07 Introduction To Hydraulic Fracturing

Quartz School fortoWell
7. Introduction SiteFracturing
Hydraulic Supervisors
Module – 13
Work Over Operations
Section – 7
Introduction to
Hydraulic Fracturing
C. Alvarez
7. Introduction to Hydraulic Fracturing
Introduction to Hydraulic Fracturing
C. Alvarez Quartz School. Module 13: Work Over Operations / Section 7: Introduction to Hydraulic Fracturing
Low Permeability Reservoir

Increase well productivity by creating a highly conductive path compared to
the reservoir permeability.
Damage
XL = Fracture half length XL
The fracture will extend through the damaged near wellbore area.
The fracture size is limited to two criteria :
Drainage Radius
Cost
Fracturing is : Pumping fluid into the formation above fracture pressure.
3 PA
04/25/2006
Applications for Hydraulic Fracturing
If wells natural permeability is low ( Ke < 10 md )
Natural production is below economic potential
Skin By-Pass “ HyperSTIM “ or higher permeability and soft formations.
Modify flow regime deep within the formation (tens to hundreds of feet)
The injected fluid is pumped at a rate above the fracture pressure

of the reservoir to create cracks or fractures within the rock itself.
4 PA
04/25/2006
Hydraulic Fracturing Treatment
Primary Purpose :
To increase the effective wellbore area by creating a fracture of length XL
whose conductivity is greater than that of the formation.
Dimensionless Conductivity ( Fcd ) = Kf Wf / Ke Xf
Two Methods :
Sand Frac
Acid Frac
5 PA
04/25/2006
Dimensionless Fracture Conductivity
kfw
CfD = k xf
rw' / xf
where: kf = Fracture Permeability (mD)
w = Average fracture width (ft)

xf = Fracture Half-Length (ft)
k = Formation Permeability (mD)
6 PA
04/25/2006 CfD
C. Alvarez
Hydraulic Fracture
Modification of reservoir flow
Linear Flow: Early times and

for infinite conductivity fractures
Bi-linear Flow: Finite conductivity

fractures
Psuedo-radial Flow: Long time

7 PA
04/25/2006
C. Alvarez
Hydraulic Fracture
Acid and Propped Fracturing
open fracture fracture tends to close

during pumping once the pressure has
0.5" been
released
PROPPED FRACTURE ACID FRACTURE
Acid etches fracture

Sand/proppant used to surface
prop Formation integrity
the fracture open prevents
collapse
8 PA
04/25/2006
C. Alvarez
Advantages of Hydraulic Fracturing
• Connect discontinuous hydrocarbon bearing formations

- Production from lenticular formations
• Connect naturally fissured system
• Assure production from laminated intervals
• Distribute pressure drop along the fracture length

- Hydraulic fracturing for sand control
9 PA
04/25/2006
C. Alvarez
Advantages of Hydraulic Fracturing
Connecting Lenticular Reservoirs Naturally Fissured Systems
Sub - Parallel Fissures
Orthogonal Fissures
Connecting Laminated Formations

Distribution of Wellbore Drawdown
Pay stimulated by
a fracture treatment Pressure
Reduction in formation
sand production
Distance
10 PA Pay stimulated by
04/25/2006
an acid treatment
C. Alvarez
Harsh Fracturing Environments
• Very high permeability ( 1-2 Darcy )
- Exceptionally high poroelastic effects
• Weak barriers to fracture height growth
• Very high pore pressure (i.e. over pressurized reservoirs)
• Formations with a high degree of natural fissures
• Proximity to oil-water contact
• Lenticular formations bounded by higher stressed formations

11 PA
04/25/2006
Typical Formations
• Very tight formations => mD permeability
• Wells with significant damage
• Good producing wells (high permeability formations)
• Fracture for Sand Control
Every well should be considered for hydraulic fracturing

12 PA
04/25/2006
Fractures in High Permeability Formations
1.00
• Low Permeability
xf
r'w =
Low Permeability
xf limited
2
r w' / x f
0.10
High Permeability
• High Permeability kf w limited
kf w
r' w = 0.28 0.01
k 0.1 1 10
FCD
100 1000
13 PA
04/25/2006
Fractures in High Permeability Formations
kf w
r 'w = 0.28
k
• Increase in r’w => large fracture conductivity

– Increased fracture width
– Increased fracture permeability
• Fracture length not important

– Short fractures bypassing near wellbore
damage
14 PA
04/25/2006
Importance of Fracture Width
• Overcome detrimental effects of propping embedment
• Reduce skin effects due to non-darcy hydrocarbon flow in

fracture (significant in gas wells)
• Reduce convergent flow skin, particularly for deviated

wellbores.
15 PA
04/25/2006
Propping Embedment in High Perm
• Reduced propped width and

conductivity
– 40% reduction in width
– 1.5 - 2.0 lb/ft2 prop. conc.
loss
• Damage to proppant pack

from subsequent fines
migration
• Higher in soft formations, larger proppant sizes and increased

