Creating Multiple Fractures in Cemented Horizontal Laterals: An Efficient Way to Improve Productivity of Tight Carbonate Formations in Saudi Arabia

Rahim, Zillur; Al-Anazi, Hamoud; Kanan, Adnan; Kayumov, Rifat

doi:10.2523/iptc-17714-ms

Cited by 9 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 8 publications

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“…Appendix A confirms that trend is much clearer compared to the previously described pumped stage (significantly larger r values). This confirms importance of creating larger contact area with the reservoir in tight carbonate formations by placing more stages with different types of MSF completion (Rahim et al 2013;Rahim et al 2014). Some exceptional results for well H6 can be explained by other parameters: similar to well H7, this well has one of the highest values for treatment BHP above OB.…”

Section: Spe-172528-mssupporting

confidence: 57%

Use of Technology to Enhance Sustained Gas Production in Saudi Arabian Carbonate Reservoirs — Key Enablers

Rahim

Al-Anazi

Al-Kanaan

et al. 2015

SPE Middle East Oil &Amp; Gas Show and Conference

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With the increase in gas demand and the need to supply additional energy to the Kingdom, Saudi Arabia is now focusing its drilling and production activities toward exploiting tight carbonate formations. The required key technology to make such reservoirs commercial is the multistage fracturing (MSF). Several drilling, completion, and stimulation techniques are being used to effectively produce the reservoirs. Using well performance as the primary determining factor, a systematic study and evaluation has been conducted for 12 vertical and 11 horizontal wells to assess effectiveness of performed stimulation treatments on the massive carbonate formation. The variants analyzed to determine impact on production include lateral length, hole direction, number of stimulation stages per well, treating fluids and their volumes, pumping rates and pressures, and some others.The results of these analyses demonstrate that drilling horizontal wells in the direction of minimum in-situ stress ( min ) made a positive impact by achieving satisfactory post-treatment gas rates. Trends also highlight improved well performance with the increase in stimulation stage count and maintaining a positive seal with the adjacent stages in MSF completions. The influence of different fluid types and their volume on post-fracturing productivity was analyzed, and some particular recommendations regarding optimum fluid types and volumes provided. Also, post-fracturing productivity was assessed to detect optimum treatment pump rates and pressures. Some important conclusions were made regarding targeted etched fracture half-length and width. Finally, analysis showed potential benefits from implementation of specific proppant fracturing technologies, such as channel fracturing for carbonate reservoirs to keep the fracture opened at high applied drawdown pressures during production. The analyses identified the key post-fracturing production drivers in the gas reservoirs and ways to improve production of future wells drilled in various formations under similar conditions.

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Section: Spe-172528-mssupporting

confidence: 57%

Use of Technology to Enhance Sustained Gas Production in Saudi Arabian Carbonate Reservoirs — Key Enablers

Rahim

Al-Anazi

Al-Kanaan

et al. 2015

SPE Middle East Oil &Amp; Gas Show and Conference

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Assessing Diverse Variables and Technologies and Their Impact on Sustained Gas Production in Carbonate Reservoirs – Field Examples

Rahim

Al-Anazi

Al-Kanaan

et al. 2015

SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition

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Using well performance as the primary determining factor, a systematic study and evaluation was conducted on numerous vertical and horizontal wells drilled in the high-pressure/high temperature heterogeneous carbonate reservoirs to assess effectiveness of stimulation treatments and benefits of using novel technologies. Numerous variables analyzed to determine impact on production include well type, wellbore length, drilling azimuth, number of stimulation stages per well, chemistry and volumes of treatment fluids, pumping rates and pressures, fracture dimensions (half-length and width), and applied drawdown. A comprehensive database for stimulated wells was created that included reservoir parameters, completion data, minifrac and main stimulation treatment parameters (fluid types, volumes, rates and pressures), computed fracture geometry, and normalized well performance data. The variables were grouped and arranged according to their similarities and impact on well productivity. Correlations were drawn using the Pearson correlation coefficient to compute upward and downward data trend, ensure use of good quality data, and discard few nonaligned data. Numerous, very useful plots are constructed and presented that show the different trends of the variables evaluated and how they affect the productivity index (PI) of a well. Results have been drawn based on completion parameters, design and execution variables, treatment evaluation results, and well production. The results demonstrate the importance of real-time application of geomechanics to achieve borehole stability and drilling laterals toward the minimum in-situ stress σmin) direction to achieve sustained post-treatment gas rates. Trends also highlight improved well performance with the increase in stimulation stage count and maintaining isolation between producing intervals. The influence of different fluid types and their volume on post-fracturing productivity was analyzed. Normalized PI was used to assess optimum pump rates and pressures. Some important conclusions were made regarding targeted etched fracture half-length and width. The analyses identified the key post-fracturing production drivers in the gas reservoirs and their impact on long-term well performance.

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Stimulating Low Permeability Carbonate Reservoirs by Applying Acid Fracturing with Open-Hole Multi-Stage Completions Combining Sliding Sleeves and Swellable Packers for Effective Fracture Placement

Guizada

Nugraha

Alrashed

et al. 2016

Day 3 Fri, August 26, 2016

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Low permeability oil and gas-bearing carbonate formations are routinely completed with open hole horizontal laterals and multistage fracturing treatments to achieve maximum reservoir contact and enhance production of the formations. This completion technique has been successfully used in previously non-economical reservoirs — in North America and around the globe — to make them commercial. Open hole multistage fracturing technologies have been deployed in tight gas carbonate reservoirs to improve well productivity while using reservoir simulations to optimize the fracture design. When applying multi-stage fracturing one of the key aspects is to assure the isolation between the stages to induce independent fractures. This goal becomes even more challenging to achieve when the process is an acid fracturing treatment. Hydraulic communication between the fracture stages has been previously observed, which has prevented the creation of separate fractures transverse to the wellbore, thereby resulting in fewer and shorter fractures, mostly created along the wellbore plane. In many cases, new fractures could not even initiate and only matrix acid treatments could be conducted. To overcome the isolation challenge during an acid treatment, a multistage completion assembly based on sliding sleeves and swellable packers has been devised and implemented to conduct selective acid fracturing in low permeability carbonate reservoirs. This combined system has mechanically simplified the multistage fracturing job, reducing costs and complexity compared with traditional cement and perforating methods. The system provides excellent isolation between consecutive treatments by providing positive annular barriers. The technology ensures that the entire lateral is treated uniformly and according to the design, enhances proper fracture placement, increases reservoir contact area, and improves well productivity. This paper describes and addresses the successful deployment of this completion and fracturing technology. The success resulted from careful planning, fluid testing, and a comprehensive completion design that was fit-for-purpose to provide optimal stimulation treatment and productivity enhancement.

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Creating Multiple Fractures in Cemented Horizontal Laterals: An Efficient Way to Improve Productivity of Tight Carbonate Formations in Saudi Arabia

Cited by 9 publications

References 8 publications

Use of Technology to Enhance Sustained Gas Production in Saudi Arabian Carbonate Reservoirs — Key Enablers

Use of Technology to Enhance Sustained Gas Production in Saudi Arabian Carbonate Reservoirs — Key Enablers

Assessing Diverse Variables and Technologies and Their Impact on Sustained Gas Production in Carbonate Reservoirs – Field Examples

Stimulating Low Permeability Carbonate Reservoirs by Applying Acid Fracturing with Open-Hole Multi-Stage Completions Combining Sliding Sleeves and Swellable Packers for Effective Fracture Placement

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