A New Approach To Fracturing And Completion Operations In The Eagle Ford Shale

Abstract

Completions and multizone fracturing operations in the Eagle Ford Shale are complex undertakings. Effectively managing hydraulic fracturing projects becomes even more complex when multiple service providers and suppliers are required to work in a coordinated sequential fashion. By late 2009 daylight completions work in the Eagle Ford evolved into 24 hour a day operations to maximize asset availability – primarily hydraulic horsepower. Completions were accomplished in fewer days using the 24 hour approach, but efficiencies and safety suffered. However, a select group of Eagle Ford operators were concerned with the drop in performance. These operators chose to adopt an integrated services approach where one service company provided the majority of equipment and personnel on completions jobs. This new approach achieved both fewer days per completion and high KPI efficiency (e.g. stages per day, fewer safety incidents, etc.) as well as improving communication and teamwork. An explanation of this new approach is detailed here.