Real-Time Frac and Production Monitoring for Fracture-Driven Interaction: Summary & Review of Momentum AI’s ‘Top 5 Fracking Misconceptions That Are Costing You More Than You Think’

      Downhole intelligence company Momentum AI says they have identified the following five misconceptions about fracking. The company seems to be focused heavily on interference between wells, known as “frac hits,” or fracture-driven interaction (FDI), and how to avoid and minimize it. Frac hits are more common in some plays than others. The Eagle Ford and Permian, two of the biggest onshore oil plays, have had ongoing problems with frac hits, so much so that it affects well and field production significantly. The company emphasizes the power of AI “to automatically detect, alert, and reduce FDI impact in real-time.”

 

Misconception #1: We Can Wait Months for Feedback - That’s Just How It Works

     Waiting several months for verification or not of well interference between parent and child wells is common but not necessary, they say. Real-time monitoring is possible. They cite a successful Eagle Ford project here. They also claim that waiting months for verification data is costly, referring to it as a “$5 billion waiting game.”

 

Misconception #2: Manual Data Analysis by Expert Engineers Is Necessary

     Here, they emphasize that the path to get from data to insights can be shortened from expensive 24-hour analysis by engineers to AI frac intelligence analysis. They claim they can find patterns in data faster. However, they don’t explain exactly how.

 

Misconception #3: Small Production Improvements Don’t Justify Investment

     Here, they note the sheer financial power of small production improvements. Citing an average Permian Basin well they explain the benefits of a mere 1% production improvement:

“Here’s the math: The average Permian well produces approximately 428,000 barrels over its lifetime. A mere 1% improvement at $75 per barrel equals $320,000 in additional revenue. Per well.”  

     Across a whole drilling program, that 1% production improvement translates to saving millions of dollars. They point out that their frac and production monitoring can reduce fracture-driven interaction (FDI) magnitude on completed frac stages, cut completion time, save money on diesel, and cut flowback costs.

 

Misconception #4: “Gut Feelings and Experience Are Sufficient for Completion Decisions”

     Here, they again address the problem of frac hits, emphasizing that their real-time monitoring and visualization offer the best insights into it.

“We recently showed a completion team real-time visualization of fracture interactions they suspected but could never confirm. When asked if this matched expectations, the engineer responded, “Yes, but we never actually knew it was working until you showed us today.”

 

Misconception #5: “Current Monitoring Solutions Are Adequate”

     Here, they note the expense of monitoring with fibre optic systems or microseismic, and emphasize the analysis provided by sensors collecting data at super-fast speeds and analyzing it with machine learning.

“Most operators already collect pressure data at 1-15 minute intervals, creating a paradox: drowning in data while thirsting for insights. The breakthrough comes from intelligent processing, not more data collection.”

“Modern solutions use ultra-high-frequency sensors sampling at 40,000 times per second, 800x more than traditional systems, processing 5,000-30,000 events per stage through machine learning. A single wellhead sensor provides immediate feedback on whether fracking designs work as intended.”

 

Benefits of Real-Time Frac, Flowback, and Production Monitoring

     They emphasize that real-time monitoring enables real-time optimization. Momentum AI’s products, FDai and FracScore, deal with fracture-driven interaction (FDI), especially as mature fields depressurize.

“As fields mature, depleted pressure zones act like magnets for new fractures, creating Fracture-Driven Interactions that can destroy millions in potential revenue.”

     More benefits of Momentum AI’s Real-Time Frac Monitoring are shown below.

    

 

References:

 

Top 5 Fracking Misconceptions That Are Costing You More Than You Think. Momentum AI. Hart Energy. Top 5 Fracking Misconceptions That Are Costing You More Than You Think - Hart Energy

Optimize Your Operations with Automatic FDI Detection. Momentum AI. Real-Time FDI Detection: Boost Efficiency, Save Costs