Fracture diagnostics

Objective: Powerful tool to:

1. determine behavior of fracture propagation
2. provide parameters for the design of future treatments

Definitions
Fracture initiation
Wellbore pressure must exceed the minimum stress at the borehole and the tensile strength
of the rock
Fracture orientation
Fracture propagates in a plane perpendicular to the minimum horizontal stress
Fracture closure pressure
Pressure to hold a fracture open, Pc semin
Fracture propagation pressure
Pressure in the fracture near the wellbore to continue extension of the fracture
Net fracture pressure
Pressure in fracture in excess of fracture closure pressure, Dp = Pf Pc

* Log-log plot of net frac pressure vs time reveals fracture geometry and modes of
propagation.
Fracture diagnostics
Modes of propagation
Schematic of net fracture pressure indicating
Type I: Increasing net pressure as the fracture progress of fracture extension
propagates in the formation;
Confined height

Type II: Constant pressure plateau can result

Log of net fracturing pressure

from unstable growth or fluid loss

Type III: Fracture growth ceasescontinued

injection increases width of fracture
and pressure, i.e, balloon effect.

Log time

Type IV: During fracturing, if a barrier is crossed and encounters a lower stress
zone, then pf > szone and accelerated growth will occur.
Fracture diagnostics

Example:
Onsite field generated plots
during fracturing down tubing
in east Texas

(pressure monitored in static

annulus).

[SPE Monograph Vol. 12, 1989]

Fracture diagnostics
Type IV: During fracturing, if a barrier is crossed and encounters a lower stress
zone, then pf > szone and accelerated growth will occur.

Schematic of net fracture pressure indicating

progress of fracture extension
Type IV: Pressure and width for growth
through barriers
Fracture diagnostics
Type II: Constant pressure plateau can result from:
A. Unstable growth or fluid loss
B. initiation of a T-shaped fracture as Pw > Poverburden; i.e., horizontal
fracture occurs at shallow depths

Schematic of net fracture pressure indicating

progress of fracture extension
Type II: Pressure and width for T-shape
fracture
Fracture diagnostics
C. Fracture pressure exceeds the natural fracture formation stress, thus opening
the fissures
Subsequent fluid loss accelerates dehydration and screenout
Approximate pressure for fissures to open given by:

Schematic of net fracture pressure indicating

progress of fracture extension
Type II: Pressure and width for opening natural fractures
Fracture diagnostics
Type III: Fracture growth ceasescontinued injection increases width of fracture and
pressure, i.e, balloon effect.

Dehydration or proppant slurry bridging can result in screenout.

If slope = 1 restricted fracture extension at tip. Remedy with larger pad.

If slope > 1 restriction within fracture from excessive slurry

dehydrationscreenout.
Fracture diagnostics
Fracture Geometry

Type I: KGD, constant net pressure

Type II: PKN

Type III: Penny-shaped, declines steadily

and then rapidly screens out.

Type IV: Medlin & Fitch, early pressure

increase, screenout when slurry reaches
formation.

* Identify fracture behavior early to improve Downhole fracturing behavior for different
subsequent fracture design* fracture types
Fracture diagnostics
Evolution of fracture geometry

First stage- prior to reaching vertical barriers, approximate by KGD model;

i.e., net pressure decreases
thus negative slope

Second stage- vertical barriers

force fracture length, thus
Increasing pressures

Third stage- exceed minimum

stress of adjacent beds
resulting in height growth.

Evolution of fracture geometry and

pressure during pumping
Fracture diagnostics
Pressure Decline Analysis
Analysis during closing and shutin periods

Rate of pressure decline is related to fluid loss or generally to fluid loss volume, V L=Vi-Vf.

Time required for the fracture to close defines the fluid efficiency h V f
Vi

With knowledge of propagation model, can estimate fracture area (Af) and width (wf).

Can estimate:
Closure pressure, pc
Fluid efficiency, h
Fluid loss coefficient, CL
Fracture width, wf
Fracture length, xf
Example of fracturing-related pressures
Two graphical solution methods
Cartesian plot of pw vs time function
Log-log plot of pressure function vs
dimensionless time function
 Fracture diagnostics
Cartesian Method

Plot of wellbore pressure, pw vs a time

function, G(DtD) where

G(Dt D )
4
g( Dt D ) go

shutin time t
t D
pumping time t p

g functions from table or analytical

solutions to limiting cases.
Conceptual response of pressure decline
vs Nolte time function

Straight line during fracture closure, deviation after closure due to reservoir
response.

