Evaluating far field fracture complexity and optimizing fracture design in multi-well pad development

A method for evaluating and optimizing fracture complexity when fracturing a subterranean formation having a plurality of intervals in a sequence along a first primary lateral wellbore and at least one diagnostic lateral wellbore adjacent the first primary lateral wellbore, the method comprising:

• f) fracturing a first interval in the sequence from the first primary lateral wellbore by injecting fracturing fluid from the first primary lateral wellbore to create fractures;
• g) recording fracture hit times, pressures and volumes from the diagnostic lateral wellbore in the interval;
• h) inducing fracture closure in the first interval;
• i) repeating steps a) through c) for at least a subsequent interval;
• and
• j) devising a fracturing treatment design for the subterranean formation to optimize fracture complexity for subsequent lateral wellbores using the recorded fracture hit times, pressures and volumes;
• where a portion of the first primary lateral wellbore and a portion of the at least one diagnostic lateral wellbore are within about 25 to about 2500 feet (about 7.6 to about 762 meters) of each other, and where the first primary lateral wellbore and the at least one diagnostic lateral wellbore comprise respective portions at an angle to each other ranging from about 2° to about 70°.

A method for evaluating and optimizing fracture complexity when fracturing a subterranean formation having a plurality of intervals in a sequence along a first primary lateral wellbore and at least one diagnostic lateral wellbore adjacent the first primary lateral wellbore, the method comprising:

• a) fracturing a first interval in the sequence from the first primary lateral wellbore by injecting fracturing fluid from the first primary lateral wellbore to create fractures;
• b) recording fracture hit times, pressures and volumes from the diagnostic lateral wellbore in the interval;
• c) inducing fracture closure in the first interval;
• d) repeating steps a) through c) for at least a subsequent interval;
• and
• e) devising a fracturing treatment design for the subterranean formation to optimize fracture complexity for subsequent lateral wellbores using the recorded fracture hit times, pressures and volumes.
• where either the first primary lateral wellbore and/or the at least one diagnostic lateral wellbore comprise at least two portions with respect to each other that are at different distances from each other;
• the method further comprising:
• disposing at least one signal generator in the first primary lateral wellbore;
• disposing at least one diagnostic device in the at least one diagnostic lateral wellbore;
• emitting at least one emitted signal between the at least one signal generator and the at least one diagnostic device;
• detecting at least two received signals associated with the at least one emitted signal;
• and
• analyzing the at least two received signals to ascertain complexity of the fracture network of the at least one primary lateral wellbore and/or the subterranean formation.