OPTIMIZATION OF PROPPANT AND FRACTURING

FLUIDS IN WELL STIMULATION

A PROJECT REPORT

Submitted by

MOHAMMED AFEL T 410620219012

NOORDEEN AHAMED H 410620219021
SATHISH KUMAR M 410620219026

In partial fulfillment for the award of

degree Of

BACHELOR OF TECHNOLOGY

in

PETROLEUM ENGINEERING

DHAANISH AHMED COLLEGE OF

ENGINEERING CHENNAI-601 301

ANNA UNIVERSITY: CHENNAI 600 025

MAY 2024

i
 ANNA UNIVERSITY: CHENNAI 600 025

BONAFIDE CERTIFICATE

Certified that this project report OPTIMIZATION OF

PROPPANT AND FRACTURING FLUIDS IN WELL
STIMULATION Is the bonafide work of MOHAMMED AFEL T
(410620219012), NOORDEEN AHAMED H (410620219021),
SATHISH KUMAR M (410620219026), who carried out the project
work under my supervision.

Mr. C. ELAYARAJA M.E., (Ph.D)., Dr.BEEVI FATHIMA M.Tech.,Ph.D.,

Head of the Department Supervisor
Department of Petroleum Engineering Department of Petroleum Engineering
Dhaanish Ahmed College of Dhaanish Ahmed College of
Engineering Engineering
Chennai-601 301 Chennai-601 301

Submitted for the Project Work and Viva-Voce examination held on. _ _ _ _ _ _ _

INTERNAL EXAMINER EXTERNAL EXAMINER

ii
 DECLARATION

We, affirm that the project report titled OPTIMIZATION OF

PROPPANT AND FRACTURING FLUIDS IN WELL
STIMULATION being submitted in partial fulfillment of the
requirement for the award of Bachelor of Technology is the
original work carried out by us. It has not formed the part of
any other project report dissertation on the basis of which a
degree or award was conferred on an earlier occasion on this
or any other candidate.

Signature of candidate

MOHAMMED AFEL T (410620219021)

NOORDEEN AHAMED H (410620219021)

SATHISH KUMAR M (410620219026)

I, certify that the declaration made by the above candidates is

true to the best of my knowledge.

DATE: Signature of Supervisor

Dr. BEEVI FATHIMA, M. Tech., Ph.D

iii
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We thank our almighty god and our beloved parents for their
consistent support and encouragement provided from the beginning of our
project work and till its completion.

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to our Chairman, ALHAJ K.

MOOSA, and our Secretary, Mr. M. KADAR SHAH, B.A., M.B.A., for
their unwavering support and guidance.

A special thanks to our beloved Director, Dr. P. PARAMASIVAN, Ph.D.,

for his invaluable insights and encouragement throughout this project.We
are deeply thankful to our Principal, Dr. G. UMA GOWRI, B.E.,
M.Tech., Ph.D., for her continuous support and motivation.We are
indebted to our Dean Dr. S. SUMAN RAJEST,Ph.D ,.for his belief in our
abilities and for his constant encouragement, which have been pivotal in
the successful completion of this project.

We would also like to acknowledge Prof. C. ELAYARAJA, M.E.,

(Ph.D)., our Academic Coordinator and Head of the Department, for his
support and guidance.

We grateful to Dr. BEEVI FATHIMA, M. Tech., Ph.D, Project Guide.

Assistant Professor, for his assistance and support.Our gratitude also goes
to Dr.R.VIJAYALAKSHMI, M.Tech.,Ph.D.,Project coordinator to her
guidance and support .

Lastly, I would like to thank all the faculty members and staff of our
college for their support and encouragement throughout this project.

iv
 ABSTRACT

This project aims to enhance the efficiency and productivity of oil

and gas extraction from unconventional reservoirs through
optimized well stimulation practices, focusing on hydraulic
fracturing, or "fracking." The core concept involves injecting a high-
pressure fluid into the reservoir to create fractures in the rock
formation, allowing hydrocarbons to flow more freely. To maintain
these fractures, proppants—such as sand, resin-coated sand, or
ceramics—are utilized. Fracturing fluids, which serve multiple
functions, are critical for carrying proppants, extending fractures,
and reducing friction during injection. The optimization of
proppants and fracturing fluids requires a comprehensive approach,
considering key factors like reservoir characteristics, proppant
selection, fluid rheology, and treatment design. This project will
investigate the geological properties of specific reservoirs to tailor
proppant types, sizes, and concentrations for maximum fracture
conductivity and enhanced hydrocarbon drainage. The design of
fracturing fluids will be refined to account for reservoir-specific
conditions such as temperature, pressure, and fluid compatibility.
The project will also explore environmental and cost implications.
This includes strategies to reduce water usage, chemical additives,
and proppant waste, aiming to lower environmental impact while
improving operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness. We also
provide a solution for well stimulation problems to increase
productivity at a lower cost. The project seeks to advance the
effectiveness of well stimulation in unconventional reservoirs,
leading to more sustainable and efficient oil and gas production.

