Well Stimulation

Operation & Safety Considerations

By:
Rohan Kumar, EE (P)

MINE VOCATIONAL TRAINING

CBM ASSET, BOKARO
18/05/2022
 Content


Reservoir Properties

Stimulation

Fracturing Fluid

Coiled Tubing

Safety Considerations

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 Reservoir Properties
Porosity: Fraction of void space

Permeability : Ability of a porous material

to allow the material to flow through it

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 Formation Damage
•Any process causing a reduction in the natural inherent productivity or injectivity of an oil and gas production or
injection/ disposal well

Drilling & Cementing Completion & workover

operations
Formation
Damage

Production or injection Stimulation

•Skin: Quantitative measure of formation damage

•Negative Skin is favourable

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 Stimulation
Stimulation : Any activity intended to reduce the formation
damage or skin
• Chemicals (Acid) are injected at pressure less than formation
breakdown pressure to dissolve near wellbore damage.
Matrix Acidization • Mud Acid ( 12 % HCl + 3 % HF) or Organic HF ( 10% Acetic acid + 2
% HF ).

• Acid is injected at pressure higher than fracture pressure .

Acid Fracturing • Due to acid flow, the fracture face is dissolved in a non uniform
(Carbonates) manner, creating conductive or etched channels that remain
open when the fracture closes.

Hydraulic
• Base fluid (Water, Oil or Foam) is injected with proppant to
Fracturing fracture the formation and keep it open after pumping stops.
(Sandstones)

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 Blender
Hydraulic fracturing
Pumps

Pad fluid • Creation of highly conductive

path in the reservoir
Sand slurry Well • Fracture connects far reservoir
with wellbore
Displacing fluid • Allows untapped hydrocarbon
to flow into the well
50-1000ft Propped Frac
Shale
Reservoir
Shale

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 Hydraulic Fracture Growth
1 - Fracture initiation as pumping of fluid is
Time
started
during 2 - Fracture propagation with fluid
fracture
treatment 3 – Proppant (usually sand) enters
hydraulic fracture as it is suspended in
the fracturing fluid
4 - Proppant advances further into the
fracture as pumping continues

5 – Proppant advances further in the

fracture and may reach the tip of the
hydraulic fracture as fluid continues to
leak into the permeable formation
6 – Pumping of the fluid/proppant mixture
is stopped and fluid continues to leak
away into the permeable formation
7 – Formation closes on proppant and a
conductive path remains in the reservoir
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 Fracturing Fluid

Objective
• Provides hydraulic energy to
– Initiate a fracture
– Propagate or extend the fracture

• Transports propping agent to the fracture

• Needs to be flowed out of well after treatment


Desired Properties
• Sufficient viscosity

• Low friction and fluid loss

• Clean breaking

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 Types of fracturing fluid

• Most commonly used

Water Based • Ease of handling, inexpensive, less risk

• Used where water base fluid creates problems

Oil Based • Diesel, Condensate

• Clean fluid with better flowback properties

Foam Based • CO2 , N2 types

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 Fluid Additives

Crosslinker
Gelling Agent Clay Stabilizers
(Borax)
(Guar) (Kcl)

Surfactant/Non Buffering Agent

Emulsifier Water Based Fluid (Acetic Acid ,Soda
Ash)

Breakers Bactericide
(APS,TEA) (Formaldehyde)

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 Proppant
•Keeps the created fracture open (propping)
•Provides a highly conductive path from reservoir to wellbore

•Types of Proppants
Low Strength proppant
Medium strength proppant
High Strength proppant

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v
Coiled Tubing

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Coiled Tubing Components

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 Coiled Tubing Reel

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 Power Pack

•A power pack unit

provides hydraulic power
to control and operate a
coiled tubing unit and
pressure control
equipment. Generally, the
power pack units have an
independent electric or
diesel power source
which is designed to
operate in Zone 1 and
Zone 2 areas.
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 Injector Head
The injector assembly is designed to
perform three basic functions:
•Provide the thrust required to snub
the tubing into the well against
surface pressure and/or to overcome
wellbore friction forces.

•Control the rate of lowering the

tubing into the well under various well
conditions.

•Support the full weight of the tubing

and accelerate it to operating speed
when extracting it from the well.

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 Pressure Control Equipment
Primary Control
A primary barrier is an initial barrier for pressure containment
which is normally closed.

