Project Overview

ResFrac, an industry leader in fracture simulation and reservoir analysis, sought to expand their digital offerings by creating two cutting-edge web applications—StageOpt and IntTest—to help operators optimize well spacing and stage design. Each tool needed to integrate complex engineering calculations, large file handling, and a modern, user-friendly interface that could be accessed without IT-heavy local installs.

Paramint was engaged to build ResApps—the collective name for StageOpt and IntTest—using Retool, React, HTML/CSS, Azure storage, and custom proprietary APIs for advanced computations. Our team delivered a powerful, web-based platform that automates complex physics modeling while streamlining data input and large file uploads.
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Key Challenges

1. Complex Physics & Calculations
   
   • StageOpt and IntTest required integrating advanced engineering algorithms developed by ResFrac’s Chief Scientist (e.g., Egor Dontsov’s universal correlation, Devon Quantification of Interference).
   • The tools had to accurately model stress shadowing, fracture conductivity, and near-wellbore tortuosity without sacrificing performance or usability.
2. Large File Uploads
   
   • ResFrac customers often upload hefty datasets (e.g., CSV logs, reservoir data) exceeding typical upload size limits.
   • The need to stream file uploads and store them securely in Azure Blob Storage posed unique architectural constraints.
3. Multi-Component Tech Stack
   
   • Required bridging Retool (for rapid app-building) with a React front-end, Azure for storage, and proprietary back-end APIs.
   • Ensuring real-time or near-real-time data syncing, error handling, and secure access to these APIs was critical.
4. Intuitive, Web-Based UI
   
   • Both StageOpt and IntTest had to be web-accessible to avoid IT overhead from local installations.
   • The interface needed to support analysis exports, Monte Carlo simulations, and result visualizations in a way that even non-technical operators could manage.

Solution Approach

1. Modular Architecture
   
   • Retool provided the backbone of the user interface for quick layout changes and data binding.
   • React was used for custom components and dynamic pages that handle specialized tasks like large file streaming and advanced data visualization.
2. Advanced Engineering Calculations via Custom APIs
   
   • Paramint integrated ResFrac’s proprietary scientific methods—including inertial, density, and stress shadow modeling—into API endpoints that StageOpt and IntTest could call.
   • Calculations like DQI (Devon Quantification of Interference) and the Chow Pressure Group (CPG) method were exposed as dedicated microservices to keep them maintainable and easily extensible.
3. Streaming Large File Uploads
   
   • Implemented a custom large file upload component in Retool/React that chunks and streams data to Azure Blob Storage.
   • Azure Data Pipelines automatically ingested these files for further processing, bypassing typical upload size limitations and ensuring reliable data transfers.
4. User-Centric Experience
   
   • Provided “one-click” exports from StageOpt into the main ResFrac simulator to continue deeper fracturing and reservoir simulation analysis.
   • Built in Monte Carlo uncertainty quantification options, so users could instantly see the effect of variability in perforation phasing or diameter.
   • Included built-in help content and simplified workflows to let engineers set up an analysis in minutes—no advanced IT knowledge required.
5. Secure, Cloud-Native Deployment
   
   • Hosted the applications in a scalable Azure environment, leveraging Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) for secure data isolation.
   • Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipelines handled automated testing and rollouts, ensuring a stable, always up-to-date user experience.

Technical Implementation Highlights

• Retool + React: Leveraged Retool for quick layout creation, combined with custom React components to handle specialized tasks (e.g., large file streaming, advanced charting).
• Azure Storage: Stored large CSV logs, reservoir data, and analysis outputs with automatic backup and versioning capabilities.
• Proprietary APIs: Integrated advanced algorithms for stage design (StageOpt) and well-to-well interference (IntTest) via secure REST endpoints, enabling robust Monte Carlo analysis and real-time feedback.
• User-Focused UI: Provided intuitive wizards, embedded help content, and easy export features to the ResFrac simulator—allowing diverse technical teams to adopt the tools seamlessly.

Outcomes & Benefits

1. Accelerated Well Spacing and Stage Design Analyses
   
   • Engineers can now quickly set up analyses in StageOpt to predict proppant distribution and uniformity index, leading to more efficient fracturing operations and higher ROI.
2. Confident Interference Evaluations
   
   • IntTest provides immediate insights into fracture conductivity and potential production interference—empowering teams to optimize well spacing and reduce costly overdrilling.
3. Seamless Large File Handling
   
   • The custom streaming solution eliminated file-size constraints and manual splitting. Users can upload multi-GB files in a single go, boosting productivity and data fidelity.
4. Improved Collaboration & Data Sharing
   
   • Web-based environment and export/import features made it easier for cross-functional teams to share results, integrate them into larger reservoir simulations, and iterate quickly.
5. Reduced IT Overhead
   
   • Because no local install was required, corporate firewalls and software distribution complexities were minimized—allowing customers to onboard with minimal friction.

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With StageOpt and IntTest, ResFrac offers a comprehensive, web-based reservoir analysis suite that harnesses state-of-the-art physics models and user-friendly data flows. Paramint’s modern, cloud-native approach ensured that even the most data-intensive tasks are easily managed, driving better well designs, optimized fracture placements, and more profitable operations for ResFrac and its clients.