fluid leakoff
16 PA
04/25/2006
Propping Embedment
4.00
)
3.00
2
Embedment (lb/ft
2.00
1.00
Embedment
2
at 7 lb/ft
0.00
0 300,000 600,000 900,000 1,200,000
Modulus (psi)
17 PA
04/25/2006
Productivity Increase
High Permeability Low Permeability
Formations Formations
Folds of Increase, (J/Jo)
14 100%
90%
12
80%
70%
10 60% Xf
8 50% re
40%
6 30%
20%
4 10%
2
2 3 4 5 6
10 10 10 10 10
kf w 40
Relative Conductivity,
k A
18 PA
04/25/2006
C. Alvarez
19 PA
04/25/2006
C. Alvarez
Fracture Length
Propped Length
Effective Length
Hydraulic Length
20 PA
04/25/2006
C. Alvarez
Propped Fracture Optimization
Optimize the reservoir deliverability by balancing fracture

characteristics and reservoir properties
Analyze the effect of production systems :
Nodal Analysis
Determine the pumping parameters :
Minifrac (DataFRAC*)
Tailor the fracturing fluid and proppant to the reservoir
Determine treatment size (Fluid & proppant amount)
Calculate XLand FCD
Calculate the benefit of the treatment => $
21 FracNPV
PA
04/25/2006
Acid Fracture
Bottom hole pressure above fracturing pressure
Acid reacts with the formation
Fracture is etched
Formation must retain integrity without fracture collapse
22 PA
04/25/2006
Hydraulic Fracturing Accomplishes:
Creates Deep Penetrating Fractures to :
Improve productivity
Interconnect formation permeability
Improve ultimate recovery
Aid in secondary recovery
Increase ease of injectivity
A hydraulic Fracture has to be cost effective to the operator.

23 PA
04/25/2006
Fracture Penetration is influenced by:

FORMATION CHARACTERISTICS :
Type
Hardness
Permeability
Zone Height “ Presence of Barriers “
Drainage Radius
FRAC FLUID CHARACTERISTICS :
Base Fluid
Viscosity
Volume
Pump Rate
24 PA
Fluid Loss
04/25/2006
Orientation of The Fracture
The fracture will extend perpendicular to the axis of the least stress.
X - Y - Z Coordinate :
Overburden Pressure
Favored Fracture Direction
Least Principal Stress
(i.e. Vertical Fracture)

25 PA
04/25/2006
Hydraulic Fracture Fracture Orientation
Overburden Pressure
Vertical fracture plane is

perpendicular to earth’s
surface due to overburden
stress being too great to
overcome
Least Principal
Stress
Maximum Rule of Thumb

Principal Stress Overburden Pressure/Least FG < 0.8 psi/ft = Vertical Fracture
Principal Stress FG > 1.0 psi/ft = Horizontal Fracture
Intermediate
Principal Stress Horizontal fracture with a
pancake like geometry.
Usually associated with
shallow wells of less than
3,000 ft. depth
26 PA
04/25/2006
C. Alvarez
Maximum Principal Stress
Decision Tree For Stimulation

Start
Production Test
K, S
Analyze
Skin
Mech Pseudo
Skin
Wellbore Zero
Skin Recommendation
Location K<20
Wellbore No
Clean Up
No Candidate Yes
Matrix for high K HCI Yes
Treatment Frac Soluble
No Acid
Be Happy
Prop Frac
Frac
Predict
Production
Do Don’t
$
27 PA
04/25/2006 End
Hydraulic Fracturing Equipment
C. Alvarez
Example of a “massive” (High Volume) Frac Job
29 PA
04/25/2006
Example of a “massive” (High Volume) Frac Job
30 PA
04/25/2006
Frac Pump
31 PA
04/25/2006
Precision Continuos Mixer - PCM
Built to reduce time on location Ramp gel loadings

Reduces cost to client No disposal problems
32 PA
04/25/2006
C. Alvarez
POD Phase II Blender - SBT-612
33 PA
04/25/2006
High-Rate Sand Feeder - SSS-351
34 PA
04/25/2006
SUS-701 Blender Sand-Hopper
35 PA
04/25/2006
Monitoring and Control

JMU : SMT 502R FracCAT MV: SMT 503
FracCAT MV:
SMT 504
36 PA
04/25/2006
C. Alvarez
General Field View
37 PA
04/25/2006
C. Alvarez
Wellhead
Tree Saver
Remote Controlled Master Valve on
the tree
Ground Master Valve
Bleed Lines
Check Valves
Pressure Sensors
Flow Meter
Density Meter
38 PA
04/25/2006
C. Alvarez
Central Manifold : Missile

High Pressure and Low Pressure
2 ea 3” High Pressure Lines, 15,000
psi WP
40 BPM
Up to 10 Pumps
4” Low Pressure, 70 psi
39 PA
04/25/2006
Annulus Control
Main Valves
Bleed Lines
Pressure Sensors
Check Valves
Pop-Off Valves
Annulus 1 Annulus 2
9-5/8” Casing 7” Casing
40 PA
04/25/2006
C. Alvarez
HP Pumps
fluid end 2000 hhp engine
4” LP suction
3’ HP discharge
Catfrac Main line SPF 942 “saharian’
HP line max 15000psi

