Ultra Light Weight Proppants in Shale Gas Fracturing

Ultra Light Weight Proppants in Shale Gas Fracturing PDF Author: Abhishek Gaurav
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 124

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Book Description
The goal of the present work is to improve shale reservoir stimulation treatment by using ultra light weight proppants in fracturing fluids. Slickwater has become the most popular fracturing fluid for fracturing shales in recent times because it creates long and skinny fractures and it is relatively cheap. The problem with slickwater is the high rate of settling of common proppants, e.g. sand, which results in propped fractures which are much smaller than the original fractures. Use of gels can help in proppant transport but introduce large formation damage by blocking pores in nano-darcy shales. Gel trapping in the proppant pack causes reduction in permeability of the proppant pack. The light weight proppants which can easily be transported by slickwater and at the same time be able to provide enough fracture conductivity may solve this problem. Three ultra light weight proppants (ULW1, ULW2, and ULW3) have been studied. The mechanical properties of the proppant packs as well as single proppants have been measured. Conductivity of proppant packs has been determined as a function of proppant concentration and confining stress at an average Barnett shale temperature of 95°C. The crush strengths of all the three proppant packs are higher than typical stresses encountered (e.g., Barnett). ULW1 and ULW2 are highly deformable and do not produce many fines. ULW3 has a higher Young's modulus and produces fines. Conventionally, the proppant conductivity decreases with decreasing proppant concentration and increasing confining stress. But in cases of ULWs, for a partial monolayer, conductivity can be as large as that of a thick proppant pack. The settling velocity is the lowest for ULW1, intermediate for ULW2 and the highest for ULW3. This work contributes new mechanical, conductivity, and settling data on three ultra light weight proppants. Application of light weight proppants in stimulation treatments in shale reservoirs can lead to large propped fractures, which can improve the productivity of fractured shale reservoirs.

Ultra Light Weight Proppants in Shale Gas Fracturing

Ultra Light Weight Proppants in Shale Gas Fracturing PDF Author: Abhishek Gaurav
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 124

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Book Description
The goal of the present work is to improve shale reservoir stimulation treatment by using ultra light weight proppants in fracturing fluids. Slickwater has become the most popular fracturing fluid for fracturing shales in recent times because it creates long and skinny fractures and it is relatively cheap. The problem with slickwater is the high rate of settling of common proppants, e.g. sand, which results in propped fractures which are much smaller than the original fractures. Use of gels can help in proppant transport but introduce large formation damage by blocking pores in nano-darcy shales. Gel trapping in the proppant pack causes reduction in permeability of the proppant pack. The light weight proppants which can easily be transported by slickwater and at the same time be able to provide enough fracture conductivity may solve this problem. Three ultra light weight proppants (ULW1, ULW2, and ULW3) have been studied. The mechanical properties of the proppant packs as well as single proppants have been measured. Conductivity of proppant packs has been determined as a function of proppant concentration and confining stress at an average Barnett shale temperature of 95°C. The crush strengths of all the three proppant packs are higher than typical stresses encountered (e.g., Barnett). ULW1 and ULW2 are highly deformable and do not produce many fines. ULW3 has a higher Young's modulus and produces fines. Conventionally, the proppant conductivity decreases with decreasing proppant concentration and increasing confining stress. But in cases of ULWs, for a partial monolayer, conductivity can be as large as that of a thick proppant pack. The settling velocity is the lowest for ULW1, intermediate for ULW2 and the highest for ULW3. This work contributes new mechanical, conductivity, and settling data on three ultra light weight proppants. Application of light weight proppants in stimulation treatments in shale reservoirs can lead to large propped fractures, which can improve the productivity of fractured shale reservoirs.

Shale Fracturing Enhancement by Using Polymer-free Foams and Ultra-light Weight Proppants

Shale Fracturing Enhancement by Using Polymer-free Foams and Ultra-light Weight Proppants PDF Author: Ming Gu
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 546

