IPA18-157-E

PROCEEDINGS, INDONESIAN PETROLEUM ASSOCIATION

Forty-Second Annual Convention & Exhibition, May 2018

WELL PRODUCTION PERFORMANCE AND FRACTURE HEIGHT EVALUATION USING

GAMMA RAY TOOL, CASE OF SISI NUBI FRACTURED WELLS

Fia Utama*
Ruchita Kusuma*
Moch Rushatmanto*
Haris Hidayat*

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION

Sisi-Nubi is a gas condensate field located in East
Kalimantan, lying roughly 25 km offshore of the
modern Mahakam delta. Seven hydraulic fracturing
jobs were done in the field, targeting Sisi Main Zone
which is the lowest reservoir in Sisi-Nubi,
characterized by low permeability sand-shale
intercalated layers.
Post fracturing job evaluation shows that high well
production corresponds to extended vertical fracture
growth which by passing the shale layers to connect
several sand bodies. The best fractured well was put
on production in mid 2010 and it can produce up to
30 MMscfd. This successful fracturing produces
from two markers contain thick laminated sand
accumulation. Methods are exists for fracture height
evaluation, the most common one is radioactive
tracers with Gamma Ray Tool as radioactivity
detector which has been implemented in 2 fractured
wells in Sisi-Nubi. However, determining fracture
height with stand alone gamma ray in the absence of
tracers is possible for ceramic or man-made
proppants (clay based) since they have relatively
high gamma ray compared to reservoir sand. This
approach also been applied in Sisi-Nubi and brings a
clear clue in estimating the fracture height. The
advantages of this approach are less cost, no need for
dedicated run and eliminating operational constrain
linked to radioactive source handling. The data
acquisition itself can be obtained from any routine
well interventions in combination with gamma ray
tool run during well life.
This paper demonstrates the impact of extended
vertical fracture growth in the production of Sisi
Nubi fractured wells and describes a simple method
of using stand alone GR to estimate fracture height
without radioactive tracers.
Keywords: Production, fracture height, hydraulic
fracturing, gamma ray.
Sisi Nubi is a gas condensate field situated in the
external axis of modern Mahakam Delta, 25 km
offshore with 60-80m of water depth (Figure 1). The
production was started in 2007 and currently has
reached more than 1 Tcf of cumulative gas
production. The field is dominated by multiple layers
of unconsolidated sand in Shallow and Fresh Water
Sand (FWS) Zone and consolidated sand found in
Sisi Main Zone (SMZ). Each zone developed by
different strategy depends on reservoir
characteristics. Sand control such as Gravel Pack is
extensively used to produce gas from unconsolidated
sand in Shallow and FWS Zone. While Sisi Main
Zone is developed by normal perforation and
hydraulic fracturing stimulation.
Sisi main zone is the lowest reservoir series in Sisi
Nubi which characterized by low permeability sand
(0.1 – 10 mD) intercalated by shale layers located at
interval 2800 – 3850 mSS. The series are interpreted
as storm deposits in an open marine environment and
the reservoirs are interpreted as offshore bars,
elongated shaped and situated parallel with the shelf
break line. In Sisi area, sands can be vertically
stacked to form thick accumulations (50 to 100m)
which mainly deposited in SMZ Lower. While in the
Nubi area the sands are present in all over the section
but mainly concentrated in SMZ Upper with several
meters of thickness. The partition of SMZ Upper and
Lower is based on productivity contrast between
both sections. Higher productivity in SMZ Upper
suggests that normal perforation strategy still
possible to be applied in producing the gas. However,
normal perforation is not always adequate in
developing SMZ Lower with poorer productivity.
Hydraulic fracturing was proposed as an alternative
considering that SMZ reservoirs are highly laminated
and offer a better solution to increase reservoir
productivity and recovery.

