SPE/PAPG ANNUAL TECHNICAL CONFERENCE 2007
March 27-28, 2007, Islamabad
MICRO-FRACTURING STRESS TESTING USING A WIRELINE
CONVEYED FORMATION TESTER IN SANDSTONE
FORMATIONS IN POTWAR REGION OF PAKISTAN
Imad Brohi1, Fareed I Siddiqui2, Agha Hassan Akram3
1
Schlumberger, Islamabad, Pakistan
2
Pakistan Petroleum Limited, Karachi, Pakistan
3
Schlumberger, Pau, France
ABSTRACT
Geo mechanical data such as in-situ stresses and rock
strengths are important in a wide range of applications
in the oilfield including borehole stability, well
stimulation and caprock strength. Stress measurements
are of particular importance in designing hydraulic
fracturing jobs, an application that has grown
significantly in Pakistan in the last two years. Reservoir
stress magnitudes are generally estimated from openhole
log measurements such as sonic logs or also from core
analysis. These are empirical measurements which must
be improved by comparing with a more reliable, direct
measurement of stress. A technique of directly measuring
the in-situ rock stresses and rock tensile strengths is by
using a wireline conveyed formation tester (WFT). This
test, with proper planning, can be done at any time
during a well life but is usually done at the initial stages
of a well, in the openhole after logs have been acquired.
A micro-fracturing stress test was applied in sandstone
formations in the Potwar region of Pakistan. This is
the first stress test to be performed in Pakistan with a
WFT, and it yielded estimates of formation stress which
were used to design a hydraulic fracturing job.
This paper presents the application of micro-formation
testing in sandstone formations in the Potwar region of
Pakistan.
INTRODUCTION
Adhi field is located in the Eastern Potwar region which
is a part of the Northern margin of the Indian plate.
Eastern Potwar is the most strongly deformed part of
the Potwar fold and thrust belt. Seismic interpretation
shows Adhi structure as a long and narrow (~15 km x
1.5 km) salt-cored anticline ridge trending northeast-
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southwest, bounded on both flanks by thrust faults
(Fig. 1).
The field produces from three reservoirs, Sakesar
Limestone of Eocene age, Tobra sandstone of Permian
age and Khewra sandstone of Cambrian age. Sakesar
Limestone produces oil and has good productivity index
(PI=10-70 bbl/psi) while Tobra and Khewra reservoir
have relatively low productivity (well rates 0.5-4.5
MMscfd) and are retrograde condensate reservoirs.
Hydraulic fracturing has been established as the most
effective way to increase the productivity of low
permeability sandstone reservoirs producing retrograde
condensate fluids. Because of the high cost of drilling
at Adhi (~US$12-14 MM) and because of low
productivity of the wells the Tobra and Khewra reservoirs
are produced by using 2 3/8" dual completion. Based
on some initial estimates of formation stresses it was
determined that hydraulic fracturing of Adhi wells can
not be performed with the completion in-place.
Therefore, it was concluded that a new well will be the
best candidate for a hydraulic fracturing at Adhi.
Adhi-18 which was drilled as a development well in
2006 was considered a good candidate for hydraulic
fracturing. However, since this was the first fracturing
job to be executed in the Potwar basin, no prior estimates
of formation stresses were available. Prior estimation
of these stresses is important for fracture modelling,
determination of horse-power requirements and for
designing the fracturing treatment. WFT with dual
packer module provides a convenient and efficient way
for estimating the in-situ stresses and was therefore
used at Adhi.
OVERVIEW OF STRESS TESTING
Wireline formation testers have been in the industry for
over half a century now. Originally WFTs were used
to measure formation pressures and identify formation
pressure gradients. For about a decade now WFTs have
been used to evaluate formation stresses. The need and
use of stress measurements has increased a lot over the
past few decades.
Rock stress is understood and modeled as three stresses:
two horizontal stresses (minimum and maximum) and
the overburden (vertical) stress. Generally, except for
the very shallow formations, the minimum horizontal
stress is the least of these three stresses. Apart from
well stimulation, the knowledge of stress distributions
is also important in studying wellbore stability during
drilling, designing well trajectories, perforation
designing, and for predicting and controlling sand
production.
There are several methods of estimating the in-situ
stresses. These include Core experiments, logging
techniques (Sonic, Dipole Sonic Imager DSI), Leak Off
