Our solutions
Simulation solutions to maximize return on investment
Turnkey fracture design and reservoir simulation solutions
Close collaboration
We work closely with clients to align on priorities and support business objectives. We've refined the process over dozens of projects across North and South America.
Understand the why
We don’t just hand you a solution. We help you understand the approach, think critically about simulation inputs, and explain what is happening in the reservoir and why.
Build your capabilities
We strive to transfer our knowledge so you can apply it to future well designs and projects.
Our hydraulic fracturing and reservoir simulation solutions apply to a broad range of applications
Mitigate parent-child problems
Reduce production loss when drilling infill wells.
Enhanced oil recovery in shale
Increase recovery factor.
Well spacing optimization
Optimize the distance between wells to maximize capital efficiency.
Landing depth optimization
Maximize reservoir contact and optimize well spacing in 3D.
Fracturing design optimization
Customize frac design to your formation and economic drivers.
Geothermal systems
Simulate hydraulic stimulation and long-term circulation in a single integrated model.
The process
Following the right modeling workflow is critical for a successful project. Every ResFrac project includes a series of ‘checkpoint’ meetings at key junctures to keep stakeholders aligned and ensure strong engineering design principles.
Model construction and setup
Ingest data, set up an initial model, and present back to confirm everything has been communicated successfully.
Model calibration
Determine ‘key observations’ to be matched from field data. Plan the calibration process in advance. Then, vary parameters to achieve a match.
Design optimization
Align on the design variables to optimize. Perform a quantitative optimization for NPV, investment efficiency, or any other objective.
Design field implementation
Establish baseline performance expectations. Establish performance metrics, and try to minimize uncontrolled variables.
Field implementation
Evaluate results
Compare actual production with predicted. What are the ‘key observations’ from the field data? How do they align with expectation? If there is variance, what are potential causes? Are there additional design changes to consider next?
Recent content from the ResFrac blog
Production impact of horizontal fractures
At the 2025 SPE International Hydraulic Fracturing Technology Conference, we (Dontsov, Zoback, McClure, and Fowler) presented “Hydraulic Fracture Propagation Along Bedding Planes Might Be More Prevalent Than We Think” (SPE-226637). The paper reviewed case studies with evidence of horizontal or bedding plane fractures from microseismic, fiber optics, core observations, and casing deformation.
Testing the new Kryvenko model for proppant washout
What controls proppant placement during hydraulic fracturing? As described in Chapter 8 from McClure et al. (2025), ResFrac incorporates a variety of physical processes – viscous drag, gravitational settling, hindered settling, clustered settling, bed slumping, and more. In addition, ResFrac accounts for the complex physics associated with proppant flowing out of the wellbore (Dontsov, 2023; Ponners et al., 2025).
Horizontal hydraulic fractures in ResFrac
Horizontal hydraulic fracture propagation is believed to be widespread in shale plays where the frac gradient approaches the overburden – such as the Vaca Muerta, Utica, and Montney. However, horizontal propagation is nearly always ignored in hydraulic fracture modeling. In ResFrac, we are obsessed with ‘getting the physics right’, and so naturally, we extended our simulator to handle horizontal fracturing. The first version of this new capability was released earlier this year. We are eager to start collecting feedback from users, which will help us to fine tune the algorithm and workflow.