Stimulation

Design

©Copyright
Thomas W. Engler, Ph.D, P.E.
Stimulation Introduction

Why Stimulation?

• A restriction to flow occurs around the wellbore or in the

reservoir
• Stimulation is a means to improve productivity by
reducing/eliminating this restriction.

First step: identify restriction, e.g. perfs, reservoir, gravel pack…,

fines, clays, paraffins

Second step: select and design appropriate treatment to

improve productivity.

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Stimulation Introduction

How to improve production?

• Flow equation:

kh( p r  pwf )
qo 
 r  
141.2 o Bo ln e   .75  S 
  rw  

• Of primary importance:
increase permeability and/or reduce skin

• Skin is multicomponent!

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Stimulation Introduction

Methods to consider:
• Perforating – increase area open to flow through the
completion

(Golan and Whitson, 1991)

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Stimulation Introduction

Methods to consider:
• Matrix acidizing – reduce large skin resulting from near-
wellbore permeability damage due to completion/drilling
operations.

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Stimulation Introduction

Methods to consider:
• Hydraulic fracturing – increase the effective wellbore radius
by creating an increase in contact area between well and
reservoir.

Simplified diagram of equipment for hydraulic fracturing

(Veatch, Jr., 1983) © Copyright, 2011
Stimulation Introduction
How to improve production?
2500

2000

1500
Pressure, psig

1000
1
A

500

1 2 3
0
0 50 100 150 200

Inflow @ Sandface (1) Not Used Liquid Rate, Bbl/D Inflow

Inflow (1) Outflow (A) (1) 2.0
Case 2 (2) Case 2 (B)
Inflow
(2) 4.0
Case 3 (3) Case 3 (C) Perforation Shot Density, SPF
Not Used Not Used
(3) 8.0
Not Used Not Used
Not Used Not Used
Not Used

Effect of Perforation Density on Well Performance

© Copyright, 2011
Stimulation Introduction
How to improve production?
2500

2000

1500
Pressure, psig

1000
A

500

1 2 3
0
0 100 200 300 400

Inflow @ Sandface (1) Not Used Liquid Rate, Bbl/D Inflow

Inflow (1) Outflow (A) (1) 3.000
Case 2 (2) Case 2 (B)
Inflow
(2) 0.000
Case 3 (3) Case 3 (C) Reservoir Skin
Not Used Not Used
(3) -3.000
Not Used Not Used
Not Used Not Used
Not Used

Effect of Damage and Stimulation on Well Performance

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Stimulation Introduction

History
(1890) to (1950) – openhole completions, typical stimulation was liquid or solid
nitroglycerin. Hazardous, but successful. ZEro hour Bombing CO.

(1895) – first acid treatment, 65 bbls of HCl pumped in Ohio Oil Company’s Crosley
Farm lease in Lima, Ohio. Oil increase 300%.

(1932) – 500 gal of HCl w/arsenic inhibitor in a wooden tank(3’ dia x 12’ long) on a
wagon. Transferred to well by siphoning through a garden hose. Displaced with
oil. Dead to 16 bopd. Pure Oil Co. (Amoco), Fox No. 6 in Michigan by Dow
Chemical Co. Aka Dowell

(1935) – Halliburton Oilwell Cementing Co. expanded into stimulation.

(1947) – first hydraulic fracture treatment. Western Kansas in Hugoton Basin, Klepper
No. 1. Four gas productive limestone pays (3-perf zones,1-OH). 1000 gals of
Gasoline-based, napalm-gelled fracturing fluid followed by 2000 gals of gasoline +
breaker per zone. Through tubing with cup-type straddle packers. Due to fire
hazard all units were 150 ft. apart. Deliverability unchanged!

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Stimulation Introduction

History

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Stimulation Introduction

History
(1945) to (1963) – development of acid-fracturing techniques

(Early 1970s) – introduction of foamed frac treatments.

(1990s) – fracturing of horizontal wells, coiled tubing acidizing

(2000s) – microseismogram monitoring

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 Stimulation Introduction
1500
Well A
.…today
1000
Well C
500
More Monitor
Well Well B
0
complex South-North (ft)
configuration? -500
Frac
Well
-1000

Well D
-1500

-2000

Well E
-2500
FRACTURE DIAGNOSTICS -
MICROSEISMIC
-3000
-1000 -500 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000

Courtesy of Devon West-East (ft)

Stimulation Introduction

.…today

Picture courtesy of Halliburton

© Copyright, 2011
Stimulation Introduction

.…today

© Copyright, 2011
Stimulation Introduction

.…today

Picture courtesy of Halliburton

© Copyright, 2011
Stimulation Introduction

Success
• fracturing has made a significant contribution in enhancing production
rates and reserves.
• 35 to 40% of all currently drilled wells are fractured
• accounting for 25 to 30% of U.S. reserves (8 billion bbls).

40% coal other

5% 3%
Responses
Percent of

30%
carbonate
20% 26%
10%
0% sandstone
< 25% 25-50% 50-75% > 75% 66%
Frequency

Percent of wells hydraulically fractured Fracture treatment zone lithology

Source: GRI, 1992

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