Horizontal Well Fracturing Systems

Instructor: Dr. Ali Daneshy

Date TBA as needed – Houston

2.4 CEU
Participants will receive a one-year complimentary subscription to Hydraulic Fracturing Journal

 

This course presents an easy-to-follow nuts and bolts of horizontal well fracturing, and various tools and techniques that are in use today for successfully producing extremely low permeability reservoirs.

Successful fracturing of a horizontal well requires deeper understanding of the relationship between reservoir and formation properties, in-situ stresses, well completion, and details of fracture design. Through numerous case histories and actual job results the course shows that many horizontal well fractures usually include a mix of axial (longitudinal) and transverse fractures along the length of the well. The cause of this behavior is traced back to completion techniques and fracture designs. The many case histories covered in this course include active US and Canadian tight reservoirs such as Bakken, Eagle Ford, Barnett, Cardium, Fayetteville, Granite Wash, Haynesville, Marcellus, Montney, Nordegg, Viking, and more. It presents the different fracturing strategies that are being used in different geologic formations, and the completion options that help their implementation.

Important engineering parameters for successful fracturing of horizontal wells include the well orientation with respect to the fracture, horizontal wellrach, type of completion (openhole or cemented liner), selection of the specific completion system and its functional reliability during the entire fracturing operations, the number and spacing of the fractures, the type and volume of frac fluid, injection rate, and the type and concentration of proppant. This course offers an in-depth review of the different completion techniques presently used by the industry and the operational strengths and weaknesses of each of them.
This course is designed specifically for practicing engineers and geologists. It is suited for all interested in improving the outcome of hydraulic fracturing treatments in horizontal wells, including drilling, completion, reservoir and production engineers as well as geologists and geophysicists. Both technical and management staff will benefit from attending this course.

Class Agenda

  • Mechanics of fracture initiation
  • Mechanics of fracture extension
  • Fracturing options in openhole liner completions with case histories
  • Fracturing options in cemented liner completions with case histories
  • Fracturing fluids and proppants
  • Fracture mapping & diagnostic tool
  • Re-fracturing: existing practices in openhole and cemented liner completions
  • Summary and discussion