Stripper/Packer
•Stripper/packer is a primary barrier in a coiled
tubing unit
•Stripper is designed to provide a pressure seal
around a coiled tubing unit when it is being
run into or pulled out of a live well.

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 Pressure Control Equipment
Primary Control
A primary barrier is an initial barrier for pressure containment
which is normally closed.

Stripper/Packer
•Stripper/packer is a primary barrier in a coiled
tubing unit
•Stripper is designed to provide a pressure seal
around a coiled tubing unit when it is being
run into or pulled out of a live well.

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 Pressure Control Equipment

Secondary Barrier
A secondary barrier is a mechanical normally open system and it is used
when the primary barrier fails or becomes impaired.


Tertiary Barrier
A tertiary barrier is a mechanical normally open system and it will be
used when a primary and a secondary barrier fails and the well integrity is
badly impaired.

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 Blowout Preventer

1-Blind ram - seals the wellbore

when the CT is out of the BOP

2- Shear ram - cuts the CT

3- Slip ram - supports the weight of

CT hanging below it (some are
bidirectional and prevent the CT
from moving upward)

4- Pipe ram - seals around the

hanging CT

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 Sand Jet perforation
&
Hydro-fracturing through
CTU

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 Sand Jetting Process

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 Sand Jetting Process

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 Location Layout

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Safety Considerations

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Personal Protective Equipments

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 Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)

Purpose:
“…ensure that employers and employees
know about work hazards and how to
protect themselves so that the incidence of
illnesses and injuries due to hazardous
chemicals is reduced.”

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 Definitions/Terminologies
•Flammable: ANY substance easily ignited and quick burning, including liquids with a flash point below 95

degrees Fahrenheit.

•Flash point--the lowest temperature at which a liquid produces enough vapor to ignite.

•Density--(% of Water & Air); Specific Gravity

•Toxic: ANY substance (alone or via chemical reaction) able to cause harm/produce injury to the body
through absorption, ingestion, inhalation, or injection.

•Caustic: ANY substance able to burn, damage or destroy organic tissue by chemical reaction; Corrosive.

•Acute: rapid effects, as a result of short-term exposures, of short duration

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 Definitions/Terminologies
•Chronic: effects as a result of long-term exposure, of long duration

•Corrosive: Visible destruction or irreversible damage to body tissue, including acids and caustics (bases)

•PEL–-Permissible Exposure Limit is the standard recognized by industry as the maximum amount or
concentration of a chemical that a worker may be exposed to.

•TLV—Threshold Limit Value is a recommended limit for chemical substance exposures, similar to the PEL
but most often more restrictive than the PEL.

•TWA–-an 8-hour Time-Weighted Average is the concentration the average worker can be exposed during
an 8-hour workday, day after day, without harmful effects.

•STEL— “Short Term Exposure Limit” is a 15 minute period.

•Ceiling—the maximum (C) concentration never to be exceeded.

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 Definitions/Terminologies
•Lethal Dose50 (LD50)  is the amount of a material, given all at once,
which causes the death of 50% (one half) of a group of test animals.
The LD50 is one way to measure the short-term poisoning potential
(acute toxicity) of a material.

•Lethal Concentration50 (LC50) is the amount of a substance in air that,

when given by inhalation over a specified period of time, is expected
to cause the death in 50% of a defined animal population.

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 Hazardous Symbol Details
 National Fire Protection
Association (NFPA)
creates and maintains private, copyrighted
standards and codes for describing health
hazard, flammability, stability and
specific hazard of any materials by the
specific color code and rating.

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 What do MSDSs contain?
 Section 1: Chemical Product and Company Identification
• The chemical name, trade name and manufacturers name
• Chemical Formula
 Section 2: Composition and Information on Ingredients
• Includes: substance,
• % content,
• CAS Number, Classification
 Section 3: Hazards Identification
• Dangers for humans and the environment such as:
potential acute & chronic health effects

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 What do MSDSs contain?
 Section 4: First Aid Measures
• gives instructions on what to do in case of eye contact
• skin contact, inhalation or ingestion
 Section 5: Fire and Explosion Data
• Suitable extinguishing media
• Special hazards in fire
• Special Remarks on Explosion Hazards
 Section 6: Accidental Release Measures
• Environmental precautions,
• Methods for cleaning
 Section 7: Handling and Storage
• Storing temperature & environment

