PETE 629 ADVANCED
HYDRAULIC FRACTURING
Dr. Peter P. Valk
professor
Texas A&M University
RICH 709 862-2757
p-valko@[Link]
Source:
Reservoir
Stimulation
3rd Ed.
Well or Reservoir Stimulation?
Near wellbore region and/or bulk reservoir?
Acceleration versus increasing reserve?
Explosives
Huff and puff stimulation (steam, CO2, electric)
Acidizing
Acid fracturing
Propped fracturing
Water frac
Coupling of goals
Frac&pack
3
Propped fracturing, water frac,
frac&pack
Hydraulic fracturing (propped fracturing)
Works on induced damage or on virgin sate of
formation?
Penetration
Water frac
Mechanism?
Frac&pack
Stimulation
Sand control
Direct: exerted force on formation wall
Indirect via stimulation: decreased drawdown,
decreased areal influx
4
Principle of least resistance
Least Principal Stress
Horizontal fracture
Least Principal Stress
Vertical fracture
5
An Early Paradigm
h
w
Rf
Vertical Fracture - Vertical well
Bypass damage
Original skin disappears
Change streamlines
q J post Dp
Radial flow disappears
Wellbore radius is not a
factor any more
Increased PI can be utilized
Dp or q
7
Longitudinal Vertical Fracture Horizontal well
Can it be done?
sH,min
sH,min
xf
sH,max
8
Transverse Vertical Fractures - Horizontal
Well
Hydraulic Fracture
sH,max
Radial
converging
flow in frac
sH,max
D
xf
sH,min
Fracture Morphology
(source: Petroleum Well Construction)
10
Fracture Propagation
Elasticity
Fluid Friction
Material balance
Fracture Mechanics
(Propagation)
11
Goals first
Which wellbore-fracture orientation is
favorable?
Which can be done?
How large should the treatment be?
What part of the proppant will reach the
pay?
Width and length (optimum dimensions)?
How can it be realized?
12
Materials and Equipment
Fracturing fluids
Proppants
Equipment
13
Source: Reservoir Stimulation 3rd Ed.
14
Fluid type
Oil-based (phasing out)
Water based (polimer)
Linear
Cross linked
Containing Nitrogen or Carbon dioxide
gas
15
Crosslinked fluid systems
Crosslinker
Gelling Agent
pH range
Temperature range oF
B, non-delayed
guar, HPG
8-12
70-300
B, delayed
guar, HPG
8-12
70-300
Zr, delayed
guar
7-10
150-300
Zr, delayed
guar
5-8
70-250
Zr, delayed
CMHPG, HPG
9-11
200-400
Zr-a, delayed
CMHPG
3-6
70-275
Ti, non-delayed
guar, HPG,
CMHPG
7-9
100-325
Ti, delayed
guar, HPG,
CMHPG
7-9
100-325
Al, delayed
CMHPG
4-6
70-175
16
Fluid additives
Additive
Concentration, gal or lbm
added to 1000 gal clean fluid
purpose
biocide
0.1-1.0 gal
prevent guar polymer decomposition by
bacteria
fluid loss
10-50 lb
decrease leak off of fluid during fracturing
breakers
0.1-10 lb
provide controlled fluid viscosity reduction
friction
reducers
0.1-1.0 gal
reduce wellbore frictional pressure loss while
pumping
surfactants
0.05-10
reduce surface tension, prevent emulsions,
and wetting
foaming
agents
1-10 gal
provide stable foam with nitrogen and carbon
dioxide
clay control
-----
provide temporary or permanent clay -water
compatibility
17
Breakers
Breaker
Application
temp, deg F
Comments
Enzyme
60-200
Efficient breaker. Limit to below pH 10.
Encapsulated Enzyme 60-200
Allows higher concentrations for faster
breaks.
Persulfates
(Sodium,
Ammonium)
120-200
Economical. Very fast et higher temp.
Activated persulfates
70-120
Low temperature and high pH
Encapsulated
persulfates
120-200
Allows higher concentrations for faster
breaks.
High temperature
oxidixers
200-325
Used where persulfates are too quick.
18
Fluid testing
Compatibility (Precipitation of solids)
Rheology (effect of temp, pH, shear)
Fluid Loss
Breaking
Proppant carrying capacity
Residue in the proppant pack
Filter-cake residue
19
Proppant
small, rounded particles
uniform size (narrow mesh
distribution)
high degree of sphericity
high compressive strength
high degree of roundness
density (light , heavy
)
insolubility in reservoir fluids
stability at reservoir temperature
coating
20
Permeability vs. Closure Stress
20/40 Brady Sand
Permeability, Darcy
1000
100
10
1
0
2000
4000
6000
Closure Stress, psi
8000
10000
21
Primary proppant selection
(stress affected pack permeability)
Considerable loss
of pack perm
Sand
Resin Coated Sand
Inter.-Strength Ceramic
10
Inter.-Strength Bauxite
15
High-Strength Bauxite
20
0
Secure
15
20
10
Closure Stress (kpsi)
kpsi is 1000 psi, not Mpsi
25
22
Size: API specification for sands
Particle diameter
(inch)
Particle diameter
(mm)
API mesh size
Largest
Smallest
Largest
Smallest
6/12
0.1320
0.0661
3.36
1.68
8/16
0.0937
0.0469
2.38
1.19
12/20
0.0661
0.0331
1.68
0.841
16/30
0.0469
0.0232
1.19
0.595
20/40
0.0331
0.0165
0.841
0.420
30/50
0.0232
0.0117
0.595
0.297
40/70
0.0165
0.0083
0.420
0.210
70/140
0.0083
0.0041
0.210
0.104
23
Laboratory-Determined Permeability of
Selected Proppants at 6000 psi
(Highly optimistic, KCl water )
Proppant
(API st) Proppant
permeability (md)
20/40 Ottawa Sand
12/20 Texas Brown
20/40 ISP, Ceramic
20/40 HS, Bauxite
150,000
200,000
310,000
370,000
24
Main Concerns
Proppant crush
Proppant fine migration
Gel remaining
Non-Darcy flow
25
Procedure
Decide if to fracture or not
Determine size of treatment
Determine main dimensions
Understand role of rock properties and
stress states
Make decisions on fluids, proppants
Carry out a simple design
Provide reasonable data for design
software
Generate pics
Evaluate job, make strategic suggestions
26