, B. (2010). Geomechanic in Petroleum Engineering: Applications, Hydraulic Fracturing and
Geomechanical Modeling. NIOC Journal of Exploration & Production. 86, 27-29.
Bailey, D. E. (1984). Sand Fracturing vs. Fracture Acidizing. Western Oil Reporter. 41(2); 51-52.
Bailey, D. E. and Wickham, J. F. (1984). Sand Fracturing vs. Fracture Acidizing. Paper SPE 12898 presented at the SPE
Rocky Mountain Regional Meeting. 21-23 May. Casper, Wyoming, USA.
Bale, A., Larsen, L., Barton, D. T. and Buchanan, A. (2001). Propped Fracturing as a Tool for Prevention and Removal of
Formation Damage. Paper SPE 68913 presented at the SPE European Formation Damage Conference. 21-22 May.
The Hague, Netherlands.
Borgia, G. C., Bortolotti, V. and Fantazzini, P. (1998). Combined Magnetic Resonance Relaxation and Imaging for
Quantitative Determination of Matrix and Vugular Porosity in Carbonate Cores. Paper SPE-49294 presented at the
SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition. 27-30 September. New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
Branch, G. A. and Drennam, K. M. (1991). Refracture Stimulations in the Norge Marchand Unit: A Case Study. Paper SPE
21642 presented at the SPE Production Operations Symposium. 7-9 April. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA.
Brown, K. G., Frantz, J. H., Sawyer, W. K. and Heckman, G. C. (2003). Assessment of Remediation Treatments in
Underground Gas Storage Wells. Paper SPE 84393 presented at the SPE Annual Technical Conference and
Exhibition. 5-8 October. Denver, USA.
Bulnes, A. C. and Fitting, R. U. Jr. (1945). An Introductory Discussion of the Reservoir Performance of Limestone
formations. Trans. AIME. 160, 179 – 201.
Burnstad, R. G., Martin, A. N., Stemberger, D. J. and Purwanto, B. (2004). A Case Study of a Mature Field Redevelopment
Using Propped Hydraulic Fracturing. Paper SPE 88604 presented at the SPE Asia Pacific Oil and Gas Conference.
18-20 October. Perth, Australia.
Chilingar, G. V. and Yen T. F. (1983). Some Notes on Wettability and Relative Permeability of Carbonate Reservoir Rocks,
II. Ener. Sour. 7(1), 67-75.
12 SPE 153200