* Pertamina Hulu Mahakam

Hydraulic fracturing jobs have been done in 7 wells
from 2009 to 2013 targeting SMZ lower in western
panel of Sisi area where thick sand accumulations are
present. All fracturing operations are considered as
technically successful since formation breakdowns
were achieved along with the lateral and vertical
propagation. However, among those 7 wells only 3
wells are giving satisfying production results. An
outstanding production is given by a well with an
extended vertical fracture growth that connects thick
laminated sand accumulations in 2 layers. Since
SMZ pay zone is intercalated by multiple shale
layers, extended vertical fracture is preferred.
Therefore, it is important to evaluate vertical
fractures extension in Sisi Nubi fractured wells.
FRACTURE HEIGHT EVALUATION
METHODOLOGY
Methods are exists for fracture height evaluation, for
example Dipole Sonic, Micro-seismic, Pulsed
Neutron Capture and Acoustic Sensing with fiber
optic. The most common method is radioactive
tracers with Gamma Ray Tool as radioactivity
detector. However, those tools require dedicate run,
extra cost and operational constrain which often
linked to radioactive source handling.
Basically, stand alone Gamma Ray (GR) tool has not
been categorized as fracture evaluation tool. The tool
doesn’t utilize radioactive source, but it measures
natural formation gamma ray. In this case,
determining fracture height without tracers then
become possible for ceramic or man-made proppants
(clay based) since they have relatively high gamma
ray compared to sand formation. The interpretation
is simply by comparing open-hole GR and cased-
hole GR post fracturing job, any increase in cased-
hole GR response after fracturing job is associated to
proppants presence in the formation. Thus, effective
fracture height which filled by proppants can be
observed visually. Stand alone GR is proven for
Gravel Pack (GP) evaluation to estimate top of
proppants and void with the same methodology.
However, the measured GR radioactivity is
significantly higher in GP compared to fracture due
to different amount of proppants accumulated near
the wellbore. Fracture width is less than 1 inch with
proppants inside to keep the fracture opened.
However, separation between GR open-hole and GR
cased-hole still can be observed. This method is
validated by comparing evaluation from GR stand
alone to GR-tracers method in well FU-711.
Other advantage of this method is data can be
acquired from any routine well interventions with
GR tool run during well life. Therefore, frequent
monitoring in fracture height as well as preliminary
assessment of proppants carry over to surface is
possible. However, this method will not work for any
natural sand proppants and gamma ray response can
be affected by the presence of radioactive Pip Tag
and completion characteristics.
Sisi Nubi Hydraulic Fracturing Wells
Sisi Nubi fractured wells were drilled with J-Shaped
trajectory and completed by tubingless completion.
In order to minimize risk of failure in fracturing
operation the wells should achieve maximum 10 to
15 deg of deviation in SMZ reservoir section. Among
7 fractured wells, only 5 wells with cased-hole GR
survey post fracturing job will be discussed in this
chapter. The cased-hole GR data will be used to
evaluate fracture height based on comparison
between GR open-hole and GR cased-hole. Other
fracturing parameters such as fracture penetration
and fracture width cannot be evaluated by this
qualitative interpretation. Comparison to the fracture
design is provided in order to have the idea about
what had been expected initially from the fracturing
job.
The 5 fracturing jobs were targeting the thickest
laminated sand accumulation in two layers of SMZ
lower: FSy-xc and FSy-xx. The well correlation in
both layers is described in Figure 2. Typical
formation porosity and permeability is 8 – 12% and
0.2 – 4 mD respectively with total thickness can
reach 50m or more. Typical perforation length for
fracturing jobs is 5 meters, it is considered as small
interval compared to the total formation thickness.
The purposes are to minimize the pressure loss and
the proppants can be injected focus at one point to
ease formation breakdown. Ceramic type proppant
