WELL STIMULATION

Dr. Vikas Mahto

Professor
Department of Petroleum Engineering.
Indian School of Mines Dhanbad-826004 (INDIA)

Any operation which increases the productivity of a well is called well stimulation.
Stimulation treatments were originally developed to rejuvenate old or poorly producing
wells. As the understanding of the problems of porosity and permeability of formation
has developed, stimulation treatments have been used more and more to initiate
acceptable producing rates in both new wells and new zones in old wells. The various
well stimulation techniques are shown in Fig .1.

Well Stimulation Techniques

Acid Treatment Fracturing Deparaffination Surfactant

/Acidizing Treatment

Acid Matrix Acid

Washing Acidizing Fracturing

Hydraulic Acid Liquid Solid Dilatent High

Fracturing Fracturing Explosive Propellent Technology Energy
Fracturing Fracturing Gas
Fracturing

Fig. 1: Well stimulation techniques for oil and gas wells

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 1. Acid treatment or Acidizing
In acidizing, acid is used to remove damage near the well bore in all types of wells.
1.1. Acid Washing
Acid washing is an operation designed to remove acid soluble scales present in the
well bore or to open perforation. It my involve nothing more than spotting a small
quantity of acid at the desired position in the well bore and allowing it to react, without
any external agitation, with scale deposits on the formation. Alternatively, the acid may
be circulated back and forth across the perforations or formation face. Circulation may
accelerate the dissolution process by increasing the transfer rate of unspent acid to the
well bore surface.
1.2.Matrix Acidizing
If the injection rates are below fracture pressure it is termed as Matrix acidizing.
Matrix acidizing is applied primarily to remove skin damage caused by drilling,
completion, work over and well killing fluids. It is of two types
a) Sandstone acidizing
b) Limestone acidizing
In sandstone acidizing, a mixture of HCl and HF are used. It is called Mud acid.
Other additives in mud acid are (a) Corrosion Inhibitors, (b) Intensifier (c) Stabilizers
and (d) Sequestering Agents.
The different stages in matrix acidization job are: (i) Preflush with HCl to
remove calcite or other calcareous material in the formation (ii) Flush with HCl/HF
mixture to remove the formation clay and (iii) Post flush with native reservoir fluid to
displace the acid back into the formation.
In carbonate acidizing only HCl is used. HF cannot be used in the stimulation of
carbonate reservoirs because formation of insoluble reaction product which results in
severe pore plugging.
1.3 Acid Fracturing
If the injection rates are above fracture pressure it is termed as acid fracturing. It
is not applicable to sandstone wells
Acid Fracturing is the most widely used acidizing technique for stimulating
limestone or dolomite formations. In acid fracturing treatment, a pad volume injected
into the formation at a rate higher than the reservoir matrix will accept. This rapid
injection produces a build up in well bore pressure until it is large enough to overcome

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 compressive earth stresses and the rocks tensile strength. At this pressure the rock fails,
allowing a crack (fracture) to be formed. Continued fluid injection increases the
fracture length and width. Acid is then injected into the fracture to react with the
formation and create a flow channel into the formation and remains open when the well
is placed back on production.
1.4 Common mistakes in application of acid treatments
1. Use of acids containing no HF
2. Lack of HCl preflush
3. Inadequate mud acid volume and lack of immediate clean up
4. Fracturing the formation during treatment
5. No mutual solvent with mud acid treatment
6. Treatment of undamaged formation
2. Fracturing
2.1 Hydraulic Fracturing
Hydraulic fracturing, as a specific well treatment, was first introduced in 1947 in
the Hugoton gas field of Western Kansas. Four limestone gas producing zones between
2300 and 2600 ft were involved. Flow meter test after treatment shows some
production improvement, but the procedure was not at that time considered a
commercial process. Subsequent experiment, however have succeeded in making
widespread and efficient use of this technique.
Now the hydraulic fracturing is used to accomplish the following basic jobs:
(1) To create deep penetrating reservoir fractures to improve the productivity of a
well
(2) To improve the ultimate recovery from a well by extending the flow channels
further into the formations.
(3) To aid in secondary recovery operations and industrial waste materials into
disposal wells.
In this method, high viscosity fluid (fracturing fluid) is pumped into the well
at a sufficient pressure to cause tensile failure of the formation. The resulting fracture
grows in width and length as the pumping continued. The frac. fluid required to initiate
the fracture is called the pad. When the frac. fluid is sufficiently wide, sand is blended
into the frac fluid. The resulting sand/fluid mixture is called the slurry. At the end of
treatment the fracture is substantially filled with sand. When the pumping is stopped