v
 TABLE OF CONTENT

BONAFIDE
DECLARATION
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
ABSTRACT
LIST OF FIGURES
LIST OF TABLES
LIST OF ABBRIVATIONS

CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………..……1
CHAPTER 2
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 PETROLEUM PRODUCTION ENGINEERING……………………3
2.2 OPTIMIZATION OF ACIDS FRACTURING……………………….3
2.3 PRODUCTION OPERATIONS………………………………………4
2.4 NEW INSIGHTS INTO HYDRAULICS FRACTURING………..….4
2.5 STUDY OF PROPANT CARRYING MIGRATION………………...5
2.6 CFD APPROACH FOR PROPANT TRANSPORT………………….5
2.7 INTEGRATED MINERAL ANALYSIS OF SANDSTONE………...6
2.8 NUMERICAL SIMULATIONS………………………………………7
CHAPTER 3
MATERIALS AND METHODS
3.1 WELL STIMULATION………………………………………………8
3.2 CLASSIFICATION OF WELL STIMULATION…………..………..9
3.3 ACIDIZING……………………………………………………...…...12
3.4 ACIDS USED IN ACIDIZING……………………………………….19
3.5 CHEMICAL REACRIONS…………………………………………...21

vi
 3.6 HYDRAULIC FRACTURING………………………………………..23
3.7 FORMATION FRACTURING PRESSURE………………...………..26
3.8 CHARACTERISTICS OF FRACTURING FLUIDS………………...29
CHAPTER 4
RESULT AND DISCUSSION
PROBLEM STATEMENTS IN WELL STIMULATIONS
4.1 STATEMENT 1……………………………………………………..30
4.2 STATEMENT 2……………………………………………………..33
4.3 STATEMENT 3……………………………………………………..36
4.4 STATEMENT 4……………………………………………………..38
4.5 STATEMENT 5……………………………………………………..41
CHAPTER 7
CONCLUTION……………………………………………………………...44
REFERENCE ……………………………………………………………….47

vii
 LIST OF FIGURES

3.1 TYPES OF WELL STIMULATIONS……………………………………9

3.2 PROPANTS IN FRACTURE…………………………………………….11
3.3 HYDRAULIC FRACTURING …………………………………………..11
3.4 ACIDIZING ………………………………………………………………12
3.5 ACID DISSOLVES FORMATIONS……………………………………..13
3.6 SANDSTONE AND CORBONATE ACIDIZING ………………………13
3.7 MATRIX ACIDIZING……………………………………………………15
3.8 OIL WELL STIMULATION…………………………………..………….17
3.9 KAOLINITE AND ILLITE……………………………………………….21
3.10 ACID FLOW PATH IN FORMATION……………...…………………..22
3.11 FRACTURING ……………………..……………………………………23
3.12 FRACTURE GEOMENTRY ……………………………………………24
3.13 FRACTURE CONDUCTIVITY…………………………..……………..26
3.14 PROPENT EMBEDMENT…………………….……………….………..27
3.15 FRACTURE CRITERIA…………..……………………………………..28
4.1 PROPPANT DISCRIMINATION…………………………………………30
4.2 CHEMICAL STRUCTURE OF LIGNIN…………………………………31
4.3 IMPROPER PROPPANT PLACEMENT………………………………...33
4.4 PROPPANT PLACEMENT IN FRACRURING………………………….35
4.5 SKIN DAMAGE DUE TO MUD INVASION……………………………37
4.6 SKIN FACTOR……………………………………………………………39
4.7 TIGHT RESERVOIR FORMATION……………………………………..39
4.8 STRUCTURE OF ACETIC ACID………………………………………..42

LIST OF TABLE

viii
3.1 STRENTHS OF HCL:HF MIXTURE……………………………………14
3.2 MAXIMUM ACID STRENGTH…………………………………………15

LIST OF ABBRIVATIONS
PIV - PARTICLE IMAGE VELOCIMETRY
CFD - COMPUTATIONAL FLUID DYNAMICS
EDTA – ETHYLENEDIAMINE TETRAACETIC ACID
GLDA – GLUTAMIC ACID DIACETATE
HEDTA - HYDROXY ETHYLENE DIAMINE TRIACETIACID
ICP - INDUCTIVELY COUPLED PLASMA
TIMA - TESCAN INTEGRATED MINERAL ANALYSIS
HCL - HYDROCLORIC ACID
HCF - HYDROFLORIC ACID
GPF - GALLON PER FOOT
SRV - STIMULATED RESERVOIR VOLUME
HP - HIGH PRESSURE
HT - HIGH TEMPERATURE
OBP - OVER BURDEN PRESSURE
BBL - BARREL
PSI - POUNDS PER SQUARE INCH
GPM - GALLON PER MINUTE
STB - STOCK TANK BARREL

ix