with 20/40 size were used. The amount of proppant
and slurry injected varying depend on the design.
The fracture gradients are quite similar ranging from
0.58 to 0.66 psi/ft. All wells were started up right
after the fracturing jobs, thus production data before
fracturing are not available. Table 1 shows the 5
fractured wells summary along with the associated
production results.
Example#1 Well FU-601
FU-601 is the first fractured well targeting the layers,
virgin and homogeneous reservoirs pressure were
encountered. The fracturing job was conducted in
June 2010 through 6m perforation interval (4590 –
4596mBRT) in layer FSy-xx. Total slurry of 2.9 kbbl
along with 197 klbs of ceramic proppants were
injected into the well bore during main frac
treatment.
One GR cased-hole data was acquired 2 years after
the fracturing job. No tracers were injected into the
formation thus the measured GR radioactivity was
purely coming from the proppants. Visible
separation is observed at GR open-hole and GR
cased-hole comparison. This evaluation is able to
indicate vertical fracture grow that propagate
above and below perforation interval into 2 layers
FSy-xc and FSy-xx with 60m in height and ranged
from 4555 to 4615 mBRT (Figure 3, track 3). This
number is in line with fracture design calculation
where 72m of maximum fracture height is
estimated. This well is the best fractured well in
Sisi Nubi hydraulic fracturing history. It was
started up at 15 MMscfd and can be ramped up to
30 MMscfd. The well has been produced from the
fractured reservoirs for more than 7 years without
any additional perforation. It has become the
biggest producer in the layers and main source of
depletion for other fractured wells. As of end 2017,
the well is still producing at 7MMscfd (Figure 4).
Any future GR surveys will be interesting to
ensure the vertical fracture extension.
Example#2 Well FU-111
The hydraulic fracturing target is layer FSy-xc
with range of porosity and permeability 9.6 - 12%
and 0.2 - 2.3mD respectively. 5m of perforation
was conducted prior to fracturing job at interval
3926 – 3931mBRT. Reservoirs pressure is slightly
depleted at 0.85 deq, the depletion mainly comes
from well FU-601 production. The operation was
conducted in March 2013 by injecting total slurry
volume of 940 bbl carrying 109 klbs of ceramic
proppants during main frac treatment. Formation
breakdown was achieved at fracture gradient of
0.66 psi/ft.
GR cased-hole data is available which was acquired
during production logging data acquisition 2 years
after fracturing job. It gives fracture height indication
in the vicinity of perforation interval which is
estimated at 9m in height and ranged from 3923 –
3932 mBRT. This estimation is less compared to
24m from the design. Despite limited, vertical
fracture propagation is clearly observed above
perforation interval. However, fracture propagation
below perforation interval is likely possible (Figure
5). In this well, fracture is expected to have more
important in lateral extension than vertical
propagation. Although fractures were formed in the
formation, the production is less satisfying (Figure 6)
Example#3 Well FU-511
The fracturing operation was conducted in April
2013. Total slurry of 1 kbbl and 121 klbs of ceramic
proppants were injected into the well bore through
5m perforation interval (4082 – 4087mBRT) during
main frac treatment. Layer FSy-xc with 8 - 11%
porosity and maximum permeability of 0.4 mD was
targeted. Reservoir pressure was estimated at 0.61
deq during main frac treatment. The formation
breakdown was achieved at 0.63 psi/ft fracture
gradient.
One GR cased-hole data is available which was
acquired 2 year after the fracturing job. Comparison
with GR open-hole giving an indication that the
fracture development limited only at 5m perforated
interval, significantly less compared to 81m from the
design (Figure 7). The well was successfully put on
production at Qg 5 MMscfd with cumulative gas
production reaching 2 bcf from the fractured
reservoirs (Figure 8).
Example#4 Well FU-611
Hydraulic fracturing operation was started in
November 2013. Formation breakdown was
achieved at fracture gradient 0.65 psi/ft with
estimated fluid efficiency of 59%. During main frac