Chilingar, G. V. Mazzullo, S. J. and Rieke, H. H. (1996). Carbonate Reservoir Characterization: A Geologic, Engineering
Analysis Part II, Elsevier Science B.V. Netherlands.
Chung, T. H. Carroll, H. B. and Lindsey, R. (1995) Application of Fuzzy Expert Systems for EOR Project Risk Analysis.
Paper SPE 30741 presented at the SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition. 22-25 October. Dallas, Texas,
USA.
Conway, M. W., McMechan, D. E., McGowen, J. M., Brown, D., Chisholm, P. T. and Venditto, J. J. (1985). Expanding
Recoverable Reserves through Refracturing. Paper SPE 14376 presented at the SPE Annual Technical Conference and
Exhibition. 22-25 September. Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
Cook, C.C. and Brekke, K. (2002). Productivity Preservation via Hydraulic Propped Fractures in the Eldfisk North Sea Chalk
Field. Paper SPE 73725 presented at the SPE Symposium on Formation Damage. 20-21 February. Lafayette,
Louisiana, USA.
Cuddy, S. (1997). The Application of the Mathematics of Fuzzy Logic to Petrophysics. Paper 1997-S presented at the
SPWLA 38th Annual Logging Symposium.
Daneshy, A. (2010). Hydraulic Fracturing to Improve Production. The Way Ahead: Tech 101. 6(3), 14-17.
East, L. and Craig, D. (2006). Refracs Reverse Production Dips: Single- and Multiple-zone Wells Wee Output Gains after
Refracturing. E&P Magazine. 79(11), 45-47.
Economides, M. J. and Martin, T. (2007). Modern Fracturing: Enhancing Natural Gas Production. ( 1st ed.). ET Publication:
Huston.
Ehrenberg, S. N. and Nadeau, P. H. (2005). Sandstone vs. Carbonate Petroleum Reservoirs: A Global Perspective on
Porosity-depth and Porosity-permeability Relationships. AAPG Bulletin. 89(4), 435–445.
Ely, J. W., Rothenberg, M., Krupa, A., McDougal, F., Conway, M. and Reeves, S. (2000). Restimulation Program Finds
Success in Enhancing Recoverable Reserves. Paper SPE 63241 presented at the SPE Annual Technical Conference
and Exhibition, 1-4 October. Dallas, USA.
Emrich, E., Shaw, D., Reasoner, S. and Ponto, D. (2001). Codell Restimulation Evolve to 200% Rate of Return. Paper SPE
67211 presented at the SPE Production and Operations Symposium. 24-27 March. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA.
EPA (2004). Department of Energy - Hydraulic Fracturing White Paper, Appendix A. EPA 816-R-04-003.
Esfahani M. R., Kazemzadeh E. A., Hashemi S. M. and Karimaie H. (2007). Determination of Wettability of Iranian
Carbonate Reservoir Rocks in Restored-State. JUST. 33(1), 1-9.
Farhadinia, M. A., Chen, P., Delshad, M., Mohanty, K. K. and Rodriguez, F. G. (2011). A Systematic Study of Oil Recovery
Mechanisms from a Fractured and Vuggy Carbonate Reservoir. Paper SPE 147317 prepared at the SPE Annual
