Case history of large-volume fracture stimulations in a West Texas waterflood

Conference · Sat Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1983 · Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5362112

Ilseny, J R; Cortez, M J

A very successful fracture stimulation program in a mature West Texas waterflood is documented in this paper. Amoco's Anton Irish Clearfork Unit (AICFU) has undergone a 100 well fracture stimulation program since 1979 which has resulted in significant increases in oil production. Hydraulic fracturing has gradually evolved over the years at the Anton Irish field due to experience gained in new stimulation techniques. Fracture stimulations in the 1970's involved pumping 105,000 gallons of gelled water with 65,000 pounds of 20-40 mesh sand at rates as high as 200 barrels per minute. Although nearly all were initially successful, production increases were sometimes not sustained, due possibly to the insufficient amount of sand/proppant utilized in hydraulic fracturing large 400' dolomite pay sections. Fracture stimulations since 1979 have involved pumping 200,000-300,000 pounds of 20-40 mesh sand in 90,000,150,000 gallons, of cross-linked gelled water at 50 barrels per minute (concentrations as high as 14 pounds of sand per gallon of fluid) to create propped fractures which have resulted in sustained production increases from the affected wells. One hundred eighty days after the workover, average per-well production increases of 38 BOPD yielded payouts of 3-1/2 months. This paper specifically addresses fracture stimulation results, quality control measures, and mechanical considerations in beam or electrical submersible pumping equipment, as well as post appraises the economics associated with the $8 million program.

• Research Organization: Amoco Production Co.
• OSTI ID: 5362112
• Report Number(s): CONF-8310121-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States) Journal Volume: SPE11930
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
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CHEMICAL REACTIONS
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COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS
CROSS-LINKING
DISPERSIONS
FEDERAL REGION VI
FLUIDS
FRACTURING
FRACTURING FLUIDS
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STIMULATION
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WELL STIMULATION
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