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and the pressure is relieved. The sand props the fracture open resulting in a highly
permeable sheet extending a large distance out into the reservoir. For this reason, the
sand is often called proppant. If the fracture is not sufficiently wide, a condition known
as “screen out” or “sand off” can occur in which the proppant is unable to enter the
fracture and accumulates in the well bore. If the screen out occurs early in the
treatment, the stimulation will not be successful.
2.2 Acid Fracturing: As described in 1.3
2.3 Liquid Explosive Fracturing/ Nitro Shooting
In nitro-shooting, the explosives are lowered against the perforated interval and
then exploded. The explosive particularly nitroglycerine ( a liquid) is converted into a
gaseous state at such a speed that tremendous , energy is created and communicated to
the surrounding rocks in vibrating waves of great intensity and at a very high velocity
as the result of which the formation is fractured.
2.4 Solid-Propellant Fracturing
Many oil and gas wells can be stimulated effectively with a progressively
burning, solid propellant that produces multiple fractures. The process is an economic
alternative to hydraulic fracturing and other stimulation methods.
The solid-propellant fracturing tool generates high-pressure gases at a rate that
creates fractures dramatically different from either high explosives or hydraulic
fracturing. The time to peak pressure is approximately 10,000 times slower than
explosives and 10,000 times faster than hydraulic fracturing. This leads to multiple
fractures that grow radially from 10 to 100 ft, but no more than 2 ft to 5 ft above or
below zone. The explosives are limited to open hole, but, solid propellants can be used
in both open hole and perforated pipe. Hydraulic fracturing creates a single fracture
where as this techniques creates multiple fracture.
2.4 Dilatant Technology
The dilatant explosive technology is introduced by Sigor Corp. in 2004 and is
based on rock behavior under overbalanced dynamic stress, when rock fails at 5% of its
strength and dilatancy/shearing is triggered as far as 60 ft from the well bore
In dilatant technology, the rock-volume is permanently changed through the use of
explosives. Porosity can be increased 200% or more as a result of controlled
microfracturing/cracking
Field applications of the technique have shown that extensive microfractures
increase yield as much as five-fold in oil wells and seven-fold in gas wells; water

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production is doubled in irrigation wells. Stimulation of potentially productive intervals
in which rock properties are known and hydrocarbons in place was 96% effective.
The dilatant method requires a relatively small amount of high explosive
compared to the amount required for common explosive techniques/propellant tools. It
can supplement acidizing and/or be used ahead of an acid job to increase acid/rock
contact, and it is competitive with the hydraulic-fracturing method (designed to extend
a fracture up to 150 ft in low-permeability sands).
2.5 High Energy Gas Fracturing
In this method a cylindrical shaped powder charge is lowered to the appropriate
depth in the wellbore via wireline or tubing. Upon receiving an electrical signal, the
generator ignites almost instantaneously along its length, creating high pressure and
temperature. This is a deflagration process and not an explosion. The powder charge
disintegrates completely and the well is ready to be returned to production within hours.
By this method the well productivity is enhanced through mechanical, thermal
and chemical actions. Mechanical action occurs due to rapid gas expansion after
ignition. This expansion overloads void spaces and fractures, overcoming the rock's
tensile strength to create several residual fractures of diverse orientation. Fractures
extend 30 to 60 ft from the wellbore. The pulsating action of the pressured gases erodes
the fracture surfaces, causing the fractures to remain unhealed. After the gas is
expended, a backpressure surge action cleans out precipitates and allows easy flow
through pore channels and perforations. Thermal action, reaching up to 1400 oF,
reduces fluid viscosities and melts paraffin/asphalt/resins to keep flow channels open.
Combined, the mechanical and chemical actions create eroded and plasticized walls.
Proprietary chemicals are used to reduce the surface tension between oil and water,
increasing the relative permeability to oil.
For selected wells, high-energy gas fracturing technologies provide a low cost
alternative to hydraulic fracturing. Production increases over 250% have been reported
for U.S. applications in marginal wells.
3. Deparffination
Paraffins and asphaltenes are constituents of most crude oils. Deposits of paraffins or
asphaltenes in surface equipments and down holes are major problems in production
operations.

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 Paraffin deposits vary greatly from one reservoir to another and differences have
even been noted in wells in the same reservoir. The most common methods in
removing paraffins from wells are: (1) Mechanical (2) Solvent (3) Heat and (4)
Dispersants
4. Well Stimulation With Surfactants
Surfactants or surface active agents are chemicals that can be used to improve the
flow around the well bore if used with caution. Surfactants can bring about the
following changes in reservoir fluids and reservoir rocks: (a) Raise or lower surface and
interfacial tension (b) Make, break, weaken or strengthen an emulsion (c) Change the
wettability of reservoir rocks and casing tubing or flow lines and (d) Disperse or
flocculate clay or other fines
Requirements for well treating surfactants
A surfactant used to prevent or remove damage should (i) reduce surface and
interfacial tension (ii) prevent the formation of emulsions and break emulsions
previously formed (iii) Water wet the reservoir rock considering salinity and pH of
water involved (iv) should not swell, shrink or disturb formation clays (v) maintain
surface activity at reservoir conditions (v) have solubility in carrier or treating fluid at
reservoir temperature and have tolerance for formation brine or produced fluids.
Stimulation Treatment
If the damage problem is oil wetting, this may be alleviated by injecting a strong
water wetting surfactant into the formation. However, if oil wetting of sandstone is
caused by cationic surfactant, the cationics are very difficult to remove. The best
approach is to avoid treating sandstone formations with cationic surfactants.
The stimulation plan should include practical provisions to provide a clean
carrying fluid for the surfactant including a clean handling, mixing and circulation
system. Tubing, well bore and perforations must be cleaned of rust, scale, paraffins,
asphaltenes, sand, silt and other debris. Sometimes reperforating may be required to aid
in injecting the surfactant into all zones. Stimulation is usually carried out with a dilute
solution of surfactant usually 2% or 3% in filtered oil or filtered salt water (2% KCl)
which is free of extrageneous chemicals. An average treatment is 100 gallons per foot
(1.5 KL per meter) of interval and is designed to contact a radius of three to five feet
from the well bore.