Technical Conference and Exhibition. 30 October–2 November. Colorado, Denver, USA.
Flores, D. Q. (2009). Finding Additional Resources in a Mature Field: Refracturing Engineering Workflow for a Successful
Campaign in Vicksburg Basin, South Texas. Abstract SPE 125260 presented at the SPE Tight Gas Completions
Conference. 16-17 June. San Antonio, Texas, USA.
Fredd, C. N., McConnell, S. B. Boney, C. L. and England, K. W. (2000). Experimental Study of Hydraulic Fracture
Conductivity Demonstrates the Benefits of Using Proppants. Paper SPE 60326 presented at the SPE Rocky Mountain
Regional Conference. 12-15 March. Denver, Colorado, USA.
Galloway, W. E. Ewing, T. E. Garrett, C. M. Jr. Tyler, N. and Bebout, D. G. (1983). Atlas of Major Texas Oil Reservoirs.
Bur. Econ. Geol. Spec. Publ., Univ. Texas, Austin, TX. 139 pp.
Garrouch, A. A. Lababidi, H. M. S. (2003). Using Fuzzy Logic for UBD Candidate Selection. Paper IADC/SPE 81644
presented at the IADC/SPE Underbalanced Technology Conference and Exhibition. 25-26 March 2003. Houston,
Texas, USA.
Garrouch, A. A. Lababidi, H. M. S. and Ebrahim, A. S. (2004). A Fuzzy Expert System for the Completion of Multilateral
Wells. Paper IADC/SPE 87963 presented at the IADC/SPE Asia Pacific Drilling Technology Conference and
Exhibition. 13-15 September. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Gidley, J. L., Holditch, S. A., Nierode, D. E., and Veatch, R. W. Jnr. (1989). Recent Advances in Hydraulic Fracturing. SPE
Monograph, vol. 12:1-38. Richardson, TX.
Green, D., Seanard, K. and Martin, A. N. (2006). Hydraulic Fracturing of Miocene and Oligocene Sandstones in the Taranaki
Basin, New Zealand. Paper SPE 101121 presented at the SPE Asia Pacific Oil & Gas Conference and Exhibition. 11-
13 September. Adelaide, Australia.
Guoyness, J., Squire, K., Blauch, M., Yeager, V., Yater, J., Wallace, R., Frame, R. and Clark, R. (2000). Optimizing
Deliverability in Five Gas-Storage Reservoirs- Case Studies. Paper SPE 65636 presented at the SPE Eastern Regional
Meeting. 17-19 October. Morganton, West Virginia, USA.
Hamdi-Cherif, A. (2010). Type-2 Fuzzy Control for Bioinformatics – A Systems Approach. International Journal of
Computer Science and Network Security. 10(7), 69-75.
Horikawa, S., Furahashi, T. and Uchikawa, Y. (1992). On Fuzzy Modeling Using Fuzzy Neural Networks with Back-
propagation Algorithm. IEEE Trans. on Neural Networks. 3, 801–806.
Husen, A., Hosein, P., Ezzat, A. and Mahmoud, K. (2003). Hydraulic Fracturing the Best Producer - A Myth? Paper SPE
81543 presented at the 13th Middle East Oil Show and Conference. 9-12 June. Bahrain.
International Outlook: World Trends. (2003). World Oil. 224(8), 23-25.
SPE 153200 13

