Application of Microproppant in the SCOOP Woodford to Improve Well Production

Calvin, James M.; Grieser, Bill; Bachman, Travis

doi:10.2118/185121-ms

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 15 publications

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“…As the reservoir pressure decreases, gas well production decreases, resulting in a gas flow rate in the wellbore below the critical velocity, which prevents liquid from being completely discharged from the wellbore. The lower the gas reservoir permeability, the more severe the phenomenon of liquid loading [1,2].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Research on a New Method for Intermittent Production of Horizontal Wells in Low-Permeability Gas Field

Suo

et al. 2023

Energies

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With the development of drilling technology in recent years, an increasing number of horizontal wells have been widely used in low-permeability gas fields. Although horizontal wells are much more productive than vertical wells, fluid accumulation can occur when the formation energy drops and the gas flow rate in the wellbore is not sufficient to remove the loaded fluid from the wellbore. Intermittent production is a good method for preventing liquid loading, but thus far, there is no difference between the open and closed working system of horizontal wells and that of vertical wells, and there is a certain misunderstanding here. In this work, experiments were conducted on the opening process and closing process of a horizontal well, and it was found that the loaded fluid in the horizontal wellbore is a large source of water. It enters the vertical section during the opening process, thereby raising the liquid level and storing the fluid loaded in the vertical section during the closing process, which is difficult to unload. Combined with the experimental results, the production dynamics of a horizontal well with intermittent production was analyzed, and the well opening process and well closing process were divided into four stages. On this basis, a new multifrequency well opening method for intermittent production of horizontal wells was proposed to unload the liquid in horizontal wellbore. The field application case shows that this method can effectively eliminate the drawbacks caused by using conventional methods and increase the average gas production in one cycle by 46%.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Research on a New Method for Intermittent Production of Horizontal Wells in Low-Permeability Gas Field

Suo

et al. 2023

Energies

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Analysis of Various High Viscosity Friction Reducers and Brine Ranges Effectiveness on Proppant Transport

Aften

2018

Day 4 Wed, October 10, 2018

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Friction reducers (FRs) are used to decrease the amount of horsepower required to move a hydraulic fracturing fluid through a formation at a fixed flow rate. Though FR viscosity is not a crucial consideration in proppant transport when used before the perforations in slick water applications, FR viscosity becomes a greater consideration in proppant transport from the perforations into the formation and an important qualifying criterion with the advent of High Viscosity Friction Reducer (HVFR) systems that require higher loadings than traditional FRs. Consistent viscosity measurement can vary greatly depending upon a number of factors, for example temperature, hydration approach, polymer concentration, brine composition, and additive interaction. A study was developed and implemented to determine the influence of HVFR by concentrated particulate and bead settling. This study investigated the viscosities of five HVFRs applying eight variables using response surface methodology. Initial study criteria were establishing consistent hydration with unique apparatus design and viscosity measurement verification. Once established, this method examined the effects of 1:1, 2:1, and 2:2 salts, singularly or in various concentrations and combinations. Experimental designs under fresh water conditions were also conducted with varied HVFR loadings (1.0 to 6.0gpt), blender RPM (600 to 12,000), and blender mixing times (0.5 to 8.7 minutes). Viscosities were measured from 200 to 6000 (1/sec). Static settlement testing in ranges of 0.87 to 3.50 pounds per gallon in 0 to 140,000 total dissolved solids (TDS) brines was conducted. Single bead settling measurements were performed in fresh water and API brine. Specific HVFR and salt matrix combinations tested resulted in highly correlated response surfaces exhibiting consistent trends. The TDS and hardness had a minor to major influence on viscosity based upon the specific HVFR examined. Brines were predominately antagonistic with respect to viscosity with few synergistic results. The influences of HVFR dosage and mixing correlated highly to the viscosity of all HVFRs, and extended mixing time durations had no influence on some HVFR combinations indicating a viscosity reduction limit. In certain regions of the design space, settling rates were related to viscosity. Selection of an HVFR system precisely tailored for a specific brine composition guaranteeing maximum friction reduction and proppant transportation performance was vital. The influence of pumping and tubular transport on the HVFR viscosity is continuous and quantifiable. Additionally, the viscosity of the HVFR in a downhole brine environment provides discernable data for assessing far end well bore proppant transport and damage potential. This study established a reliable method for gauging performance and examining measurable field variables of HVFR systems.

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A Kinetic Monte Carlo Study to Investigate the Effective Permeability and Conductivity of Microfractures within Unconventional Reservoirs

Inyang

Cortez-Montalvo

Dusterhoft

et al. 2019

Day 1 Tue, April 09, 2019

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Estimating the effective permeability and microfracture (MF) conductivity for unconventional reservoirs can be challenging; however, a new method for estimating using a stochastic approach is discussed. This new analysis method estimates matrix permeability and the unpropped and propped MF conductivities during laboratory testing where MFs were propped with ultrafine particles (UFPs). Kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC) simulations form the basis of the method used to estimate effective permeability of the core sample. First, the stochastic model was implemented to calculate effective matrix permeability of a small core taken from unfractured Eagle Ford and Marcellus formation samples using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images and adsorption data to obtain the pore-size distribution (PSD) within the sample. The KMC approach then evaluated the effect of various parameters influencing the conductivity of laboratory-created MFs. Case studies considered for this work investigate the conductivity improvement of a manmade MF as a function of the UFPs used as proppants that maintain width under high stress, the UFP (proppant) concentration, and the UFP flow perpendicular into a secondary or adjacent MF zone (2ndMF) penetrating the face of an opened MF during flow testing under stress. The leakoff area widths considered were 1, 2, and 3 mm and can be propped or unpropped. Results obtained for the unfractured Eagle Ford and Marcellus samples closely correlate with other computational and experimental data available. For the laboratory-prepared nonpropped and propped MF samples, the effective propped width was determined to have the greatest effect on the MF conductivity, which increased by two orders of magnitude in the presence of the UFPs. The remaining two factors—proppant concentration and length of 2ndMFs—helped improve the effective MF conductivity in a linear manner; the highest proppant concentration and the 2ndMF zone resulted in the highest fracture conductivity achieved. Insight obtained from this study can be used to optimize fracturing designs by including UFPs and to create strategies for maximizing hydrocarbon recovery during development of unconventional resources where MFs are opened during stimulation treatments.

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Application of Microproppant in the SCOOP Woodford to Improve Well Production

Cited by 4 publications

References 15 publications

Research on a New Method for Intermittent Production of Horizontal Wells in Low-Permeability Gas Field

Research on a New Method for Intermittent Production of Horizontal Wells in Low-Permeability Gas Field

Analysis of Various High Viscosity Friction Reducers and Brine Ranges Effectiveness on Proppant Transport

A Kinetic Monte Carlo Study to Investigate the Effective Permeability and Conductivity of Microfractures within Unconventional Reservoirs

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