Foam fracturing aided by sand concentration

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1982 · Drilling-DCW; (United States)

OSTI ID:6343264

Hodges, Jr, J E

Foam fracturing is of widespread and growing interest from the Rocky Mountain region to the coastal plains of south Texas and the Appalachian basin. Improvements in technology and the increased availability of nitrogen are among the reasons. A significant development in the technology of this stimulation technique is Dowell's introduction of a sand concentrator that allows a proppant concentration at the perforations of up to 7 ppg of foam. This is a higher concentration in foam than normally can be mixed and pumped by conventional blenders and pumpers. Although the sand concentrator is able to concentrate most types of solid additives under a variety of treating conditions, it is used by Dowell almost exclusively for foam fracturing. Higher sand concentrations in the foam can provide better fracture conductivity and more sustained production increases. Examples of foam fracture treatments with the sand concentrator are given. Each example gives location, formation and perforation, pounds of sand used, highest concentration at perforations, and production (in mcf) before and after treatments.

• OSTI ID: 6343264
• Journal Information: Drilling-DCW; (United States), Vol. 43:3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
OIL WELLS
WELL STIMULATION
ADDITIVES
FOAMS
FRACTURING
FRACTURING FLUIDS
NITROGEN
PERFORATION
PETROLEUM
PRODUCTION
PROPPING AGENTS
SAND
WELL COMPLETION
COLLOIDS
COMMINUTION
DISPERSIONS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
NONMETALS
STIMULATION
WELLS
020300* - Petroleum- Drilling & Production