Jang, J. R., Sun, C. T. and Mizutani, E. (1997). Neuro-Fuzzy and Soft Computing. A Computational Approach to Learning
and Machine Intelligence. Prentice-Hall: Englewood Cliffs. 614 pp
Jang, J.R. (1992). Self-learning Fuzzy Controllers Based on Temporal Back-propagation. IEEE Trans. on Neural Networks.
3, 714–723.
Jennings, A. R. (1991). Goods Wells Make the Best Candidates for Well Stimulation. SPE Production Engineering. 6(4),
371-376.
Jennings, A.R. (2000). Strategic Well Stimulation: A Key to Reservoir Management. Journal of Petroleum Technology.
52(3), 62.
JPT (2006). Refracturing in Low-Permeability Reservoirs. JPT Online 58 (3): Techbits, hhtp://www.spe.org/spe-
app/spe/jpt/2006/03/techbits_refracturing.html.
Kalfayan, L. J. (2007). Fracture Acidizing: History, Present State, and Future. Paper SPE 106371 presented at the SPE
Hydraulic Fracturing Technology Conference. 29-31 January. College Station, Texas, USA.
Khademi Hamidi, J., Shahriar, K., Rezai, B. and Bejari, H. (2010). Application of Fuzzy Set Theory to Rock Engineering
Classification Systems: An Illustration of the Rock Mass Excavability Index. Rock Mech Rock Eng. 43, 335-350.
Leontaritis, K. J., Amaefule, J. O. and Charles, R. E. (1994). A Systematic Approach for the Prevention and Treatment of
Formation Damage Caused by Asphaltene Deposition. SPE Production & Facilities. 9(3): 157-164.
Li, X., Zhao, Z., Ma, X., Wang, X. and Zhou, H. (2006). Case Studies of Tight-Gas Carbonate Reservoir Stimulation: Acid
Fracturing vs. Propped Fracturing paper SPE 102276 presented at the SPE Annual Technical Conference and
Exhibition. 24-27 September. San Antonio, Texas, USA.
Lucia, F. J. (1999). Carbonate Reservoir Characterization: New York, Springer-Verlag, 226 p.
Malik, K., Mohaghegh, S. and Gaskari, R. (2006). An Intelligent Portfolio-Management Approach to Gas Storage Field
Deliverability Maintenance and Enhancement: Part One- Database Development and Model Building. Paper SPE
104571 presented at the SPE Eastern Regional Meeting. 11-13 October. Canton, Ohio, USA.
Manrique, E. J., Muci, V. E., Gurfinkel, M.E. (2007). EOR Field Experiences in Carbonate Reservoirs in the United States.
SPE Reservoir Evaluation & Engineering. 10(6), 667-686.
Martin, A. N. and Rylance, M. (2010). Hydraulic Fracturing Makes the Difference: New Life for Old Fields. Paper SPE
127743 presented at the North Africa Technical Conference and Exhibition. 14-17 February. Cairo, Egypt.
McMillan, D.J. and Suffron, R.D. (1994). Innovative Refracturing Program Produces Economic and Technical Success in
Foothills Cardium Formation. Paper CIM 95-44 presented at the Annual Technical Meeting. 7-9 Jun. Calgary, Alberta,
Canada.
Mohaghegh, S. D. (2005). Recent Developments in Application of Artificial Intelligence in Petroleum Engineering. Journal
of Petroleum Technology. 57(4), 86-91.
Mohaghegh, S. Reeves, S. and Hill, D. (2000). Development of an Intelligent System Approach for Restimulation Candidate
Selection. Paper SPE 59767 presented at the SPE/CERI Gas Technology Symposium, 3-5 April. Calgary, Canada.
Moore, L. P. and Ramakrishnan, H. (2006). Restimulation: Candidate Selection Methodologies and Treatment Optimization.
Paper SPE 102681 presented at the SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition. 24-27 September. San Antonio,
Texas, USA.
Moore, L. P. and Ramakrishnan, H. (2006). Restimulation: Candidate Selection Methodologies and Treatment Optimization.
Paper SPE 102681 presented at the SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition. 24-27 September. San Antonio,
Texas, USA.
Navarre, R. C., Miller, M. J. and Gordon, J. E. (1998). Laboratory and Theoretical Studies for Acid Fracture Stimulation
Optimization. Paper SPE 39776 presented at the Permian Basin Oil & Gas Recovery. 23-26 March. Midland, Texas,
USA.
Niemeyer, B. L. and Reinart, M. R. (1986). Hydraulic Fracturing of a Moderate Permeability Reservoir, Kuparuk River Unit.
Paper SPE 15507 presented at the SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition. October 5-8. New Orleans,
Louisiana, USA.
Nierode, D. E. and Williams, B. B. (1971). Characteristics of Acid Reactions in Limestone Formation. SPE Journal. 11(4),
406-418.
Nierode, D. E., Williams, B. B. and Bombardieri, C. C. (1972). Prediction of Stimulation from Acid Fracturing Treatment.
Journal of Canadian Petroleum Technology. 11(4), 31-41.
Oberwinkler, C. and Economides, M. (2003). The Definite Identification of Candidate Wells for Refracturing. Paper SPE
84211 presented at the SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition. 5-8 October 2003. Denver, Colorado, USA.
Oberwinkler, C., Rythammer, G., Zabgl, G. and Economides, M. J. (2004). New Tools for Fracture Design Optimization.
Paper SPE 86467 presented at the SPE International Symposium and Exhibition on Formation Damage Control. 18-
20 February. Lafayette, Louisiana, USA.
Olson, K.E., Olsen, E. Haidar, S., Boulatsel, A., Brekke, K. (2003). Valhall Field: Horizontal Well Stimulations "Acid vs.
Proppant" and Best Practices for Fracture Optimization, paper SPE 84392 presented at the SPE Annual Technical
Conference and Exhibition. 5-8 October. Denver, Colorado, USA.
14 SPE 153200

