New fracturing techniques reduce tight gas sand completion problems

Journal Article · Mon Oct 12 00:00:00 EDT 1992 · Oil and Gas Journal; (United States)

OSTI ID:7026095

Bruce, P L; Hunter, J L ^[1]; Kuhlman, R D ^[2]; Weinheimer, D D ^[3]

---

1. Pennzoil Exploration and Production Co., Houston, TX (United States)
2. Halliburton Services, Duncan, OK (United States)
3. Halliburton Services, Houston, TX (United States)

This paper reports on new fracturing stimulation technology which contributed to solving problems in completing tight gas sands in the Carthage Cotton Valley field in Texas. These technologies included improved fluid systems, computer-controlled proppant placement, multiple isotope radioactive logs, mechanical properties logs, and innovative casing design. Drilling activity in the Carthage field commenced on a large scale in 1978 and 1979. At that time, the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978 (NGPA) first allowed higher gas prices. In 1980, low-permeability sandstones officially were classified as tight gas sands by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). This classification qualified the sands for NGPA incentive gas prices. After the Texas Railroad Commission (RRC) changed the field rules to 320 acre spacing, another round of development drilling began. In 1981 and 1982, Pennzoil drilled and completed 22 infill development wells before the gas market crashed in 1982.

• OSTI ID: 7026095
• Journal Information: Oil and Gas Journal; (United States), Vol. 90:41; ISSN 0030-1388
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
NATURAL GAS WELLS
FRACTURING FLUIDS
WELL COMPLETION
TEXAS
NATURAL GAS FIELDS
COMPUTERIZED CONTROL SYSTEMS
DESIGN
DRILLING RIGS
ENHANCED RECOVERY
MARKET
NATURAL GAS
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
US FERC
WELL CASINGS
CONTROL SYSTEMS
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DRILLING EQUIPMENT
ENERGY SOURCES
EQUIPMENT
FEDERAL REGION VI
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
MINERAL RESOURCES
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS
NORTH AMERICA
ON-LINE CONTROL SYSTEMS
ON-LINE SYSTEMS
RESOURCES
US DOE
US ORGANIZATIONS
USA
WELLS
030300* - Natural Gas- Drilling
Production
& Processing