Prediction of fracture extension during waterflood operations

Conference · Sun Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1984 · Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6606201

Kuo, M C.T.; DesBrisay, C L; Hanson, M G

A fracture extension mechanism was proposed to explain daily surface injection pressure behavior observed in a waterflood project located in the Somatito Field A fault block in the Talara Area of Northwest Peru. Daily surface injection pressure data indicated a repeating phenomenon, i.e., formation pressure increasing slowly along a general trend as the flood continued (called normal formation recharge). Surface injection pressure occasionally built up above this trend value because of fracture plugging. Then the injection pressure dropped back sharply to the general trend (called fracture extension). The mechanism repeats again and again in the same sequence until water breaks through at a producer. Fracture propagation theory (Geertsma and de Klerk) was applied to calculate incremental fracture length, or, the time interval during the fracture extension period. Combining the information of fracture extension frequency and incremental fracture length, expected breakthrough dates can be predicted at producers along the fracture azimuth. Water breakthrough sensitivity analysis is a useful technique to identify fracture azimuths or preferential permeability trends. Given daily surface injection pressure data, a simple method was developed to allow engineers to predict premature injection water breakthrough in tight reservoirs. This simple procedure is especially useful to reservoir and field engineers involved in secondary and tertiary recovery projects.

• Research Organization: Occidental E and P Co.
• OSTI ID: 6606201
• Report Number(s): CONF-840495-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States) Journal Volume: SPE 12769
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
CALCULATION METHODS
COMMINUTION
CRACK PROPAGATION
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
DIMENSIONS
ENGINEERING
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FAILURES
FLUID INJECTION
FORECASTING
FRACTURES
FRACTURING
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
HYDRAULIC FRACTURES
HYDRAULIC FRACTURING
LATIN AMERICA
LENGTH
MINERAL RESOURCES
OIL FIELDS
OIL WELLS
PERU
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
RECOVERY
RESERVOIR ENGINEERING
RESERVOIR PRESSURE
RESERVOIR ROCK
RESOURCES
SOUTH AMERICA
WATERFLOODING
WELLS