Olson, K.E., Olsen, E. Haidar, S., Boulatsel, A., Brekke, K. (2003). Valhall Field: Horizontal Well Stimulations "Acid vs.
Proppant" and Best Practices for Fracture Optimization, paper SPE 84392 presented at the SPE Annual Technical
Conference and Exhibition. 5-8 October. Denver, Colorado, USA.
Ortega, L., Brito, L. and Ben-Naveur, K. (1996). Hydraulic Fracturing for Control of Sand Production and Asphaltene
Deposition in Deep Hot Wells. Paper SPE 36461 presented at the SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition.
6-9 October. Denver, Colorado, USA.
Parrot, D. I. and Long, M. G. (1979). A Case History of Massive Hydraulic Refracturing in the Tight Muddy 'J' Formation.
Paper SPE 7936 presented at the Symposium on Low Permeability Gas Reservoirs. 20-22 May. Denver, Colorado,
USA.
Portier, S., André, L. and Vuataz, F. D. (2007). Enhanced Geothermal Innovative Network for Europe. Work Package 4:
Drilling, stimulation and reservoir assessment. Technical report prepared for Deep Heat Mining Association –
DHMA, Switzerland.
Portier, S., André, L. and Vuataz, F. D. (2007). Enhanced Geothermal Innovative Network for Europe. Work Package 4:
Drilling, stimulation and reservoir assessment. Technical report prepared for Deep Heat Mining Association –
DHMA, Switzerland.
Pujiastuti, S., Wijayanti, E., Nugroho, H. S., Istono, N., Wijaya, R., Komalasari, N. (2010). Proppant Hydraulic Fracturing in
Low Permeability and Low Acid-Soluble Carbonate Reservoir: A Case History. Paper SPE 130518 presented at the
SPE EUROPEC/EAGE Annual Conference and Exhibition. 14-17 June. Barcelona, Spain.
Rajappa, B., Brown, D. L., and Lytle, D. M. (2009). Paradigm Change: Propped Fracture Treatments in the Lower Green
River Formation of the Altamont-Bluebell Field, Utah. Paper SPE 123526 presented at the SPE Rocky Mountain
Petroleum Technology Conference. 14-16 April. Denver, USA.
Reese, J. L., Britt, L. K. and Jones, J. R. (1994). Selecting Economic Refracturing Candidates. Paper SPE 28490 presented at
the SPE 69th Annual Conference and Exhibition held in New Orleans. 25-28 September. LA, USA.
Reeves, S. R., Bastian, P. A., Spivey, J. P., Flumerfelt, R. W., Mohaghegh, S. and Koperna, G. J. (2000). Benchmarking of
Restimulation Candidate Selection Techniques in Layered, Tight Gas Sand Formations Using Reservoir Stimulation.
Paper SPE 63096 presented at the SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition. 1-4 October. Dallas, Texas,
USA.
Reeves, S. R., Hill, D. G., Hopkins, C. W., Conway, M. W., Tiner, R. L. and Mohaghegh, S. (1999). Restimulation
Technology for Tight Gas Sand Wells. Paper SPE 57492 presented at the SPE Annual Technical Conference and
Exhibition. 3-6 October. Houston, Texas, USA.
Roberts, L. C. and Guin, J. A. (1975). A New Method for Predicting Acid Penetration Distance. SPE Journal. 15(4), 277-
286.
Scholle, P. A. and Ulmer-Scholle, D. S. (2003). A Color Guide to the Petrography of Carbonate Rocks: Grains, Textures,
Porosity, Digenesis (AAPG Memoir). (Illustrated ed.). American Association of Petroleum Geologists. Auflage, Tulsa
Ok, USA.
Sencenbaugh, R. N., Lytle, D. M., Birmingham, T. J., Simmons, J. C. and Shaefer, M. T. (2001). Restimulation Tight Gas
Sand: Case Study of the Codell Formation. Paper SPE 71045 presented at the SPE Rocky Mountain Petroleum
Technology Conference. 21-23 May. Keystone, Colorado, USA.
Shadizadeh, S. R. Zoveidavianpoor M. (2010). Study Reviews Iran, World Well Cementing Practices. Oil & Gas Journal.
108(22), 43-51.
Shelley, R. F. (1999). Artificial Neural Networks Identify Restimulation Candidates in the Red Oak Field. Paper SPE 52190
presented at the SPE Mid-Continent Operations Symposium. 28-31 March. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA.
Smith, M. B. and Hannah, R. R. (1996). High Permeability Fracturing: The Evolution of a Technology. Journal of Petroleum
Technology. 48(7), 628-633.
Tannich, J.D. and Nierode, D. E. (1986). The Effect of Vertical Fractures on Gas Well Productivity. Paper SPE 15902. pp 9.
Treiber L. E., Archer D. L. and Owens W. W. (1972). A Laboratory Evaluation of the Wettability of Fifty oil Producing
Reservoirs. SPE Journal. 12(6), 531-540.
Tucker, M. E. and Wright, V. P. (1990). Carbonate Sedimentology: Blackwell Scientific Publications, London, 482p.
Ulmishek, G. and Harrison, W. (1984). Quantitative Methods for Assessment of Petroleum Resources of Poorly Known
Basins. In: C.D. Masters (Editor), Petroleum Resource Assessment, pp. 80- 94. Internat. Union Geol. Sci., Publ. No.
17, Ottawa, Canada, 157 pp.
US Energy Information Administration (2007). Iran Oil, Country Analysis Briefs.
http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/Iran/Oil.html
Walker, R. N., Hunter, J. L., Brake, A. C., Fagin, P. A. and Steinsberger, N. (1998). Proppants, We Still Don’t Need No
Proppants – A Perspective of Several Operators. Paper SPE 49106 presented at the SPE Annual Conference. 27-30
September. New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
Veatch, Jr. R. W. Moschovidis, Z. A. (1989). An Overview of Recent Advances in Hydraulic Fracturing Technology. Paper
SPE 14085 presented at the International Meeting on Petroleum Engineering. 17-20 March. Beijing, China.
SPE 153200 15

