How do you use hydraulic fracturing to increase well productivity?

1 Fracking process

Fracking involves pumping a high-pressure fluid into a wellbore to create or extend cracks in the target formation. The fluid consists of water, chemicals, and proppants, which are solid particles that keep the fractures open after the pressure is released. The fluid is injected through perforations in the casing or tubing that connect the wellbore to the reservoir. The injection rate and pressure are controlled to optimize the fracture geometry and propagation. The fractures can extend several feet or hundreds of feet from the wellbore, depending on the rock properties and stress conditions.

2 Fracking benefits

Fracking can enhance well productivity by increasing the effective drainage area and the permeability of the reservoir. This means that more oil or gas can be extracted from a given volume of rock and that the flow rate and recovery factor can be improved. Fracking can also enable the development of unconventional resources, such as shale gas and tight oil, that have low porosity and permeability and would not be economically viable without stimulation. Fracking can also reduce the number of wells needed to drain a reservoir, which can lower the capital and operational costs and the environmental impact.

3 Fracking challenges

Fracking also poses some technical and environmental challenges that need to be addressed. One of the main technical challenges is to design and execute a fracking operation that maximizes the fracture conductivity and connectivity while minimizing the damage to the formation and the wellbore. This requires a thorough understanding of the reservoir geology, geomechanics, fluid dynamics, and fracture mechanics, as well as a reliable monitoring and evaluation system. Another technical challenge is to manage the water consumption and disposal associated with fracking, as large volumes of water are used and contaminated during the process. Some of the environmental challenges of fracking include the potential risks of groundwater contamination, induced seismicity, air pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions.

4 Fracking fluids

Fracking fluids are designed to perform several functions, such as creating and propagating fractures, transporting and placing proppants, reducing friction and corrosion, preventing bacterial growth and scale formation, and controlling fluid loss and viscosity. Fracking fluids can be classified into different types based on their base fluid and additives. The most common types are water-based fluids, which use water as the main component and various chemicals as additives; oil-based fluids, which use oil or diesel as the base fluid and have higher viscosity and lubricity; and gas-based fluids, which use nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or natural gas as the base fluid and have lower viscosity and density.

5 Fracking proppants

Fracking proppants are solid particles that are mixed with the fracking fluid and injected into the fractures to prevent them from closing when the pressure is released. Proppants can improve the fracture conductivity and the well productivity by creating a permeable and stable pathway for the oil or gas to flow. Proppants can be classified into different types based on their material, shape, size, and strength. The most common types are sand, which is natural and cheap but has low strength and irregular shape; ceramic, which is synthetic and expensive but has high strength and uniform shape; and resin-coated, which is sand or ceramic coated with resin to improve the strength and prevent fines migration.

6 Fracking best practices

Fracking is a complex and dynamic process that necessitates careful planning, execution, and evaluation. To optimize fracking performance and reduce environmental impact, it’s important to conduct a comprehensive reservoir characterization and modeling to identify the optimal target zones, fracture orientation, and injection parameters. Real-time data acquisition and analysis should be used to monitor and control the fracture propagation and geometry. Additionally, a post-fracture evaluation and diagnosis should be performed to assess the fracture effectiveness and productivity. Environmentally friendly fluids and proppants should be used to reduce water consumption and contamination, chemical toxicity, and greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, a water management plan that includes water sourcing, recycling, treatment, and disposal should be implemented. Finally, regulatory and safety standards should be followed to prevent or mitigate the risks of groundwater contamination, induced seismicity, air pollution, or well integrity issues.

7 Here’s what else to consider

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