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Book Description
Slickwater with sand is the most commonly used hydraulic fracturing treatment for shale reservoirs. The slickwater treatment produces long skinny fractures, but only the near wellbore region is propped due to fast settling of sand. Adding gel into water can prevent the fast settling of sand, but gel may damage the fracture surface and proppant pack. Moreover, current water-based fracturing consumes a large amount of water, has high water leakage, and imposes high water disposal costs. The goal of this project is to develop non-damaging, less water-intensive fracturing treatments for shale gas reservoirs with improved proppant placement efficiency. Earlier studies have proposed to replace sand with ultra-light weight proppants (ULWP) to enhance proppant transport, but it is not used commonly in field. This study evaluates the performance of three kinds of ULWPs covering a wide range of specific gravity and representing the three typical manufacturing methods. In addition to replacing sand with ULWPs, replacing water with foams can be an alternative treatment that reduces water usage and decreases proppant settling. Polymer-added foams have been used in conventional reservoirs to improve proppant placement efficiency. However, polymers can damage shale permeability in unconventional reservoirs. This dissertation studies polymer-free foams (PFF) and evaluates their performance. This study uses both experiments and simulations to assess the productivity and profitability of the ULWP treatment and PFF treatment. First, a reservoir simulation model is built in CMG to study the impact of fracture conductivity and propped length on fracture productivity. This model assumes a single fracture intersecting a few reactivated natural fractures. Second, a 2D fracturing model is used to simulate the fracture propagation and proppant transport. Third, strength, API conductivity and gravity settling rates are measured for three ULWPs. Fourth, foam stability tests are conducted to screen the best PFF agents and the selected foams are put into a circulating loop to study their rheology. Finally, empirical correlations from the experiments are applied in the fracturing model and reservoir model to predict productivity by using the ULWPs with slickwater or using the PFFs with sand. Experimental results suggest that, at 4000 psi with concentrations varying from partial monolayer (0.05 lb/ft2) to multilayer (1 lb/ft2), ULW-1 (polymeric) is the most deformable with conductivity of 1-10 md-ft. ULW-2 (resin coated and impregnated ground walnut hull) is the second most deformable with similar conductivity. ULW-3 (resin coated porous ceramic) is the least deformable with conductivity of 20-1000 md-ft, which is comparable to sand. Three foam formulations (A, B: regular surfactant foam, C: viscoelastic surfactant foam) are selected based on the stability results of fourteen surfactants. All PFFs exhibit power-law rheological behavior in a laminar flow regime. The power law parameters of the regular surfactant PFF depend on both quality and pressure when quality is higher than 60% but depend on quality only when quality is lower than 60%. Simulation results suggest that under the optimal concentration of 0.04-0.06 v/v (0.37-0.55 lb/gal) for both ULW-1 and ULW-2, and 0.1 v/v (1.46 lb/gal) for ULW-3, 1-year cumulative production for 0.1 [mu]D shale reservoir is higher than sand by 127% for ULW-1, 28% for ULW-2, and 38% for ULW-3. The productivity benefits decrease as shale permeability increases for all three ULWPs. ULW-1 and ULW-2 have higher productivity benefits for longer production time, while ULW-3 has relatively constant productivity benefits over time. The economic profit of ULW-1 when priced at $5/lb is 2.2 times larger than that of sand for 1-year production in 0.1 [mu]D shale reservoirs; the acceptable maximum price is $10/lb for ULW-1, $6/lb for ULW-2, and $2.5/lb for ULW-3. The maximum price increases as production time increases. The PFFs with a quality of 60% carrying mesh 40 sand at a partial monolayer concentration of 0.04 v/v (0.88 lb/gal) can generate 50% higher productivity, 74% higher economic profit, and over 300% higher water efficiency than the best slickwater-sand case (mesh 40 sand at 0.1 v/v) for 1-year production in 0.1[mu]D shale reservoirs. The benefits of using the PFFs decrease with increasing shale permeability, increasing production time, or decreasing pumping time. This dissertation gives a range of field conditions where the ULWP and PFF may be more effective than slickwater-sand fracturing.

Investigation of Ultra-light Weight Proppant Application in Shale Fracturing

Investigation of Ultra-light Weight Proppant Application in Shale Fracturing PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Sand Production Management for Unconsolidated Sandstone Reservoirs

Sand Production Management for Unconsolidated Sandstone Reservoirs PDF Author: Shouwei Zhou
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1119187451
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 179

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Book Description
This book investigates sand production problems in the development of unconsolidated sand reservoirs and suggests novel technical solutions and improvements to sand management issues. This book is divided into six chapters: (1) geologic characteristics of unconsolidated sand heavy oil reservoirs and concept of sand management technology; (2) sand production mechanisms and its effect on reservoir petrophysical quality; (3) sand production quantity prediction and well productivity evaluation methods, especially for fluid-solid coupling prediction model; (4) completion technology for sand management; (5) sand flow in well bore and surface processing; (6) the application of sand management technology in China’s Bohai heavy oil field. Readership: Petroleum reservoir engineers and production managers worldwide.

