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Rulison Field massive hydraulic fracturing experiment. Final report

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5446889· OSTI ID:5446889
One of the seven producing gas wells in the Rulison Field, Garfield County, Colorado, was selected for a massive hydraulic fracturing experiment. The fracture treatment (Aug. 1976) was applied in two stages treating separately the gross perforated intervals from 6198 to 6363 ft (Stage 1) and 5170 to 5630 ft (Stage 2). 485,000 gallons of gelled water, 1,070,000 pounds of sand, and 500 scf of nitrogen per barrel were used. A brief cleanup flow period was allowed between stages. The treatment was designed to extend a fracture approximately 1400 ft from the wellbore with a propped fracture width of 0.176 inches. The production increase was expected to range from 5.5 to 6.2 times the pre-treatment rate of 35,000 scf per day. Results of the massive hydraulic fracturing treatment were poor. Production of gas was enhanced by a factor of less than 2. The average flow rate during early 1977 was about 50,000 cubic feet per day. The lack of success is attributed to both low reservoir permeability and a restricted reservoir due to sand lenticularity.
Research Organization:
Austral Oil Co., Inc., Houston, Tex. (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
EY-76-C-08-0679
OSTI ID:
5446889
Report Number(s):
NVO/0679-1
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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