treatment, total 95 klbs of ceramic propants and 834
bbl slurry were injected into the wellbore through 5m
perforation interval (4530 – 4535 mBRT). Layer
target is FSy-xx with range of porosity and
permeability 8.6 – 11% and 0.6 – 4 mD respectively.
More shale layers are present in this well since its
location is far from the centre of sand deposition
which situated in well FU-601 area.
Radioactive tracer was injected during fracturing
operation, therefore GR cased-hole radioactivity
level is much stronger than previous examples. GR
cased-hole data acquisition was acquired right after
the fracturing job. Comparison with GR open-hole
indicates that fracture slightly grew above and below
perforated interval. Very clear response from tracers
indicates that 12m of fracture height was developed
from 4526 to 4538 mBRT. This number is
significantly less compared to the design which
estimates 150m of fracture height (Figure 9). The
production itself also less satisfying (Figure 10)
Example#5 Well FU-711
Hydraulic fracturing job was completed by injecting
49 klbs of ceramic proppants and 555 bbl of slurry
into the wellbore during main frac treatment. The
operation which was conducted in October 2013 was
targeting layer FSy-xc. Formation pressure was
depleted at 0.67 deq with max porosity and max
permeability is 11.2% and 4 mD respectively.
Formation breakdown was achieved through 5m
perforation interval (4123 – 4128 mBRT) with 0.58
psi/ft fracture gradient and 59% fluid efficiency.
Tracer was also applied in this well to clearly
visualize vertical fracture propagation. Two GR
cased-hole data are available which were acquired
right after fracturing job and 1.5 years later. Fracture
height can be clearly seen by tracer vertical extension
from 4117 – 4132mBRT (15m). Meanwhile, newer
GR cased-hole shows that fracture height only
developed along the perforated interval. However, a
closer look into the newer GR data leads to possible
further vertical extension away from perforated
interval since limited GR separations are still
visually observed. In the end, both methods give
similar fracture height indication (Figure 11).
Significant reduction in tracer radioactivity was
occur possibly due to proppants flow back during
clean up or production.
CONCLUSIONS
Five examples of fractured wells in the Sisi Nubi
Field were presented. All hydraulic fracturing jobs
were technically successful but few giving satisfying
production. Outstanding production is given by well
FU-601 where extended vertical fracture propagation
was formed to connect thick laminated sand
accumulation in layer FSy-xc and FSy-xx.
Stand alone GR evaluation method is able to define
fracture height in the Sisi Nubi fractured wells. The
method is validated by comparison to conventional
GR-tracer technique. The advantages of this method
are simple, no dedicated run and eliminating
operational constrain linked to radioactive source
handling. The data acquisition itself can be obtained
from any routine well interventions with gamma ray
tool run during well life. However, this method only
works for ceramic or manmade propants (clay based)
and not applicable for any natural sand proppants.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors would like to thank MIGAS, INPEX,
and PHM for permissions to publish this paper.
Many thanks are also extended to PHM and PHI
Management for the support.
REFERENCES
Gadeken, L.L., Fox, P.E., Brumley, J.L., Wehunt,
C.D., Thurston, F.K., Nasution, R.D. 1997.
Enhancing Frac-Pack Evaluations With Directional
and Spectral Gamma Ray Measurements. Paper SPE
38589 presented at the SPE Annual Technical
Conference and Exhibition, San Antonio, Texas,
October 5-8.
Rushatmanto, M., Ruau, O., Muryanto, B., Abergel,
T. 2015. A Simple Method for Gravel Pack
Evaluation Using Gamma Ray Tool. Paper SPE-
176367-MS presented at the SPE/IATMI Asia
Pacific Oil & Gas Conference and Exibition, Bali,
Indonesia, October 20-22.
Willis, G.B. 1991. Estimating Fracture Height from
Gamma Ray Spectroscopy of Radioactive Tracers: A
Case Study. Paper SPE 21833 presented at the Rocky
Mountain Regional Meeting and Low-Permeability
Reservoirs Symposium, Denver, Colorado, April 15-
17.
 TABLE 1