Test (LOT, also called Formation Integrity Test, FIT)
and the Micro-fracturing technique using WFTs. Among
these techniques micro-fracturing using WFT's is the
only technique which provides direct measurements of
in-situ stresses for each zone of interest.
Stress Measurement Using WFT
In this method the Dual Packer module of the WFT is
used to create a micro-fracture in a small interval of the
wellbore. The dual packers used in this test expose only
a small vertical section to the test (1 m, or 3 ft). Formation
imaging tools can be run before running this test to
confirm that the interval does not contain any pre-
existing fractures or vugs. The gauges which measure
pressure are close to the formation, making the pressure
record accurate. Because only small volumes of fluid
are pumped, the fracture initiated is unlikely to grow
vertically above the tested section. If this does happen,
and the fracture grows vertically above or below the
packers, the wellbore will be connected with the
straddled interval and the subsequent loss of pressure
will indicate this situation.
The pressure at which fluid or inflatable packers can
create tensile fractures in a vertical well bore is given
by the Kirch equation:
Where, Pfracture is the pressure sufficient to create tensile
failure of rock
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The above equation is used for interpreting the data
acquired by the formation tester. This equation needs
to be modified for inclined well bores, but the fracturing
pressure remains a function of minimum and maximum
horizontal stresses and the tensile strength of the rock.
When the fracture is just about to close, then an indication
of the average stress acting upon the faces of the fracture
can be obtained by measuring the pressure of the fluid
inside the fracture. The objective of stress measurement
is to obtain this Closure Pressure.
It may also be mentioned that the near wellbore stress
field is distorted by the well up to four wellbore radii
away from the well. Therefore, if the fracture is
propagated 4 wellbore radii away from the well, it is
possible to measure far field minimum stress magnitude
σh from the closure pressure measured by the test. The
objective of micro-fracturing using the WFT is the
measurement of the closure pressure. Estimates of
formation breakdown stress can also be obtained by the
technique of Sleeve fracturing using the WFT's. In
Sleeve fracturing the packer of the WFT is set across
an interval and inflated to a pressure until the packer
inflation breaks the formation. The volume pumped
into the packer, and the inflate pressure is monitored
to identify if the formation is fractured.
A typical WFT schematic used in micro-fracturing is
shown in Fig. 2. The most common sequence of
operations in testing a formation for stresses is the
following:
§ A straddle packer is set to isolate the zone that
needs to be tested
§ Pumpout Module is used to pump fluids from
the borehole into the formation, in cycles
§ Rise in pressure is seen as the fluid is pumped
from the borehole into the packer intervals
§ A sharp drop is seen in the pressure as the
formation breaks
§ The pump is then stopped and decline in pressure
is observed (shut in)
§ A series of such injection/fall off cycles is
repeated to reopen, propagate and close the
fracture
§ After it is confirmed that the results are valid
and no more cycles are required, the dual packers
are deflated.
This technique was applied for the first time in Pakistan
in Adhi-18 using the Wireline Formation Tester, in open
hole. Two sandstone formations, Tobra and Khewra,
which were planned to be hydraulically fractured, were
tested for measuring stress using this Micro-fracturing
technique.
MICRO-FRACTURING ADHI-18
Adhi-18 was drilled with an 8.5 inch hole through the
Khewra and Tobra sands. The well was a candidate for
hydraulic fracture stimulation in these sands and an
early investigation of stress was required for designing
of the fracture stimulation treatment. No such
information was previously available for these sandstone
formations in the Potwar region and the stress gradient
was unknown.
The pressure in the packer interval was pumped up and
the fracture re-opened at 6350 psia, and pressure started
to rise. The fracture was propagated for 8 minutes, and
then the pump was shut in. The decline was monitored
for 15 minutes, and the pump started for a second
fracture-opening and shut-in decline cycle. A total of
five fracture openings cycles were carried out including
the fracture initiation. The table of re-opening and final
propagation pressures is given below. The complete
events plot of pressure and time is shown in Fig. 6.