Vega, G., Negron-Perez, E. and Abass, H. (1997). Hydraulic Fracturing Hot, High Pressure Oil and Gas Wells in
Tectonically Active Fields in Eastern Venezuela. Paper SPE 38991 presented at the Latin American and Caribbean
Petroleum Engineering Conference. 30 August-3 September. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Vincent, M. C. (2001). Restimulation of Unconventional Reservoirs: When Are Refracs Beneficial? Journal of Canadian
Petroleum Technology. 50(5), 36-59.
Wang, L. X. and Mendel, J. M. (1992). Fuzzy Basis Functions, Universal Approximation, and Orthogonal Least-squares
Learning. IEEE Trans. on Neural Networks. 3, 807–813.
Wang, Y., Zhang, F., Cheng, X., Peng, J., Li, Y. and Li, S. (2006). A Case Study: Re-fracturing of High Temperature Deep
Well in Carbonate Reservoir. Paper SPE 106353 presented at the SPE Technical Symposium of Saudi Arabia. 21-23
May. Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.
White, D. A. (1980). Assessing Oil and Gas Plays in Facies-cycle Wedges. Bull. Am. Assoc. Petrol. Geologists. 64(8), 1158-
1178.
Xiong, H. Holditch, S. A. (1995). An Investigation the Application of Fuzzy Logic to Well Application Treatment Design.
SPE Computer Applications. 7(1), 18-24.
Xiong, H. Rahim, Z. Holditch, S. A. (1999). Using Stimulation Expert System to Design Hydraulic Fracturing Treatments -
Field Examples. Paper SPE 52223 presented at the SPE Mid-Continent Operations Symposium. 28-31 March.
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA..
Xiong, H., Rahim, Z., Holditch, S. A. and Lancaster, D. E. (1996). A New Approach to Develop Petroleum Engineering
Software. Paper SPE 36000 presented at the Petroleum Computer Conference. 2-5 June. Dallas, Texas, USA..
Yang, E. (2009). Selection of Target Wells and Layers for Fracturing with Fuzzy Mathematics Method. Paper presented at
the Sixth International Conference on Fuzzy Systems and Knowledge Discovery. 366-369.
Yin, D. Wu, T. (2009). Optimizing Well for Fracturing by Fuzzy Analysis Method of Applying Computer. Paper presented at
the 1st International Conference on Information Science and Engineering (ICISE). 286-290.
Yongping, L., Yonghui, W., Xingsheng, C., Mingguang, C., Fuxiang, Z. and Jianxin, P. (2009). Propped Fracturing in High
Temperature Deep Carbonate Formation. Paper SPE 118858 presented at the SPE Hydraulic Fracturing Technology
Conference, 19-21 January. The Woodlands, Texas, USA..
Zadeh, L. A. (1965). Fuzzy Sets. Information and Control. 8, 338-353.
Zadeh, L. A. (1992). Fuzzy Logic, Neural Networks, and Soft Computing. One-page course announcement of CS 294-4. The
University of California at Berkeley.
Zadeh, L. A. (2006). Generalized Theory of Uncertainty (GTU) Principal Concepts and Ideas. Comput Stat Data Anal. 51,
15-46.
Zadeh, L. A. (2008). Is there a Need for Fuzzy Logic? Information Sciences. 178, 2751-2779.
Zoveidavianpoor, M. Shadizadeh, S. R. and Mombeini, S. (2010). Evaluation and Improvement of Well Stimulation by
Matrix Acidizing in one of the Southern Iranian Oilfields. Petroleum Research. 20(62), 94-106.
Zoveidavianpoor, M. Samsuri, A. and Shadizadeh, S. R. (2011a). The Needs for Hydraulic Fracturing in Iranian Carbonate
Oilfields: Acid or Propped Fracture? Presented at the First National Conference of Novel Technologies in Oil & Gas
Industries. 3-4 March IAU, Iran.
Zoveidavianpoor, M. Samsuri, A. and Shadizadeh, S. R. (2011b). Leakoff Test in Oil and Gas Drilling Operation: Important
and Conventional But Abandoned In Iran. Presented at the First National Conference of Novel Technologies in Oil &
Gas Industries. 3-4 March. IAU, Iran.
Zoveidavianpoor, M. Samsuri, A. and Shadizadeh, S. R. (2012). A Review on Conventional Candidate-well Selection for
Hydraulic Fracturing in Oil and Gas Wells. International Journal of Engineering and Technology 2(1), 51-60.
16 SPE 153200

