Hydraulic Fracturing PE

The basis of fracturing:

Pump a fluid at a high enough pressure
down the wellbore
Force the rock to open (by breaking the
rock in tension
Prop fracture to be kept open with solids
(proppants) to maintain conductivity

PE4063/6463, Well Completion – Dr. Evren OZBAYOGLU Chapter 10

Hydraulic Fracturing PE

PE4063/6463, Well Completion – Dr. Evren OZBAYOGLU Chapter 10

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 Hydraulic Fracturing PE

There are two basic reasons for fracturing a well

• To increase the production rate or
productivity
• To improve ultimate recovery

PE4063/6463, Well Completion – Dr. Evren OZBAYOGLU Chapter 10

Hydraulic Fracturing PE

PE4063/6463, Well Completion – Dr. Evren OZBAYOGLU Chapter 10

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 Hydraulic Fracturing PE

• Elasticity theory leads:

 z  b D g
     
 x   y   H  b D g     P  1  
 1    1  

• In order to have a vertical fracture:

z  H
PE4063/6463, Well Completion – Dr. Evren OZBAYOGLU Chapter 10

Hydraulic Fracturing PE

PE4063/6463, Well Completion – Dr. Evren OZBAYOGLU Chapter 10

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 Hydraulic Fracturing PE

PE4063/6463, Well Completion – Dr. Evren OZBAYOGLU Chapter 10

Hydraulic Fracturing PE

PE4063/6463, Well Completion – Dr. Evren OZBAYOGLU Chapter 10

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 Hydraulic Fracturing PE

PE4063/6463, Well Completion – Dr. Evren OZBAYOGLU Chapter 10

Hydraulic Fracturing PE

The geometry of a vertical fracture is

characterized by
• A length that is a function of time
• A width that can depend on the distance from
the wellbore, the vertical position and time
• A fracture height that depends on the distance
from the wellbore and time

 The dimensions of the fracture will change with

time as fluid is injected

PE4063/6463, Well Completion – Dr. Evren OZBAYOGLU Chapter 10

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 Hydraulic Fracturing PE

(Khristianovich-Zheltov, Geertsma, de Klerk (KGD)) (Perkins-Kern, Nordgren (PKN))

PE4063/6463, Well Completion – Dr. Evren OZBAYOGLU Chapter 10

Fluid Loss Mechanisms PE

Majorly controlled by three mechanisms

• The compression of the reservoir fluids
• The thickness of the invaded zone which
is filled with viscous fracture fluid
• The filter cake which may or may not be
present depending on the additives
contained in the fracture fluid

PE4063/6463, Well Completion – Dr. Evren OZBAYOGLU Chapter 10

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 Fluid Loss Mechanisms PE

PE4063/6463, Well Completion – Dr. Evren OZBAYOGLU Chapter 10

Fluid Loss Mechanisms PE

f k
Cc  0.0374  P 
f
k
Cv  0.0469 P


0.0164 m
Cw 
Af

1 1 1 1
 
C Cc Cv Cw

PE4063/6463, Well Completion – Dr. Evren OZBAYOGLU Chapter 10

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 Example PE

• Considering a sandstone formation, the

formation permeabillity is 2.6 md, and
porosity is 6%. Average formation fluid
viscosity is 1.0 cp, and compressibility is
given as 6.6E-5 psi-1. Reservoir pressure
is 1900 psi, and fracture treating
pressure is 6000 psi. Fracture fluid
viscosity at reservoir conditions is 1.8 cp.
Determine the total fracture coefficient
if wall building mechanism is negligible.
PE4063/6463, Well Completion – Dr. Evren OZBAYOGLU Chapter 10

Hydraulic Fracturing PE

• Fracture area
Qw  x2 2x 
A t   e erfc  x   1
4 C 2   

2C  t
x
w

2 2x  x2 x4 x6 
erfc  x    e dt  1 
t
   
2

1 
 x   1!3 2!5 3!7 

PE4063/6463, Well Completion – Dr. Evren OZBAYOGLU Chapter 10

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 erfc(x) PE

PE4063/6463, Well Completion – Dr. Evren OZBAYOGLU Chapter 10

Fracture Job
Efficiency PE

Vf w A  t  1  x2 2x 
Ef    2 e erfc  x   1
Vi Qt x   

PE4063/6463, Well Completion – Dr. Evren OZBAYOGLU Chapter 10

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 Example PE

• Calculate the fracture efficiency if

the injection volume is 40,000
gallons, injection rate is 30 bbl/min,
fracture width is 0.2 in, and fracture
mechanism coefficient is 2.22E-3 .
Also, determine the surface area at
t = 32 min.

PE4063/6463, Well Completion – Dr. Evren OZBAYOGLU Chapter 10

Fracturing Hydraulics PE

• Total horsepower required

HP  0.0245 Qt Ps

• Surface pressure
Ps  Pt  Pf  Pp  Phyd

 Usually, 70 % of the burst pressure is considered to be

the maximum applicable injection pressure
PE4063/6463, Well Completion – Dr. Evren OZBAYOGLU Chapter 10

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 Fracturing Hydraulics PE

• Frac treating pressure

Pt  g f D

• Hydrostatic pressure
x
Phyd  0.052 T D T 
1  0.0456 x

• Frictional losses
2 f f T v 2
Pf  L f f  f  NRe 
Dh
• Loss at perforations
T QT 2
Pp  2
8090 Ap
PE4063/6463, Well Completion – Dr. Evren OZBAYOGLU Chapter 10

Proppants PE

PE4063/6463, Well Completion – Dr. Evren OZBAYOGLU Chapter 10

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 Proppants PE

PE4063/6463, Well Completion – Dr. Evren OZBAYOGLU Chapter 10

Proppants PE

PE4063/6463, Well Completion – Dr. Evren OZBAYOGLU Chapter 10

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 Proppants PE

PE4063/6463, Well Completion – Dr. Evren OZBAYOGLU Chapter 10

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