The following WFT string was run (from bottom to top): Table - 1: Pressure measurements of each cycle in
test in Tobra
§ Dual Packers
§ Single Probe
§ Sample Chambers
§ Pumpout Module
§ Sample Bottles Module

Several pressure points were also recorded in Tobra

and Khewra formations. This indicated that the formation
pressures were +4000 psi, and the drawdown mobility
calculated with the Dual Packers was in single digits
indicating that the formations were tight. The fracture re-opening and net pressures were different
each time. This may be attributed to the presence of
Selection of Depths mud cake being built on the frac face, as well as the
complex stress pattern around the wellbore.
One interval was selected for micro-fracturing in each
of the Tobra and Khewra reservoirs. The depths of these Closure Pressure Determination
intervals were based on the computer processed
conventional logs and the formation imaging logs. These The most reliable indicator of the minimum stress is
are displayed in Figs. 3 to 5. the closure pressure, Pc. To estimate this, the four
declines in each fracture cycles were analyzed using
Micro-Fracture Test for Tobra Formation the G-function plot. Plots to calculate the closure
pressure, Pc, shown in Figs. 7 to 10. The results are
The interval selected for test in Tobra was from 2605.5 summarized in Table 2.
m – 2606.5 m. The dual packer was set with the center
at a depth of 2606 m by pumping mud into the packers. Table - 2: Closure pressure measurement for each
The packers were inflated to 200 psi. The Exit Port of cycle in Tobra
the WFT in the sample bottles was then opened and
mud was pumped using the Pumpout Module from the
borehole into the 1 meter interval between the packers.
The mud was pumped in stages, to confirm that the
packers are holding the pressure.

Continuous pumping into the packer interval increased

the pressure until a drop in pressure was seen indicating
formation breakdown at 7396.5 psia. The pressure drop
indicated that a fracture had been initiated, but the
possibility of a seal failure needed to be investigated.
The seal was tested with a dual packer pre-test, and the
packer re-inflated a few times. After a number of inflate
and pretest cycles, the packer was well seated, and the
inflate pressure held steady.
There was a high degree of consistency in the closure
pressure, which is approximately 6000 psia. This works
out at 0.70 psi/ft as the minimum stress gradient. The
Kirch equation mentioned earlier was used to estimate
approximate horizontal stress anisotropy.

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A typical tensile strength for 15% porosity sandstone
is 1200 psi, and this is consistent with the drop in
pressure seen when the rock first cracked: from about
7400 psia to 5900 psia. If we use this number in the
Kirch equation, we need stress anisotropy of 1500 psi
to achieve the frac initiation pressure observed. The
calculations are shown below:
Micro-Fracture Test in Khewra Formation
The interval from 2708 m – 2709 m was selected for
micro-fracturing test based on computer processed
conventional logs and the formation imaging logs. The
WFT dual packers were set with the center at 2708.5
m, and inflated to 200 psi. Mud was pumped from the
borehole into the sealed packer interval. The interval
was pumped to 8371 psia, which was the safe limit for
pressure differential that the packers could hold. No
indication formation breakdown was observed and it
was therefore concluded that the fracture initiation
pressure for the Khewra formation was higher than
8371 psia. This is shown as “A” in Fig. 11.
A Sleeve frac was attempted next by setting the lower
packer element between 2808 m and 2809m, and the
upper packer in shaly sand which was less likely to
fracture. The packers were inflated to 1000 psi. Then
the interval was pumped up to about 8386 psi. No
flattening of the packer inflate pressure was seen, but
this is not a conclusive indicator. This is shown as “B”
in Fig. 11. Finally the dual packer was again set to
straddle the target interval, and the interval pumped up
to 8283 psi. There was no indication of a fracture,
showing that the sleeve frac attempt had not created a
hydraulic fracture. This is shown as “C” in Fig. 11.
Comparison of Micro-Fracture and Main Hydraulic
Fracture Treatment
Hydraulic fracturing was carried out in Adhi-18 on the
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Tobra and Khewra reservoirs during December 2006.
The minimum stress gradient measured by micro-
fracture tests using the WFT indicated that hydraulic
fracturing was feasible was used as an input for designing
the hydraulic fracturing treatments for the Tobra and
Khewra reservoirs at Adhi-18. using the information
obtained from the WFT micro-fracturing tests.
Previously, it was suspected that the proximity to the
northern mountain ranges, and the prevailing tectonic
stresses might have raised the minimum stress levels
to an extent that hydraulic fracturing may not be possible.
Tobra reservoir was successfully fractured, and a record
of the treatment pressures and rates is in Fig. 12. The
data frac was analyzed for minimum stress, or closure
stress, and a value of 0.64 psi/ft was obtained. This
compares well with the 0.7 psi/ft estimated based on
the micro stress test interpretation shown in Fig. 13.
Khewra reservoir was also successfully fractured, and
a record of the treatment pressures and rates is in Fig.
14. The data-frac was analyzed for minimum stress, or
closure stress, and a value of 0.81 psi/ft was obtained
(Fig. 15). This is consistent with the inability of the
WFT to fracture the formation. We also conclude that
the tensile strength of the rock is high: The fracture
closure pressure from the main treatment is 7200 psia,
but the micro-frac pumped up the interval to 8371 psia
without initiating a fracture.
The comparison of the micro-stress test and the closure
pressure from the main fracture treatment has to take
into account the scale of measurement. The main fracture
averages the stress in a large body of rock, 10’s of feet
high and over 100 ft long. Whereas the micro stress
test is a small scale test creating a fracture a few feet
in length.
CONCLUSIONS
1. The micro stress test showed that fracturing in the
Potwar basin of Pakistan is possible, and that fracture
closure pressures are normal, and not exceptionally
high due to tectonic forces that are known to exist
in this region.
2. From the example in Tobra, it is clear that the far
field minimum horizontal stress was measured by
the micro-fracturing technique. There is reasonable
agreement between the data obtained from the micro
frac job and the hydraulic fracture treatment, and
the stress measured was used in the design of the
fracture treatment pressures.
3. As the first job of its type in Pakistan, it is useful in
providing a local example of how rock stresses can
be measured using a wireline conveyed tool.
REFERENCES