Hydraulic Proppant Fracturing and Gravel Packing

Hydraulic Proppant Fracturing and Gravel Packing PDF Author: D. Mader
Publisher: Elsevier
ISBN: 0080868843
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 1277

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Book Description
Many aspects of hydraulic proppant fracturing have changed since its innovation in 1947. The main significance of this book is its combination of technical and economical aspects to provide an integrated overview of the various applications of proppants in hydraulic fracturing, and gravel in sand control. The monitoring of fractures and gravel packs by well-logging and seismic techniques is also included.The book's extensive coverage of the subject should be of special interest to reservoir geologists and engineers, production engineers and technologists, and well log analysts.

Exploitation of Unconventional Oil and Gas Resources

Exploitation of Unconventional Oil and Gas Resources PDF Author: Kenneth Imo-Imo Israel Eshiet
Publisher:
ISBN: 1838811079
Category : Chemistry, Technical
Languages : en
Pages : 152

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Book Description
The stimulation of unconventional hydrocarbon reservoirs is proven to improve their productivity to an extent that has rendered them economically viable. Generally, the stimulation design is a complex process dependent on intertwining factors such as the history of the formation, rock and reservoir fluid type, lithology and structural layout of the formation, cost, time, etc. A holistic grasp of these can be daunting, especially for people without sufficient experience and/or expertise in the exploitation of unconventional hydrocarbon reserves. This book presents the key facets integral to producing unconventional resources, and how the different components, if pieced together, can be used to create an integrated stimulation design. Areas covered are as follows: • stimulation methods, • fracturing fluids, • mixing and behavior of reservoir fluids, • assessment of reservoir performance, • integration of surface drilling data, • estimation of geomechanical properties and hydrocarbon saturation, and • health and safety. Exploitation of Unconventional Oil and Gas Resources: Hydraulic Fracturing and Other Recovery and Assessment Techniques is an excellent introduction to the subject area of unconventional oil and gas reservoirs, but it also complements existing information in the same discipline. It is an essential text for higher education students and professionals in academia, research, and the industry.

Modern Shale Gas Development in the United States

Modern Shale Gas Development in the United States PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Natural gas
Languages : en
Pages : 116

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Book Description


Mathematical Theory of Oil and Gas Recovery

Mathematical Theory of Oil and Gas Recovery PDF Author: P. Bedrikovetsky
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 9401722056
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 596

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Book Description
It is a pleasure to be asked to write the foreword to this interesting new book. When Professor Bedrikovetsky first accepted my invitation to spend an extended sabbatical period in the Department of Mineral Resources Engineering at Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, I hoped it would be a period of fruitful collaboration. This book, a short course and a variety of technical papers are tangible evidence of a successful stay in the UK. I am also pleased that Professor Bedrikovetsky acted on my suggestion to publish this book with Kluwer as part of the petroleum publications for which I am Series Editor. The book derives much of its origin from the unpublished Doctor of Science thesis which Professor Bedrikovetsky prepared in Russian while at the Gubkin Institute. The original DSc contained a number of discrete publications unified by an analytical mathematics approach to fluid flow in petroleum reservoirs. During his sabbatical stay at Imperial College, Professor Bedrikovetsky has refined and extended many of the chapters and has discussed each one with internationally recognised experts in the field. He received great encouragement and editorial advice from Dr Gren Rowan, who pioneered analytical methods in reservoir modelling at BP for many years.

Unconventional Shale Gas Development

Unconventional Shale Gas Development PDF Author: Rouzbeh G. Moghanloo
Publisher: Gulf Professional Publishing
ISBN: 0323905293
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 498

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Book Description
Unconventional Shale Gas Development: Lessons Learned gives engineers the latest research developments and practical applications in today’s operations. Comprised of both academic and corporate contributors, a balanced critical review on technologies utilized are covered. Environmental topics are presented, including produced water management and sustainable operations in gas systems. Machine learning applications, well integrity and economic challenges are also covered to get the engineer up-to-speed. With its critical elements, case studies, history plot visuals and flow charts, the book delivers a critical reference to get today’s petroleum engineers updated on the latest research and applications surrounding shale gas systems. Bridges the gap between the latest research developments and practical applications through case studies and workflow charts Helps readers understand the latest developments from the balanced viewpoint of academic and corporate contributors Considers environmental and sustainable operations in shale gas systems, including produced water management

Unconventional Reservoir Geomechanics

Unconventional Reservoir Geomechanics PDF Author: Mark D. Zoback
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1107087074
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 495

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Book Description
A comprehensive overview of the key geologic, geomechanical and engineering principles that govern the development of unconventional oil and gas reservoirs. Covering hydrocarbon-bearing formations, horizontal drilling, reservoir seismology and environmental impacts, this is an invaluable resource for geologists, geophysicists and reservoir engineers.