Effect of perforations on fracture initiation

Journal Article · Wed May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1991 · Journal of Petroleum Technology; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2118/20661-PA· OSTI ID:5847580

Behrmann, A ^[1]; Elbel, J L ^[2]

---

1. Schlumberger Perforating and Testing Center (US)
2. Dowell Schlumberger (US)

This paper describes perforation/fracture tests performed in large sandstone blocks in a triaxial stress cell to determine perforating geometry and perforating-fracture procedures for optimal fracture initiation. Four-shot, 180{degrees} phased perforating guns, steel casing, and oilfield cement were used. In one series of experiments, the casing was cemented and cured while under triaxial stress. Most tests were made with pore pressure, and vertical and horizontal wells were simulated. In general, the tests showed that fractures initiate either at the base of perforations or at the intersection of the plane normal to the minimum horizontal stress that passes through the axis of the wellbore and the wellbore surface and fracture initiation depended on perforation orientation with respect to the plane normal to the minimum horizontal stress and the properties and injection rate of the fracture fluid. All fractures reoriented into the plane normal to the minimum horizontal stress within one wellbore diameter; although multiple fractures were initiated, only primary single fractures propagated beyond one wellbore diameter.

• OSTI ID: 5847580
• Journal Information: Journal of Petroleum Technology; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Petroleum Technology; (United States) Vol. 43:5; ISSN JPTJA; ISSN 0022-3522
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
ALLOYS
BUILDING MATERIALS
CEMENTS
CRACK PROPAGATION
DIRECTIONAL DRILLING
DRILLING
FAILURES
FRACTURES
FRACTURING
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOMETRY
GUNS
IRON ALLOYS
IRON BASE ALLOYS
MATERIALS
MATHEMATICS
MINERAL RESOURCES
OIL FIELDS
OIL WELLS
PERFORATION
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
RESOURCES
ROCKS
SANDSTONES
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
STEELS
STIMULATION
STRESSES
TESTING
WELL CASINGS
WELL STIMULATION
WELLS