SISI NUBI FRACTURED WELLS SUMMARY

Start-up date (after Max Gas Rate Cum. Production end

Well name
fracturing) (MMscfd) 2017 (Bcf)
FU-601 Jun 2010 30 33
FU-111 May 2013 5 0.4
FU-511 May 2013 6 2
FU-611 Feb 2014 2.5 0.15
FU-711 Feb 2014 1.7 0.14
Figure 1 - The Sisi Nubi Field located 25 km offshore of modern Mahakam Delta with water depth 60-80m.

Figure 2 - Fractured well correlation in layer FSy-xc and FSy-xx which located in West panel of Sisi Area.
Thick laminated sand accumulations (50 – 100m) are present in the area and targeted as hydraulic
fracturing candidate
Figure 3 - Well FU-601 fracture height evaluation shows extended vertical fracture propagation estimated at
60m in height from GR open-hole and GR cased-hole separation (track 3). The estimated fracture
height is in line with 72m from the design.

FU‐601
Gas Rate Cum. Production
35 35

30 30

25 25
Cum. Production (Bcf)
Gas Rate (MMscfd)

20 20

15 15

10 10

5 5

0 0
Jan‐10 Jan‐11 Jan‐12 Jan‐13 Jan‐14 Jan‐15 Jan‐16 Jan‐17 Jan‐18

Figure 4 - Well FU-601 production profile from fractured reservoirs. It is the best fractured well in Sisi Nubi
hydraulic fracturing history. The well can flow up 30 MMscfd and produces more than 30 Bcf
cumulative gas.
Figure 5 - Well FU-111 fracture height evaluation shows 9m of vertical fracture propagation. This number is
less than the design which estimates vertical fracture grows up to 24m. In this well, limited fracture
grows above perforated interval is observed.
FU‐111
Gas Rate Cum. Production
5 0.5

4 0.4 Cum. Production (Bcf)
Gas Rate (MMscfd)

3 0.3

2 0.2

1 0.1

0 0
Jan‐13 Jul‐13 Jan‐14 Jul‐14 Jan‐15

Figure 6 - Well FU-111 production profile from fractured reservoirs. Although fracture was successfully
formed in the formation, the production is less satisfying
Figure 7 - Well FU-511 fracture height evaluation indicates that fracture was developed only in the 5m of
perforated interval. No fracture propagation above and below perforated interval. This number is
significantly less compared to the design which estimates 81m of fracture height.

FU‐511
Gas Rate Cum. Production
6 3

5 2.5

Cum. Production (Bcf)
Gas Rate (MMscfd)

4 2

3 1.5

2 1

1 0.5

0 0
Jan‐13 Jul‐13 Jan‐14 Jul‐14 Jan‐15 Jul‐15

Figure 8 - Well FU-511 production profile from fractured reservoirs. After fracturing job, the well was
successfully put on production at Qg 5 MMscfd with cumulative gas production reaching 2 bcf.
Figure 9 - Well FU-611 fracture height evaluation indicates very clear response from tracer that 12m of
fracture was developed from 4526 to 4538 mBRT. This number is significantly less compared to
the design which estimates 150m of fracture height. Radioactive tracer was injected during the
fracturing job, therefore GR cased-hole radioactivity level is much stronger than previous
examples.

FU‐611
Gas Rate Cum. Production
3 0.3
Cum. Production (Bcf)
Gas Rate (MMscfd)

2 0.2

1 0.1

0 0
Jan‐14 Mar‐14 May‐14 Jul‐14

Figure 10 - Well FU-611 production profile from fractured reservoirs. Although fracture was successfully
formed in the formation, it brings very limited production.
Figure 11 - Well FU-711 fracture height evaluation indicates that the fracture can be clearly seen by tracer
vertical extension from 4117 – 4132mBRT (15m). Newer GR cased-hole data (tracer effect
disappears) indicates similar fracture height estimation. This comparison validate the robustness
of standalone GR evaluation

FU‐711
Gas Rate Cum. Production
2 0.2
Cum. Production (Bcf)
Gas Rate (MMscfd)

1 0.1

0 0
Jan‐14 Apr‐14 Jul‐14 Oct‐14 Jan‐15

Figure 12 - Well FU-711 production profile from fractured reservoirs. Although fracture was successfully
formed in the formation, it brings very limited production.