Hydraulic Fracturing As A Method To Stimulate An

Unconventional Oil & Gas Reservoirs With Economical

And Eco-Friendly Additives & Proppant
Andhika Kamal Y, I Wayan R.S. Krishna, and Fikran Sahid
Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, Surabaya 60111 Indonesia

Introduction
o Brief Background
Petroleum reservoir are classified as conventional and unconventional reservoirs.
The conventional reservoirs are porous rocks formation that contains hydrocarbons
that have migrated from a source rock. While unconventional reservoirs are
hydrocarbons resources that never migrated and trapped within the source rocks.
Conventional oil and gas reservoirs can be extracted with standard methods that
consume less energy and less expenses. Because of this simplicity and relative
cheapness, conventional oil and gas reservoirs are generally some of the first targets
of industry activity, which makes this reservoir constantly getting fewer. That is
why unconventional oil and gas reservoirs are being utilized more and more as
decades of oil and gas production have resulted in extensive use of conventional
resources. Because of this, new technologies are constantly being introduced that
allows for the more economic extraction of unconventional oil and gas that may
have been previously impossible to obtain. Hydraulic fracturing is one of the
technologies to extract oil and gas from unconventional reservoirs. It is an oil and
gas well development process that typically involves injecting water, sand, and
chemicals under high pressure into a bedrock formation via the well. This process is
intended to create new fractures in the rocks as well as increase the size, extent, and
connectivity of existing fractures that makes low permeability rocks like tight
sandstone, shale, and some coal beds that trapped oil and gas can be extracted.
There is far more oil and natural gas in unconventional deposits rather than
conventional ones. That is why hydraulic fracturing method has to be developed.
o Problem Identification
Based on the interpretation of the given log , we can conclude that Lucinta-01 well
has relatively low permeability, 99% water cut, low closure pressure, tight
 reservoir, thick shale barrier, low to medium young modulus compensation, many
fissures on formation, and high temperature. For which case, hydraulic fracturing
with beneficial additives are needed to stimulate the extraction of oil and gas
content from Lucinta-01 well.
Design Idea
From the water analysis result, all parameters have fulfilled the acceptable limit of
hydraulic fracturing water content, except for the pH. This water has pH value of 5, therefore
can be categorized as an acidic water. It will need further treatment to meet the requirement as
a hydraulic fracturing-based water by adding chemicals to balance the pH. Meanwhile we
choose Refined Guar Polymer as our gelling agents, because of its relatively low price, easier
to hydrate, and high gel strength. As for our additives, first we use Partially Hydrolyzed
Polyacrylamide (PHPA) as our friction reducer to maintain the fluid viscosity. It can also
protect equipment from wear and tear due to high rates, and we choose PHPA because it has
relatively lower cost than other friction reducers. Because of the high well temperature, we
also use Methanol to act as our surfactant to prevent liquid degradation due to high
temperature. Next, we use Boron Oxide for our crosslinker, because it can react well with
guar gum as the gelling agents. Then, to prevent any microbiological degradation we use
Chlorine Dioxide as our micro biocides due to its selectivity, effectiveness in various pH, and
lower cost. Ethylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether (EGME) is also needed as our demulsifier.
And last, we use natural sand as our proppant due to low closure pressure and relatively lower
cost than other proppants available. We will not need any clay stabilizer additives for this
occasion due to the low clay content of Lucinta-01 well, and so it could save some of the cost
and make this hydraulic fracturing fluids more cost effective.
Detailed Composition
This hydraulic fracturing fluids will be containing water as our base fluids
(98.5982%), NaOH as the pH stabilizer (0.3%), refined guar polymer as the gelling agents
(0.5%), boron oxide as the cross-linker (0.4%), PHPA as the friction reducer (0.0002%),
methanol as the surfactant (0.2%), EGME as the demulsifier (0.0006%), and chlorine dioxide
as the micro biocides (0.001%).
Economical Consideration
An ideal cost for hydraulic fracturing fluids is less than $4/gal, or IDR 14,556/L
(Montgomery, 2013). Since the cost of our hydraulic fracturing fluid is approximately IDR
470,06/L (attachments), our fracturing fluids are considered ideal.
Advantages
Our hydraulic fracturing fluid is designed to be highly cost efficient compared to the
common cost for fracturing fluids, environmentally friendly based on the additives used, and
also very practical and convenient to make. The proppant we use is also cost effective but
strong enough to withstand the current closure pressure.
Conclusion
1. Hydraulic fracturing is the most compatible method to help stimulate Lucinta-
01 well.
2. Fluid additives used are economical but effective.
3. Economical and strong enough proppant.
4. High possibility of increased productivity.
References
 Ainley, B.R., Nimerick, K.H., Card, R.J (1993). High-temperature, Borate-
Crosslinked Fracturing Fluids.
 Anonymous. (1999). Fracturing Products And Additives.
 Boschee, P. (2012). Handling Produced Water From Hydraulic Fracturing.
 Brannon, H.D., Hodge, R.M., England, K.W., (1989). High Temperature Guar-Based
Fracturing Fluid.
 Chakrabarti, S., Martins, J.P., Mealor, D., (1988). Method For Controlling The
Viscosity Of A Fluid.
 Dawson K, Cramer D, Le H. (2004). Reduced Polymer Based Fracturing Fluid.
 Economides, M Nolte K. (1989). Reservoir Stimulation.
 Fink J. (2015). Water-Based Chemicals And Technology For Drilling, Completion,
And Workover Fluids.
 Lemieux, P.R., Rumpf, D.S., (1994). Lightweight Proppants For Oil And Gas Wells.
 Attachments
Component %wt Mass (gr) Mass (ton) $Price/ton Rp Price/ton Total price
Water 98,5982 985,982 0,000985982 0 0 Rp0
Refined Guar 0,5 5 0,000005 3000 Rp41.868.000 Rp209,340
Boron Dioxide 0,4 4 0,000004 3200 Rp44.659.200 Rp178,637
PHPA 0,0002 0,002 0,000000002 1500 Rp20.934.000 Rp0,042
Methanol 0,2 2 0,000002 2100 Rp29.307.600 Rp58,615
EGME 0,0006 0,006 0,000000006 2250 Rp31.401.000 Rp0,188
ClO2 0,001 0,01 0,00000001 1500 Rp20.934.000 Rp0,209
NaOH 0,3 3 0,000003 550 Rp7.675.800 Rp23,027
TOTAL Rp470,06