Introduction to Fracturing

Duke Gray August 26th , 2010

Objectives
Overview of fracturing Identify and explain porosity and permeability and how they relate to fracturing Identify the four principal parameters of fracturing design Explain effective wellbore radius (rw) Introduce general hydraulic fracturing materials

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Fracturing Overview
Hydraulic fracturing involves the injection of fluids into the formation at a rate and pressure above the fracture pressure of the reservoir in order to create a fracture within the rock itself. We then pack this space with proppant which:
Improves productivity Interconnects formation permeability Improves EUR (Estimated Ultimate Recovery)

In the case of the Barnett Shale, the goal is to connect the naturally fissured (fractured) portions with the wellbore to bypass damage due to drilling and cementing and to speed recovery of the hydrocarbons.
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Propped Frac & Acid Frac

open fracture during job (frac width = wf)

1/2"

fracture tends to close once the pressure has been released

sand used to prop the frac open

acid etched frac walls

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P.E. Fitzgerald, The Value of Repeated Acid Treatments. Illinois State Geological Survey, Urbana, 1934.

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Reservoir Rocks
Reservoir rocks need two properties to be successful:

Pore spaces able to retain hydrocarbon. Permeability which allows the fluid to move.

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Permeability and Rocks

In formations with large grains, the permeability is high and the flow rate larger. In a rock with small grains the permeability is less and the flow lower. Grain size has a large effect on permeability.

k
k

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Fissures (Fractures): Secondary Porosity

Fissures are caused when a rigid rock is strained beyond its elastic limit. The forces causing it to break are in a constant direction, hence all the fissures are also aligned. Fissures are an important source of permeability in low porosity reservoirs (such as the Barnett).

Fissures
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Hydraulic Fracturing
Increase well productivity by creating a highly conductive path compared to the reservoir permeability.
Formation perm. = ke
Damage

Frac perm. = kf
lxf = Fracture half length

}
lxf

wf

The fracture will extend through the damaged near wellbore area. The fracture size is limited to two criteria : Drainage Radius Cost

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Four Principal Parameters

Hydraulic fracturing does not change the permeability of the given formation, but rather creates a permeable channel for reservoir fluids to contact the wellbore. The primary purpose of hydraulic fracturing is to increase the effective wellbore area by creating a fracture of given geometry, whose conductivity is greater than the formation Dimensionless Conductivity

kf wf ------------------------------Fcd =w = fracture width kformationFormation conductivity el xf k = permeability

Fracture kf = fracture permeabilityconductivity
f e

Where;

lxf = fracture half length

Fcd of 10-30 considered optimal

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Effective Wellbore Radius (rw)

By relating dimensionless fracture conductivity (FCD) to effective wellbore radius (rw) and fracture length (lxf, or xf) a correlation can be distinguished.
As shown here, the Cinco-Ley Relation for rw, as the ratio of rw/xf increases, so does the dimensionless fracture conductivity.

rw = 0.5*lxf
In other words, the bit would be as wide as the half length of the fracture (effectively)! Fcd 10-30
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Effective Wellbore Radius (rw)

The expression (rw) is to equate the in-flow areas of wellbore and propped fracture as illustrated. This relation shows for an infinite fracture, the effective wellbore radius (rw) is approximately fracture penetration or length (lxf).

rw = 0.5*xf rw = 0.5*800 ft rw = 400 ft For a half length of 800 feet, it widthequate to a 800 foot would = 800 ft!!!
wide drill bit!

800 ft.

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Hydraulic Fracturing Materials

Base Fluid Systems Chemical Additives Proppants

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Base Fluid Systems

Slickwater Applications Low Friction Low Viscosity (<5cp) Low Residue, less damaging Low Proppant Transport capabilities Mild Friction Pressures Adjustable Viscosity (10<x<60cp) High Residue, more damaging High Friction High Viscosity (>100cp) Excellent Proppant Transport capabilities High Residue, more damaging Expensive Complex Chemical Systems pH and Temperature dependent

Energized Fluid Applications Carbon Dioxide Nitrogen Water Sensitive Formations Depleted Under pressured wells Low Permeable Gas Formations High Proppant Transport capabilities

Linear Gel Applications

Gelled Oil Fluids Acidizing Services

Crosslinked Applications

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Chemical Additives
Gelling Agents Friction Reducers Crosslinker Control pH Adjusting Agents Clay Control Breakers Scale Inhibitors Corrosion Inhibitors Bactericide

Oxygen Scavengers Surfactants Recovery Agents Foaming Agents Acids Anti-Sludge Agents Emulsifiers Fluid Loss Agents

Resin concentrations, ionic Multiple varieties of all additives differing in Activator charges, limitations, and compatibilities

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Proppant Permeability

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Proppants
Frac Sand (<6,000psi) Jordan Ottawa Brady Resin-Coated Frac Sand (<8,000psi) Super LC (Santrol) Cureable AcFrac Black (Borden) Precured Intermediate Strength Ceramics (<10,000psi) Econoprop (Carbo Ceramics) Nap-Lite (Norton-Alcoa) High Strength Ceramics (<15,000psi) Carboprop (Carbo Ceramics) Sinterball (Sintex)
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Questions?

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Proppant Selection Methodology

Calculate the required kf (in-situ fracture permeability)

kf =

100 CfD k xf w (% retained permeability)

Select proppant from proppant table as a function of closure stress and in-situ fracture permeability.

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