LP line 70psi
Catfrac SPF 942

F-head inline fluid end
triplex 3.5’ x 8’ triplex 4.5’ x 11’
41 PA
04/25/2006
POD Blender
Control
Cabin
Liquid
additive
Dry add
EB Clean
PCM
8” +4”
Discharge
manifold
Vortex
42 PA
04/25/2006
Precision Control Mixer - PCM
control cabin
4 liquid add
slurry gel
KCl pump
Discharge 8”+4”
hydrostatic tank 5 mixing compartment

50 bbl residence tank
suction 2x8” 200 bbl
43 PA
04/25/2006
“SandChief”, Frac Tanks, Blender

Storage
Conveyor belt
Mixing Gate
4” return
circulation
batch mixing
8 “ suction
tank manifold
4x4” to blender
44 PA
04/25/2006 8 bbl tub with
horizontal paddle
Monitoring and Control VAN
FracCAT ControlRoom TCV pump Room
Data Display
Computer control Digital & graphic Remote
operator
POD Monitoring
Catfrac
remote panel
Client Witness
Client Digital & graphic and engineer
Monitoring
Well Services
SPF 942
Pump operator
remote panel
45 PA
Frac
04/25/2006
Engineer
Frac
Quartz School. Module 13: Work OverMaster
Operations / Section 7: Introduction to Hydraulic Fracturing
C. Alvarez
Fracturing Equipment Layout – Massive Fracs Pumps
2" Re-circulation
Hose Tank
8" Suction
Frac Tanks Hose
High Choke 2" Bleed
off Pipe
PCM pressure 3" Pipe 2 x 1 Plug
POD II manifold valves
3-way
Chiksan
3x3
3" Pipe plug
valve 2-way Chiksan
Wellhead and
Schlumberger Mast
Valve
Bridge:
2-way & Flapper
3-way Check
Chiksan valve Pressure
4" 3 x 3 Isolation Transducers
Discharge Plug Valve In- line
Hose densitometer
8" Suction
Hose
4 “ Suction 4"Discharge
Hoses
Hose 4 pin
sensor
cable
Sand Hopper
FracCAT
125 ft 37 pin
pump cable
7 pin POD
data cable
Sensor Cable
46 PA
04/25/2006
Sand Chief 7 pin PCM
data cable
C. Alvarez

07 Introduction To Hydraulic Fracturing

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Quartz School fortoWell

Introduction to Hydraulic Fracturing

Low Permeability Reservoir

XL = Fracture half length XL

Applications for Hydraulic Fracturing

 If wells natural permeability is low ( Ke < 10 md )

 Natural production is below economic potential

 Skin By-Pass “ HyperSTIM “ or higher permeability and soft formations.

The injected fluid is pumped at a rate above the fracture pressure

Hydraulic Fracturing Treatment

Dimensionless Conductivity ( Fcd ) = Kf Wf / Ke Xf

Dimensionless Fracture Conductivity

where: kf = Fracture Permeability (mD)

w = Average fracture width (ft)

Linear Flow: Early times and

Bi-linear Flow: Finite conductivity

Psuedo-radial Flow: Long time

open fracture fracture tends to close

PROPPED FRACTURE ACID FRACTURE

Acid etches fracture

Advantages of Hydraulic Fracturing

• Connect discontinuous hydrocarbon bearing formations

• Connect naturally fissured system

• Assure production from laminated intervals

• Distribute pressure drop along the fracture length

Sub - Parallel Fissures

Connecting Laminated Formations

• Weak barriers to fracture height growth

• Very high pore pressure (i.e. over pressurized reservoirs)

• Formations with a high degree of natural fissures

• Proximity to oil-water contact

• Lenticular formations bounded by higher stressed formations

• Very tight formations => mD permeability

• Wells with significant damage

• Good producing wells (high permeability formations)

• Fracture for Sand Control

Every well should be considered for hydraulic fracturing

Fractures in High Permeability Formations

Fractures in High Permeability Formations

• Increase in r’w => large fracture conductivity

• Fracture length not important

Importance of Fracture Width

• Overcome detrimental effects of propping embedment

• Reduce skin effects due to non-darcy hydrocarbon flow in

• Reduce convergent flow skin, particularly for deviated

Propping Embedment in High Perm

• Reduced propped width and

• Damage to proppant pack

• Higher in soft formations, larger proppant sizes and increased

Optimize the reservoir deliverability by balancing fracture

 Bottom hole pressure above fracturing pressure

 Acid reacts with the formation

 Formation must retain integrity without fracture collapse

Hydraulic Fracturing Accomplishes:

Creates Deep Penetrating Fractures to :

A hydraulic Fracture has to be cost effective to the operator.

Fracture Penetration is influenced by:

Favored Fracture Direction

Least Principal Stress

(i.e. Vertical Fracture)

Vertical fracture plane is

Maximum Rule of Thumb

Decision Tree For Stimulation

If wells natural permeability is low ( Ke < 10 md )

Natural production is below economic potential

Skin By-Pass “ HyperSTIM “ or higher permeability and soft formations.

Bottom hole pressure above fracturing pressure

Acid reacts with the formation

Formation must retain integrity without fracture collapse