Foam frac completions for tight gas formations

Journal Article · Thu Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1976 · Pet. Eng. Int.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6451573

Abbott, W A; Vaughn, H F

Minerals Management Inc. reports that a stimulating treatment known as foam-frac has been used to complete over 400 wells since 1973 and has performed well in many low-permeability gas formations. Foams used are made of a base liquid (such as treated water, gel, or acid), a foaming agent, and nitrogen. Ideal foam properties include high efficiency due to low fluid-loss coefficients, negligible sand-settling velocities, low friction loss, and high viscosity inside the fracture. Nitrogen constitutes 60% or more of the volume pumped, requires no preparation, and is brought to location on the pumping trucks. The amount of nitrogen required increases with fracture pressure and job size. Four variables require regulation while pumping foam: liquid rate, nitrogen rate, surfactant rate, and sand concentration.

• OSTI ID: 6451573
• Journal Information: Pet. Eng. Int.; (United States), Journal Name: Pet. Eng. Int.; (United States) Vol. 48
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
030900* -- Natural Gas-- Artificial Stimulation
Plowshare-- (-1989)
COLLOIDS
COMMINUTION
CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
DISPERSIONS
ELEMENTS
FLUIDS
FOAMS
FRACTURING
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS
NATURAL GAS WELLS
NITROGEN
NONMETALS
PRESSURE DEPENDENCE
RESOURCES
SURFACTANTS
WELL STIMULATION
WELLS