PETE 629 ADVANCED

HYDRAULIC FRACTURING
Dr. Peter P. Valk
professor
Texas A&M University
RICH 709 862-2757
p-valko@tamu.edu

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
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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
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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