Controlled Breakdown Technique Enables Proppant Fracture Placement by Enhancing Fracture Initiation; Fracture Pressure is Reduced when Applied

Buenrostro, Adrian; Abdulkareem, Harbi S.; Noaman, Yousef M.; Driweesh, Saad M.; Shammari, Nayef S.; Palanivel, Maharaja; Khalifa, Mohamed

doi:10.2118/187981-ms

Cited by 7 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 5 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Multi-stage hydraulic fracturing in low permeability formations could suffer from rapid well productivity decrease due to fracture closure, lack of knowledge about fracture propagation, and proppant displacement issues [42][43][44]. Also, fracture initiation remains a concern, leading to fracture tortuosity, screen-outs, and uncontrollable fluid distribution between stages [45].…”

Section: Technical Considerationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Comprehensive Review of Fishbone Well Applications in Conventional and Renewable Energy Systems in the Path towards Net Zero

Ndulue,

Tomomewo,

Khalifa

2023

Fuels

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Fishbone drilling (FbD) involves drilling multiple micro-holes branching out in various directions from the primary vertical or deviated wellbore. FbD is similar to multilateral micro-hole drilling and can be employed to boost hydrocarbon production in naturally fractured formations or during refracturing operations by connecting existing natural fractures. Key design elements in fishbones include determining the number, length, and spacing between the branches, and the angle at which the branches deviate from the main borehole. Fishbone wells have emerged as a promising technology for improving well performance and reducing environmental impact. In this paper, we present a comprehensive review of the different applications of fishbone wells in conventional and renewable energy systems. We discuss the potential of fishbone wells for enhanced oil and gas recovery, as well as their application in unconventional resources such as coal bed methane. Moreover, we examine the feasibility of fishbone wells in renewable energy systems, such as geothermal energy and carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS). We highlight the various benefits of fishbone wells, including reduced carbon footprint, enhanced efficiency, and increased sustainability. Finally, we discuss the challenges and limitations associated with fishbone wells in different energy systems. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the potential and challenges of fishbone wells in reducing carbon footprint and improving well performance in a wide range of energy systems.

show abstract

Section: Technical Considerationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Comprehensive Review of Fishbone Well Applications in Conventional and Renewable Energy Systems in the Path towards Net Zero

Ndulue,

Tomomewo,

Khalifa

2023

Fuels

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Selecting a Horizontal Well Candidate in the Black Sea for Refracturing with Flow Diverting Technology

Janiczek

Makar

Reilly

et al. 2018

SPE Europec Featured at 80th EAGE Conference and Exhibition

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This paper identifies restimulation opportunities in existing multistage completed horizontal wells with plans for a customized refracturing solution applying breakthrough stimulation and diversion processes to increase oil production in a tight carbonate formation, offshore Black Sea. Because operators are shifting strategy in a low oil price environment from new well drilling toward well interventions, refracturing is gaining more focus, particularly for tight and less conventional reservoirs. Many potential candidates also have suboptimal completions for refracturing, so the challenge for operators is selecting the best candidates and designing a refracturing treatment for improved well performance in these complex situations. This paper describes the well screening and selection process for the restimulation of existing horizontal wells with multistage openhole completions. During Phase 1 of the project, pilot candidates were ranked using a weighted average score of specific decision criteria for evaluating the refracturing potential. The goal of the screening process was to identify wellbores with the most bypassed reserves and to determine the root cause. Top candidates demonstrated bypassed reserve potential because of large completion spacing and lower average permeability than was originally estimated. The design process emphasized identifying areas where incremental oil could be accessed by substantially increasing total exposed conductive surface area and placing new fractures between existing using novel approaches to refracturing incorporating flow diverting technology. The application of an engineered pressure-managed design approach optimized proppant cycles, and flow diverting refracturing methods were a fundamental component in recognizing that the restimulation pilot was realistic, achievable, and justified economically. By dynamically managing and adapting proppant schedules, diverter volume fractions, and total materials pumped over time, new induced fracture surface areas can be reliably created in the most economic manner. Phase 2 consisted of executing the refracturing operation on the selected pilot well, which had been originally hydraulically fractured in 2009. A repressurization procedure of the reservoir was performed before the main treatment to equalize pressure depletion along the lateral and ultimately enhance the coverage of newly fractured zones along the wellbore. The refracturing treatment on the pilot well consisted of four proppant cycles with application of engineered pressure management to improve fracture initiations and flow distribution. A degradable particulate diverter technology was used as primary isolation of each fracturing cycle. Restimulation results of the pilot well demonstrated technical and production success, with huge potential to implement this technology during the next phase of field revitalization (Phase 3). This pilot project has proved that the combination of a well selection process aimed at finding unstimulated and bypassed reservoir volume and the application of customized technical solutions for refracturing can be successfully applied to increase recovery factors and identify new opportunities in mature field redevelopment.

show abstract

Successful Application of TSE-Based Fracturing Fluids in Proppant Fracturing for Unconventional Carbonate Source Rock

Al-Taq

AlKhaldi

Alfakher

et al. 2018

Day 3 Thu, October 18, 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Fracturing operations consume relatively large amounts of fresh or groundwater, especially in the area of unconventional resources where multi-stage fracturing is required to obtain an economical production rate and improve recovery. In an attempt to conserve groundwater, treated sewage effluent (TSE) has been evaluated and optimized for fracturing treatments to provide the required transport property for the proppant and not induce formation damage by maintaining compatibility with formation brine. Extensive laboratory work has been conducted including viscosity measurements, compatibility testing, and a microbial study to optimize an TSE-based fracturing fluid for unconventional operations. Based on laboratory recommendations, the TSE-based fracturing fluid has been applied successfully on well-A. Twenty stages of unconventional proppant fracture stimulation utilizing the Plug and Perf (P-n-P) technique across the carbonate source rock have been applied successfully. Two base fluids, freshwater and TSE, were used to evaluate the effectiveness of TSE as a substitute for the freshwater in unconventional fracturing operations. Each water was used in 10 stages. The post-fracturing production results of well-A showed comparable results with the offset wells treated only with freshwater-based fracturing fluids. The pressure logging tests (PLT) conducted on this well confirmed that contribution of intervals treated with TSE-based fracturing fluid was comparable with those treated with fresh water-based fracturing fluid. There was no evidence of scaling issues during the flowback period for both fluid systems. Microbial evaluation of water samples collected during the flowback of well-A showed no presence of bacteria in these samples. This paper will discuss the laboratory work and the field application of TSE-based fracturing fluid.

show abstract

Controlled Breakdown Technique Enables Proppant Fracture Placement by Enhancing Fracture Initiation; Fracture Pressure is Reduced when Applied

Cited by 7 publications

References 5 publications

A Comprehensive Review of Fishbone Well Applications in Conventional and Renewable Energy Systems in the Path towards Net Zero

A Comprehensive Review of Fishbone Well Applications in Conventional and Renewable Energy Systems in the Path towards Net Zero

Selecting a Horizontal Well Candidate in the Black Sea for Refracturing with Flow Diverting Technology

Successful Application of TSE-Based Fracturing Fluids in Proppant Fracturing for Unconventional Carbonate Source Rock

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About