Fluid loss dominates

Fracture diagnostics

Extension during closure

Two options
1. Early slope indicating extension
during closure, thus later slope correct

2. Early slope and time is correct

(low h case)

Best to obtain Pc from other methods

Correction illustrated in figure

Correcting closure time and efficiency for

extension during closure
Fracture diagnostics

Height growth into barriers

Initial period of reduced slope
due to reduction of height during
closure

Opening of natural fissures would

show a constant slope because loss
to fissures would end quickly.

Closure and diagnostic growth into stress

barriers.
Fracture diagnostics

Fracture closure with proppant

Previous analysis assumes:
1. fracture propagation not
restricted by proppant
2. Fracture closed without any
proppant effect up to Vf = V prop,
and afterwards the fracture
completely closes on the
proppant.

3. No change in compliance of the fracture with closure on proppant

Fracture diagnostics
Fluid Loss Coefficient, CT,
mps h f PKN
CT 2x
rp t p E
f KGD
where
mp - slope of pw vs. G(DTD) plot
bs - represents pressure gradient in fracture during closure
2n 2
s PKN
2n 3 a
s 0.9 KGD

a - degree of reduction in viscosity from the wellbore to the fracture tip

a=0 constant viscosity profile
a=1 linearly varying viscosity
rp - ratio of permeable formation thickness (hn) to fracture thickness (hf)
tp - pumping time
E - plain strain modulus = E/(1-n2)
Pw - well pressure
Fracture diagnostics
Efficiency without proppant, h, with proppant,
g( Dt cD ) go

g( Dt cD )
h Vprop(1 h ) h
where DtcD = Dtc/tp @ Pc on plot. Where Vprop is proppant volume
fraction
Fracture length, xf,
PKN KGD
(1 )Vi E 1 (1 )Vi E 1
xf * x f2 *
4gos mp h 2 4gos mp 2h f
f
Average fracture width,
Vi
w
2x f h f
1
Maximum fracture width, w 4 PKN
max w
s
1 KGD
Fracture diagnostics

Table 1. Time exponent (a) for different models

and values of n and efficiency
Fracture diagnostics

Table 2. Closure functions for different values

of a and dimensionless time
Fracture diagnostics
Example Shutin time pressure a = .5 a = 0.6
Application of Closure Analysis min. psi DtD G(DtD) pw,psi G(DtD) pw,psi
0.0 5990 0.00 0.000 5990 0 5990
0.9 5963 0.03 0.048 5963 0.05 5963
3.7 5882 0.11 0.183 5882 0.19 5882
A calibration treatment without 6.5 5811 0.19 0.306 5811 0.32 5811
proppant was pumped prior to the 9.2
12.0
5748
5694
0.26
0.34
0.417
0.526
5748
5694
0.43
0.54
5748
5694
main fracturing treatment. The 13.8 5659 0.39 0.593 5659 0.61 5659
15.7 5626 0.45 0.661 5626 0.68 5626
pertinent variables are given in Table 3, 17.5 5594 0.50 0.725 5594 0.74 5594
19.4 5564 0.55 0.790 5564 0.81 5564
whereas the pressure decline following 21.2 5534 0.61 0.850 5534 0.87 5534
shutin appears in Table 4. 23.0
24.9
5504
5474
0.66
0.71
0.909
0.970
5504
5474
0.93
0.99
5504
5474
26.7 5447 0.76 1.026 5447 1.05 5447
E = 4 x 106 psi hp = 50 ft 28.6 5418 0.82 1.085 5418 1.11 5418
n = 0.26 hf = 70 ft 30.4 5392 0.87 1.139 5392 1.16 5392
32.3 5364 0.92 1.195 5364 1.22 5364
Vi = 507.5 bbl n = 0.4
34.1 5338 0.97 1.247 5338 1.27 5338
tp = 35 min a = 0 (constant 36.0 5314 1.03 1.302 5314 1.33 5314
viscosity in fracture) 37.8 5291 1.08 1.352 5291 1.38 5291
39.6 5269 1.13 1.402 5269 1.43 5269
41.5 5247 1.19 1.454 5247 1.48 5247
Table 3. Treatment and rock variables for 43.3 5228 1.24 1.502 5228 1.53 5228
example 46.1
48.9
5200
5174
1.32
1.40
1.576
1.648
5200
5174
1.61
1.68
5200
5174
51.6 5148 1.47 1.716 5148 1.75 5148
54.4 5126 1.55 1.786 5126 1.82 5126
57.2 5106 1.63 1.854 5106 1.89 5106
59.9 5087 1.71 1.919 5087 1.95 5087

