在完整的论文中，作者比较了裂缝性碳酸盐岩油气藏的开发方案，包括历史上的垂直和短水平开发方案和现代水力裂缝扩展水平开发方案。由于奥斯汀白垩层生产历史悠久，且最近进行了再开发，因此被选为天然实验室，以测试最近的人工增产技术如何从更广泛的孔隙系统中增加产量。
近年来，现代非常规多级水力压裂技术的应用，加上添加支撑剂来支撑诱导裂缝网络，缓解了历史产量曲线中出现的急剧下降。这些改进在最近的 Austin Chalk 再开发中得到了体现，其中现代完井技术使预计最终采收率 (EUR) 平均增加了 250%。
在目标开发区域，历史上未采用现代完井技术的短 Austin Chalk 水平段表现出广泛的油井性能。一些异常油井通过原始完井技术进入现有的天然裂缝网络，实现了高采收率，而其他油井在仅进行了几个月的经济生产后，在没有支撑增产措施的情况下无法实现连续流动。
性能的差异部分可以通过以下事实来解释：奥斯汀白垩纪不同层段的储层质量可能存在很大差异。
In the complete paper, the authors compare development scenarios in a fractured carbonate play between historic vertical and short horizontal development and modern hydraulically fractured extended lateral development. Because of its long production history and recent redevelopment efforts, the Austin Chalk was chosen as a natural laboratory to test how recent artificial stimulation techniques can lead to additional production from a wider range of pore systems.
In recent years, application of modern unconventional multistage hydraulic fracturing techniques, coupled with adding proppant to support induced fracture networks, mitigated the steep decline seen in historic production profiles. These improvements were exemplified in a recent Austin Chalk redevelopment where modern completions led to an increase in estimated ultimate recovery (EUR) by 250% on average.
In the targeted area of development, historic, short Austin Chalk laterals without modern completions exhibited a wide range of well performance. Some outlier wells achieved high recoveries from accessing an existing natural fracture network with the original completion, whereas others, after only a few months of economic production, were unable to achieve continuous flow without a propped stimulation.
The differences in performance partially can be explained by the fact that the reservoir quality of different intervals within the Austin Chalk is likely highly variable.