Table 1: Classification of the problems associated in carbonate fields in Iran

Problem Description

Depletion
Low recovery factor
Low permeability
General
Natural fractures
High capillary pressure
Oil-wet formation
Current Stimulation method
Special Induced asphaltene precipitation
Stimulation fluids
Previous Failure HF operation

Table 2: Acid and proppant fracturing comparison (Zoveidavianpoor et al., 2011a)

SPE 153200 17

Figure 1: The HF triangle success

Figure 2: Fuzzy MF

Figure 3: MFs for temperature (Xiong and Holditch, 1993).

18 SPE 153200

Figure 4: MFs for skin factor for stimulation candidate selection (Xiong and Holditch, 1993).

Figure 5: MF for fuzzy set A∩B realized by function min (μA, μB)
SPE 153200 19

Table 3: The major function used in FLS

20 SPE 153200

Figure 6: A typical FLS

Table 4: The standard operation in FLS

Figure 7: The Analytic Hierarchy model of twenty one wells with seven criteria
SPE 153200 21

Figure 8: Mamdani Fuzzy inference system

Figure 9: Permeability MF Figure 10: Skin MF

Figure 12: Formation pressure MF

Figure 11: Net pay thickness MF
22 SPE 153200

Figure 13: Production rate MF Figure 14: Porosity MF

Figure 15: Water Production rate MF Figure 16: Output candidate suitability MF

Figure 17: The rule viewer of the proposed fuzzy system

SPE 153200 23

Table 5: Final ranking result of the fuzzy system

24 SPE 153200

Table 6: Fuzzy system application in the literature regarding candidate-well selection

SPE 153200 25

Table 7: Allocated weighting factor in the literature