Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Evaluation of bottomhole treatment for geothermal well hydraulic fracture stimulation

Conference · · Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States)
OSTI ID:5389189

The Geothermal Reservoir Well Stimulation Program group performed a large hydraulic fracture treatment in the well Baca 20, located in Union's Redondo Creek Project Area in north-central New Mexico. This is the highest temperature well in the world to be successfully prop-fractured to date. The treatment utilized a large cooling water pre-pad followed by a high viscosity frac fluid carrying sintered bauxite as the proppant. A nonproductive 240-foot openhole interval, with a formation temperature of 520/sup 0/F, was selected and isolated for the job. Post-stimulation tests and analyses indicate a dynamic fracture was created with a large vertical height near the wellbore. A number of fracture evaluation techniques were used to analyze the job, inincluding some that are quite unique. Among these techniques were fracture mapping by monitoring the microseismic events caused by the fracture job, downhole treating pressure data analysis, temperature profiles, electric log surveys, production tests, and chemical tracer monitoring. The post-stimulation fluid productivity of the well is subcommercial, probably because of low formation permeability surrounding the artificially created fracture.

Research Organization:
Republic Geothermal Inc.
OSTI ID:
5389189
Report Number(s):
CONF-820927-
Journal Information:
Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States), Journal Name: Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States) Vol. SPE11157; ISSN SEAPA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English