History

of
Hydraulic Fracturing
 History of Fracturing
 First Frac Job - 1947 Stanolind Oil Co. (Amoco)
Average Number of U.S. Fracs per Month U.S. Fracturing Treatment Trends
90000 18
4500
Ave. Fluid Volume
80000 Ave. Proppant Mass 16
4000
Average Number of Jobs per

Ave. Max. Prop. Conc.

70000 14

Gals of Fluid or Pounds

3500

Ave. Max. Prop Conc.

3000 60000 12

Proppant (10³)
2500
Month

50000 10

2000 40000 8
1500 30000 6
1000 20000 4
500
10000 2
0
0 0
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 1945 1955 1965 1975 1985 1995

Years Years

1985 >40% of all wells drilled were hydraulically fractured

1996 >60% of all wells drilled are hydraulically fractured
 Fracturing Fluid Trends
World-Wide Base Fluid Usage
100

90
80
Percent of Treatments

70
60
Oil-Based Fluid
50
Water-Based Fluid
40
30

20
10

0
1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995

Year
Fracturing Fluid Evolution
1949 1st Frac Job - Lease Crude High pipe friction, low sand
& Gasoline carrying capability

Early 1950’s Gelled Crude & Gelled Improved friction with lower
Kerosene viscosity allowing higher
rates

Mid 1950’s Water Based Fluids - Surfactants to prevent

Linear Gels emulsions; KCl, et. al., for
clay control; