Laboratory studies for the design and analysis of hydraulic fracture stimulations in tight gas reservoirs

Conference · Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:6034144

Sattler, A R; Hudson, P J; Raible, C J; Gall, B L; Maloney, D R

Laboratory studies were used as an aid in designing stimulation treatments and to assist in the analysis of production results. These analyses were done in conjunction with coastal zone stimulation operations at the Department of Energy's Multiwell Experiment near Rifle, Colorado. A multitreatment stimulation plan was designed for the coastal zone because of apparent damage to the paludal zone formations in prior stimulation operations. The stimulation plan was made to minimize the use of water-based, gelled fluids. Two small stimulations were performed in the same coastal interval: an unpropped nitrogen gas frac and a propped, nitrogen foam frac. Gas production decreased from that of the gas frac after the nitrogen foam stimulation and formation damage was apparent. The laboratory program was used to (1) aid stimulation design; (2) help eliminate several possible causes of damage such as permeability degradation in the matrix rock, a gel block in the sand pack, proppant effects, or imbibition of brine from workover operations; and (3) examine the more probable causes, damage that may be centered around fluid effects in the natural fracture system. A unique explanation is not possible because there are some aspects of these damage mechanisms that cannot be verified in the laboratory. However, comparable damage mechanisms that have been seen in cracked core are described. Also, other postulated forms of fluid damage are discussed, largely in terms of natural fractures in core in combination with other measured core properties. 37 refs., 1 fig., 8 tabs.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA); Dowell Schlumberger (USA); National Inst. for Petroleum and Energy Research, Bartlesville, OK (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 6034144
• Report Number(s): SAND-85-2507C; CONF-860567-3; ON: DE86007618
• Resource Relation: Conference: SPE unconventional gas technology symposium, Louisville, KY, USA, 18 May 1986; Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
58 GEOSCIENCES
HYDRAULIC FRACTURING
DATA ANALYSIS
NATURAL GAS WELLS
WELL STIMULATION
SANDSTONES
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
MINERALOGY
PERMEABILITY
BENCH-SCALE EXPERIMENTS
COLORADO
DESIGN
DRILL CORES
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FOAMS
FORMATION DAMAGE
NITROGEN
PETROLOGY
PROPPING AGENTS
COLLOIDS
COMMINUTION
DATA
DISPERSIONS
ELEMENTS
FEDERAL REGION VIII
FRACTURING
GEOLOGY
INFORMATION
NONMETALS
NORTH AMERICA
NUMERICAL DATA
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
STIMULATION
USA
WELLS
030900* - Natural Gas- Artificial Stimulation
Plowshare- (-1989)
580300 - Mineralogy
Petrology
& Rock Mechanics- (-1989)