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Sintered bauxite unlocks gas well

Journal Article · · Drilling Contract.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6228666

A 4-fold increase in production has followed the fracturing treatment of an Upshur County gas well and propping the fracture in the Cotton Valley Lime Formation with the most sintered bauxite ever used in E. Texas. The stimulation treatment for Texas Oil and Gas Corp.'s Parrish No. 1 well consisted of 465,000 lb of bauxite pumped into the low-permeability limestone at a depth of more than 2 miles. Sintered bauxite is stronger and several times more expensive than sand and is used to withstand closure pressures that would crush other proppants. The closure pressure increases as the producing pressure declines. Two and one-half months after the treatment, the well stabilized at a flow of 2.5 mmcfd, with flowing tubing pressure 710 psi; 28 bbl of condensate/day and 13 bbl of water/day. Before the fracturing, the flow was 560 mcfd, with flowing tubing pressure of 1495 psi; 3 bbl of condensate/day and 2 bbl of water/day.

OSTI ID:
6228666
Journal Information:
Drilling Contract.; (United States), Journal Name: Drilling Contract.; (United States) Vol. 36:9; ISSN DRCOA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English