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 What do MSDSs contain?
 Section 8: Exposure Controls/Personal Protection
• Provide exhaust ventilation eyewash stations
• Detailed concentrations of vapors of TLV
• Personal Protection: goggles, Synthetic apron,
• Vapor respirator, Gloves (impervious).
 Section 9: Physical and Chemical Properties
• Appearance, Odor, pH
• Boiling point, Melting point,Flashpoint,
• Explosive properties, Viscosity
• Vapor pressure, Relative density, Solubility
 Section 10: Stability and Reactivity Data
• Conditions to avoid, Hazardous decomposition products
• Incompatibility with various substances
• Corrosivity

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 What do MSDSs contain?
 Section 11: Toxicological Information
• Acute toxicity, Local effects.
• Excessive exposure may affect to Skin contact,
Eye contact, Inhalation/ingestion.
 Section 12: Ecological Information
• Lists any dangers to the environment
• Biodegrades
 Section 13: Disposal Considerations
• Rinse out containers
• Don’t allow to enter drains
• Dispose of according to local regulations
• Do not mix with other waste

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 What do MSDSs contain?
 Section 14: Transport Information
• special consideration for transport will be detailed

 Section 15: Other Regulatory Information

• Lists any agency that may regulate this product

 Section 16: Other Information

• Recommendations/restrictions,
Sources of key data used to compile
Safety Data Sheet

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 MSDS of Acetic Acid
Section Details
1 Identification: Acetic acid, CH3COOH
2 Composition/Information Ingredients: 100% by Wt, CAS no: 64-19-7
3 Hazard(s) Identification: Irritant to eye and skin, very hazardous on inhalation/ingestion
4 First-Aid Measures: Wash with plenty cold water
5 Fire-Fighting Measures: Flammable and use DCP type extinguisher.
6 Accidental Release Measures: Dilute with water or absorb with inert material
7 Handling and Storage: Keep in cool and away from heat.
8 Exposure Controls/Personal Protective Equipment: Use in ventilated atmosphere, use goggles, synthetic
apron, vapor respirator, impervious gloves.
9 Physical and Chemical Properties: liquid, pungent odor, soluble in water.
10 Stability and Reactivity: Stable, corrosive and violently react with base, oxidizer.
11 Toxicological Information: No mutagenic affect,
12 Ecological Information (non-mandatory): No Short term degradation product, may belong term
13 Disposal Considerations (non-mandatory): Will be disposed as per the environmental regulation.
14 Transportation Information (non-mandatory): Not available
15 Regulatory Information (non-mandatory): Health hazard of 3, combustible liquid.
16 Other Information: References: ScienceLab.com.

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 JOB SAFETY ANALYSIS
• All the personnel involved in the job are wearing safety kits?
• First Aid Box is available?
• The units are parked at a safe distance from the well (minimum distance > 15 m)?
• All the X’mas tree valves are functioning?
• All the nuts and bolts fitted and properly tightened on the X’mas tree
• Return line is provided to the waste pit from the well?
• Return line is properly anchored?
• Emergency vehicle is available at the site?
• Escape routes are decided and are clear from obstruction?
• Sufficient water is at the site for emergencies?
• Safety and operational meeting has been conducted for awareness of all safety and
operational aspect?
• All the hammer joints are properly tightened?
• Check valve and hammer valve (plug valve) are installed on the line?
• Line pressure tested before starting the job?
• Fire extinguishers are available?
• Pressure Safety Valve tested?
• Is MSDS and JSA should be present on site?

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 Tool Box Talks
• Welcome to this safety meeting at well____________. Thank you all for being in the safety dress. Anyone
not in the dress is requested to leave the meeting.
• This well has depth of ____________m and the expected pressures would be ____________psi
• The operations will start with line testing upto about 5000psi. Then we will have circulation of____bbl.
We will do minifrac job and then after _____ min, we will start the main frac. We will pump _______bbl
pad followed by sand stages starting at 0.5 ppg and gradually increasing upto ___ppg and lastly we will
pump the flush volume of ____bbl.
• Nobody will be near the pumping line and well during line testing and also the main job, when pumping is
going on.
• The job assignments will be like this:
• Mr. _______________________________________will be operating the blender.
• Mr. _______________________________________ will be on the frac tank.
• Mr. _______________________________________ will be on the frac van.
• Mr. _______________________________________ will be operating the sand dumpers.
• Mr. _______________________________________ will be at ground for tanks valve operations.
• Mr. _______________________________________ will be operating the Acid pumper.
• Mr. _______________________________________ will be in the frac van/blender and will be
responsible for instrumentation and control system smooth functioning.

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THANK YOU

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