Table 4. Pressure decline measurements and

initial calculations
Fracture diagnostics
1. Dimensionless time is calculated for each shutin time and is shown in Table
Dt Dt
Dt D
t p 35
2. Dimensionless time function, G(DtD) is also shown in Table 4. For example,
from tabulated data (Table 2), assuming a = 0.6, then go = 1.52 and DtD = 0.34
then G = 0.54
6200

3. Inspection of the pressure 6000

y = -464.25x + 5931.8
5800 R2 = 0.999
decline plot reveals the following:

Pw, psi
5600

Pc, psia 5230 5400

Pc = 5230 psi
Dtc, min 42 5200
DtcD 1.19
G(DtcD) 1.49 5000
Mp 465 4800
h 0.44 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5
G Function, a = .6

Pressure decline plot for example

 d. Thickness ratio
hp 50
rp 0.714
Fracture diagnostics h f 70

e. Fluid leakoff coefficient

PKN Model mp bs h f 464(0.74)(70) 3 ft
CL 1.33 x10
a. Table 1 indicates for an n =0.4 and h = 0.44, the selection of a = 0.6 was rp t p E .714 35 (4.3x106 ) min
appropriate
f. Fracture half length
b. Calculate pressure gradient term (1 )Vi E 1 (1 .46)(2850)(4.3x106 ) 1
2n 2 2(0.4) 2 x * * 2 6
bs
f
0.74 4g os m p h f2 4(1.52)(.74)(464) 70
2n 3 a 2(0.4) 3 0
reflecting the effect of fluid flow and viscosity during closure.
where Vi = 507.5 bbl * 5.617 ft3/bbl = 2860 ft3
c. Calculate plain strain modulus
g. Average width
E
E 4.3x10 6 psi w
Vi

.46(2850)
.0145 ft or .174in
1 n 2
2x f h f 2(645)(70)

d. Thickness ratio h. Maximum width

hp 50 4w 4(.174)
rp 0.714 wmax 0.30in
h f 70 b s (.74)

e. Fluid leakoff coefficient

mp bs h f 464(0.74)(70) ft
CL 1.33x103
rp t p E .714 35 (4.3x10 ) 6
min

f. Fracture half length

(1 )Vi E 1 (1 .46)(2850)(4.3x106 ) 1
xf * * 2 645 ft
4g os m p h f2 4(1.52)(.74)(464) 70

where Vi = 507.5 bbl * 5.617 ft3/bbl = 2860 ft3

g. Average width
Vi .46(2850)
Fracture diagnostics
KGD model

a. Table 1 indicates for an n =0.4 and h = 0.44, the correct selection of a is 0.54;
therefore using a = .6 is a reasonable approximation but may introduce some
error.

b. Calculate pressure gradient term

bs = 0.9

c. Calculate plain strain modulus

(same as PKN model)

d. Thickness ratio
(same as PKN model)

e. Fracture half length

(1 )Vi E 1 (1 .46)(2850)(4.3x106 ) 1
x f2 * * 136 ft
4g os m p 2h f 4(1.52)(.9)(464) 2(70)

f. Fluid leakoff coefficient

mp bs 2 x f 464(0.9)2(136) ft
CL 6.27 x10 3
rp t p E .714 35 (4.3x10 )6
min

g. Average width
Vi .46(2850)
w 0.83in
2x f h f 2(136)(70)

h. Maximum width
4w 4(.83)
wmax 1.05 in