Stimulation design

Fracture Geometry Design

model results variables
PKN Injection rate
GDK Fluid leakoff
xf,hf, wf
3D Total volume
P3D Proppant schedule

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 Stimulation Leakoff
Carter’s solution for estimating fracture area accounting for fluid
leakoff.
dV f t dA fl d dA fl
 qi  C L  Sp
dt 0 d t  dt

Where Afl = fracture area exposed to fluid loss = 2hfxf…(one wing)

CL = fluid loss coefficient, ft/(min)1/2
Sp = spurt loss, gal/ft2

Volume of one wing of fracture is:


Vf  wh f x f  c1w wb h f x f 
Substitute:
qi dx ft dx d
 c1w wb  2Sp   2C L  f
h f   dt
0 d t

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 Stimulation Leakoff
Solution for fracture half length,

qi  2  2 
x  w  8S   L  1  e L erfc ( )
f 2  wbe p    L 
16h f C L  

Where
8C t
L  L
wwbe  8S p

And wwbe is maximum wellbore width at the end of pumping

5 5 4 
PKN : w  w wb  * w wbe  w wbe
16 16 5 4
3 3 2 
GDK : w  w wb  * w wbe  w wbe
?
8 8 3 4

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Hydraulic Fracturing design

1/ 4
 q i(1  ) x f  
PKN: w  2.31  *
 G  4

1/ 4
 q (1  ) x 
2

GDK: w  2.27  i f *
 Gh f  4
 

© Copyright, 2011
Hydraulic Fracturing design
With a known fracture height, hf, and calculated fracture length,
then,
Af  2x f h f

From material balance,

q i t p  A f  w  2K L C L rp t p 
 
where average width is from the fracture geometry models and
is a function of fluid rheology, young’s modulus, injection rate,
fracture height and fracture length.
rp = fluid loss area to fracture area
KL = fluid loss multiplier Harrington (1973), K L  8 with 10% error
8
Nolte (1979), K L    (1  )
3

© Copyright, 2011
 Stimulation Leakoff
Carter’s equation for fluid leakoff.
CL
vl 
t
Where fracture width and height are assumed constant.
vl = fluid loss velocity normal to fracture face
 = time at which filtration starts
Mass balance eq.
dV
 q inj  q L
dt

Substitute,
A fl t dA d
q L   v ldA fl  C L  fl
0 0 d t

Where Afl is fracture surface area exposed to fluid loss

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 Stimulation Leakoff
PKN model with fluid leakoff. Continuity equation:

q h f w
  qL
x 4 t
Where ql is the fluid loss per unit fracture length, given by:
2h f C L
qL 
t  ( x )

GDK model with fluid leakoff. Based on mass balance eq:

dV
 q inj  q L
dt
where
t dL d
q L  2h f C L 
0 d t  

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 Stimulation Leakoff
For 3D fracture propagation models, laminar fluid flow of an incompressible
power law fluid is assumed.
q x q y w
   q L  q inj
x y t

Where qL = volume leakoff rate per unit fracture area

qinj = volume injection rate per unit fracture area
qi = volume flow rate in i direction per unit length in j direction

Time dependent fluid loss term,

2C L (p  p p )
q L ( x, y, t ) 
t  ( x, y)

Where x,y) is the time at which the position (x,y) was first exposed to the
fracturing fluid, and
Pressure difference is fracture pressure at injection plane – pore pressure

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 Stimulation Leakoff
For P3D fracture propagation models, laminar fluid flow of an incompressible
power law fluid is assumed in 1D along fracture length.
Q( x, t ) A x ( x, t )
  Q L ( x, t )
x t

Where QL = volume leakoff rate per unit length in the x direction

Q = horizontal flow rate per unit height
Ax = cross sectional area

Time dependent fluid loss term,

2C L h pay
Q L ( x, t ) 
t  ( x )

Where x) is the time at which the fracture reaches position x and hpay is
payzone thickness

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