Frac packs: A specialty option or primary completion technique?
High permeability fracture treatments have taken place at Alaska`s North Slope, in the North Sea, and most recently, in the unconsolidated Miocene formations of the Gulf of Mexico -- where gravel pack completions have historically been used to prevent sand production. In the Gulf of Mexico, attempts were made as early as the mid-1960s to hydraulically fracture sands. However, some of these early treatments failed because of improper techniques, poor candidate selection and lack of understanding of rock property mechanics. Recent developments in fracturing technology, and the use of this technology to fracture through damage has achieved more favorable results than gravel packing and sandstone acidizing, and has led to widespread use of these fracture treatments. The procedure for fracturing high permeability formations is called frac packing. These frac pack treatments are typically used to remove near-wellbore damage that occurs from drilling and completion operations.
- OSTI ID:
- 458489
- Journal Information:
- Petroleum Engineer International, Journal Name: Petroleum Engineer International Journal Issue: 3SUP Vol. 70; ISSN 0164-8322; ISSN PEEID4
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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