Unlocking the full potential of unconventional reservoirs—including shale, tight sands, and carbonates—requires an integrated understanding of fracture behavior, rock mechanics, and well placement precision. Traditional workflows are no longer sufficient for navigating the complexities of these reservoirs.
This Fracture and Unconventional Reservoir training course equips geologists, reservoir engineers, and drilling professionals with practical, field-ready skills in fracture mechanics, in-situ stress analysis, and geosteering strategies—without the need for seismic interpretation or complex numerical modeling software.
Through structured lectures, real-world case studies, and collaborative exercises, participants will learn how to evaluate natural and induced fractures, assess geomechanical risks, and plan horizontal wells aligned with productive fracture networks. Whether working in exploration, development, or production, attendees will gain valuable insights to optimize recovery, improve operational efficiency, and reduce uncertainty in challenging reservoir environments.
This Energy Training Centre training course will highlight:
- Fundamentals of fracture mechanics and rock failure criteria
- Techniques for characterizing fracture networks in shale, tight sands, and carbonate formations
- Assessing the impact of in-situ stress on fracture propagation and wellbore stability
- Application of directional drilling and geosteering to improve reservoir contact
- Practical, actionable insights without reliance on seismic or numerical modeling tools
By the end of this Fracture and Unconventional Reservoir training course, participants will be able to:
- Understand core principles of fracture mechanics and geomechanics in unconventional reservoirs
- Evaluate in-situ stress impacts on drilling and wellbore integrity
- Characterize both natural and induced fracture systems using practical field data
- Apply geosteering strategies to enhance horizontal well placement and productivity
- Assess reservoir performance using low-cost, software-independent methodologies
Participants in this Fracture and Unconventional Reservoir training course will engage in an interactive learning environment that blends theory with practical application. The instructor will use a combination of case studies, group discussions, real-life examples, and guided problem-solving exercises. Visual aids, structured presentations, and collaborative activities will support knowledge retention. These methods are designed to encourage participation, critical thinking, and practical understanding. The training course methodology ensures learners can apply acquired skills directly in their professional roles.
Organizations investing in this training course will benefit from:
- Improved well placement and field development decisions
- Enhanced understanding of fracture networks and reservoir behavior
- Reduced drilling risks through geomechanical awareness and planning
- Increased reservoir contact via strategic geosteering techniques
- Strengthened collaboration between geology, reservoir, and drilling disciplines
- Greater operational efficiency and reduced non-productive time (NPT)
Participants will gain:
- A solid grasp of fracture mechanics and in-situ stress behavior
- Confidence in interpreting fracture data and making real-time drilling decisions
- Practical skills in horizontal well planning and geosteering
- Improved ability to communicate and collaborate across technical teams
- Capability to evaluate reservoir potential without reliance on high-end software
- Enhanced readiness for advanced technical or leadership roles
This Fracture and Unconventional Reservoir training course is ideal for professionals involved in the exploration, development, and production of unconventional reservoirs. It benefits those seeking practical skills in fracture characterization, geomechanics, and horizontal well planning.
This training course is suitable to a wide range of professionals but will greatly benefit:
- Geologists involved in subsurface evaluation and structural interpretation
- Reservoir engineers focused on performance optimization and recovery forecasting
- Drilling engineers planning and executing horizontal and directional wells
- Petrophysicists analyzing rock properties and fracture networks
- Development planners coordinating multi-disciplinary field strategies
- Technical team leaders and advisors supporting unconventional resource development
- Asset and project engineers aiming to reduce uncertainty and maximize ROI
- Early career professionals building expertise in geomechanics and wellbore stability
Training Course Outline
- Introduction to natural fractures in rocks
- Classification: joints, faults, shear, tensile fractures
- Fundamentals of rock stress and failure Fracture geometry: orientation, spacing, aperture
- Indicators: veins, shear zones, breccias
- In-situ stress measurements: breakouts, leak-off, minifrac
- Unconventional reservoir systems: shale, tight gas, fractured carbonates
- Flow mechanisms in dual systems: matrix vs fracture flow
- Pressure support, depletion, and flow compartmentalization Wellbore stability in fractured rocks
- Mud weight windows and collapse risk
- Natural fractures vs induced fractures in wellbores
- Introduction to directional drilling concepts
- Well trajectory types: build, hold, drop
- Horizontal and multilateral wells in fractured settings
