Performance based

fracture design
Mikhail Tuzovskiy
University of Houston
Sep 28, 2018
Content
• What is the “right" fracture design? And what “right” means?

• How to find the optimal fracture geometry and create a

pumping scheduled required to active it?

• Which tools Oil Co. frac engineers could use to better set the
performance targets for Frac Service Co. engineers equipped
with the sophisticated fracture simulation software?
Hydraulic fracture geometry

2xf

h
wf
xe
Fracture design
Proppant
Wide and
short

?
Skinny and long
Optimal fracture geometry
Pumping schedule

Slurry
Slurry rate,
Time, min concentration
bpm
, ppga

? 1
2
20
20
0
3
3 20 5
Optimal pumping schedule
Fracturing engineers

Oil Co. frac engineer Service Co. frac engineer

Fracturing as usual
Oil Co. Frac Engineer Frac Co. Frac Engineer
I need 10 fracs
Design the jobs for me
please?
Ok
I ran a simulation cases,
here are the designs
Looks good, approved
Job done
Fracturing based on performance
Oil Co. Frac Engineer Frac Co. Frac Engineer
I need 10 fracs
Please find attached the
target fracture geometry
and the pumping schedule
Ok!)
I ran a simulation cases,
the constrains allow the
proppant placement as
per proposed design
Good, let’s do it!
Job done
50% more oil rate!
Tools for you

Fracture geometry Pumping schedule

Summary
Q: What is the “right" fracture design? And what “right” means?
A: Fracture geometry that gives maximum well productivity

Q: How to find the optimal fracture geometry and create a pumping

scheduled required to active it?
A: Should be calculated based on reservoir and proppant properties

Q: Which tools Oil Co. frac engineers could use to better set the
performance targets for Frac Service Co. engineers equipped with
the sophisticated fracture simulation software?
A: optiFrac and fracDesign tools on www.pengtools.com
Questions?

Demo?

Math and Physics?