Exploration & Production | Technology | Service & Supply | Oilfield Services

Eco-Stim Wraps Up Fiber Optic Recording of Vaca Muerta Wells

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Eco-Stim Energy Solutions, Inc. has completed the initial fiber optic recording on three of the four wells planned with one of Argentina's largest oil and gas exploration and production companies.

This work relates to a contract signed in 2013 which involves the application of EcoStim's unique field management system. This system is expected to calibrate the Company's predictive 3D seismic modeling generated using its proprietary Geo-Predict^SM technology (which has been utilized on over 350 shale wells in the United States) with real-time flow properties coming from a down-hole fiber optic monitoring system. Fiber optic data has been recorded from several producing wells located in the Vaca Muerta shale formation. The goal of this project is to identify flow property information from wells which have been producing for some time. We believe this data will help our customer better understand the reservoir characteristics and help optimize drilling and completion efforts on future wells.

In any given area, EcoStim builds a predictive model by using its proprietary Geo-Predict processing and interpretation methodology. EcoStim further refines its predictive model by adding local production characteristics, data obtained through core analysis and well logs combined with specific geometric features. These techniques are designed to identify "markers" that exist in the seismic information which indicate high probability production zones or "sweet spots". After obtaining flow property information from the down-hole diagnostic tools and correlating such information with the prediction, the Geo-Iteration^SM process allows the predictive model to improve as more wells are drilled. Over time, this process slowly builds confidence in the Geo-Predict technology which then allows clients to design completion programs based on solid empirical data. This strategy ultimately permits a reduction in completion costs on subsequent wells by targeting well stimulation efforts in "sweet spot" zones which can lower costs without sacrificing production -- while also reducing the operation's environmental footprint.

As EcoStim President and CEO Chris Boswell explains, "EcoStim's management team believe that significant efficiencies can be achieved in unconventional plays through a reduction of completion costs based on the application of technology. We also believe that by combining the latest pressure-pumping and completion techniques with predictive geophysical and flow-property diagnostic tools, our proprietary "field management system" can help drive that process through a tightly bundled service offering -- particularly in new shale plays."

The fiber-optic cable and deployment equipment was shipped from Houston to Neuquen, Argentina in 2013, and field operations are expected to be completed under this contract at the end of this month. Based on the initial results from data recorded, the Company anticipates strong demand for this service in the future.