Technology Focus: Well Stimulation (June 2008)

Abstract

Technology Focus This feature highlights three papers that are examples of working smarter, better, or cheaper to help us be more competitive in an ever-growing world energy market. In 2004, oil and gas production was the leading supplier of energy generation with approximately 55% of the world market. Four key competitors made up more than 44%: coal, nuclear, hydroelectric, and bio-mass/waste. It would seem that new competitors continue to appear. One major E&P company is touting its lead as the largest producer of magma-heated steam to drive power generators—enough to support millions of homes. The water captured after power generation is reinjected and reheated to temperatures as high as 570°F, completing a renewable-energy cycle. Then there is the latest liquid-sodium-cooled nuclear power plants, such as the "Toshiba 4S." Additionally, others are pushing solar, wind, bitumen, and now power plants that can switch between coal and natural gas. As the price of oil climbs, our competitors will catch up all the quicker to meet the world's growing energy needs. Now is the time to raise the bar for defining well-stimulation success, not after our competitors have caught up. Is it possible that we spend too much time looking at future wells and not enough quantifying past results? Let us take the example of stimulating a four-fold increase in production, which generates a high economic return. If we determine that we could have achieved a six-fold increase with a greater return, or perhaps even a 20-fold increase by combining with a multistage-treated horizontal well, does this alter our idea of success? It is time to take stimulation effectiveness to the next level, being measured and understood more reliably through integrated and detailed approaches. Success should be demonstrated through consistent engineered improvements. It is defining a greater understanding from previous stimulations that will allow us to realize more rapidly what is possible, thereby increasing our level of competition in a world market, one well at a time. Well Stimulation additional reading available at the SPE eLibrary: www.spe.org SPE 110707 • "Real-Time Diversion Quantification and Optimization Using DTS" by Gerard Glasbergen, SPE, Halliburton, et al. SPE 111512 • "Innovative Water-Shutoff Solution Enhances Oil Recovery From a West Venezuela Sandstone Reservoir" by Goran Andersson, PetroBoscan, et al.