Effectiveness of different hydraulic fracturing treatments in low permeability reservoirs
Various hydraulic fracturing techniques (high viscosity fluid, oil in water dispersion, oil and water emulsion, large water volume, and the common standard water fracturing methods) have been used in the completion of oil wells in reservoirs which have low permeability (less than 1 millidarcy). Reservoir information from over 100 wells in the same geographical area, such as production records, bottom-hole pressure buildup tests, and geophysical well logs, were used to determine the effectiveness of different fracturing techniques. Two independent methods were used in the analysis. First, data from well interference tests and bottom-hole pressure tests were used to calculate effective fracture lengths. Although fracture length depends on many factors in addition to fracture technique ''type''--type of rock, pressures, volumes of fluid, etc.--it was found that a standard water fracturing method with similar volumes of fluid and sand produced various fracture lengths. These calculated vertical fracture distances varied from 100 to about 1000 feet in length. In the second method of analysis, the effects of five different hydraulic well fracturing procedures on long-term oil production were studied using a statistical model called analysis of multiple covariance. Results indicated that the oil and water emulsion fracturing technique produced from 34 to over 100 percent more oil than any of the other techniques, with the standard water fracturing method being second best. Both described evaluations indicate the complexity of choosing an induced hydraulic fracture treatment which will be most effective for the recovery of oil from low permeability reservoirs.
- Research Organization:
- Bureau of Mines, Morgantown, WV (USA). Morgantown Energy Research Center
- OSTI ID:
- 7123774
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-7309153-4
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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