[1] SPE 48960 “Applications of Wireline Stress

Measurements”
J.Desroches, SPE, and A. L. Kurkjian, SPE,
Schlumberger Wireline & Testing
[2] SPE 47247 “Stress Measurements for Sand Control”
J. Desroches, SPE, Schlumberger Dowell and T. E.
Woods, SPE, Schlumberger Wireline and Testing
[3] SPE 78486 “ Advanced Method of Determining In
situ Reservoir Stresses: Wireline Conveyed Micro
fracturing”
A. Carnegie, SPE, Schlumberger, M. Thomas, SPE,
ADCO, M.S. Efnik, SPE, ADCO, M. Hamawi, SPE,
ADCO, M. Akbar, SPE, Schlumberger, M. Burton,
SPE, Schlumberger.
[4] SPE 94253 “Detailed in Situ Stress Measurement
for Qualifying the Safety of Underground Gas
Storage Overburden”
D.M. Fourmaintraux, SPE, Total E&P; A. –P. Bois,
SPE, APB Consulting; C. Le. Goff, Total IGF; and
S. Cantini, SPE, Schlumberger

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Fig. 1 - Adhi Khewra top structure map showing Adhi-18 location

Fig. 2 - A typical Straddle Packer Wireline formation Tester used for

Micro-fracturing

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Fig. 3 - Computer processed interpretation of conventional wireline logs for Tobra

Fig. 4 - Computer processed interpretation of conventional wireline logs for Khewra reservoir

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Fig. 5 - Processed formation imaging logs for the Tobra and Khewra reservoirs

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Fig. 6 - Events summary plot for Tobra stress test

Fig. 7 - Fall Off for first decline (Closure Pressure = 6067 psi)

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Fig. 8 - Fall Off for second decline (Closure Pressure = 5986 psi)

Fig. 9 - Fall Off for third decline (Closure Pressure = 6002 psi)

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Fig. 10 - Fall Off for fourth decline (Closure Pressure = 6017 psi)

Fig. 11 - Test sequence of Tobra

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Fig. 12 - Record of treatment pressures in Tobra hydraulic fracture

Fig. 13 - Mini-frac analysis for Closure Pressure in Tobra

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Fig. 14 - Record of treatment pressures in Khewra hydraulic fracture

Fig. 15 - Data frac analysis for Closure Pressure in Khewra

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ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Imad Brohi Agha Hassan Akram

Imad Brohi is currently Agha Hassan Akram is a

working as a reservoir Principal Reservoir Engineer
engineer in Schlumberger. He with Schlumberger Data and
holds a bachelors degree in Consulting Services,
Petroleum Engineering from Islamabad*. He obtained his
Mehran University. Imad has BE (EE) from UET Lahore,
four years of experience in and MSc in Petroleum
the oilfield, 6 months with Engineering from Imperial
Landmark Resources and more than 3 years with College London. He has worked in the Far East, Russia,
Schlumberger. His specialization includes wireline and Caspian countries. He is a member of PEC and
formation testing and sampling, production logging SPE.
and perforations.
*Recently transferred to France

Fareed I. Siddiqui

Dr. Fareed Siddiqui is the

Manager Reservoir
Engineering in Pakistan
Petroleum Limited. He holds
a B.S. and M.S. degree in
Petroleum Engineering from
the King Fahd University of
Petroleum and Minerals,
Saudi Arabia and a Ph.D degree in Petroleum
Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin,
USA. Before joining PPL he worked for Mobil Research
and Development Corporation in Dallas, USA.

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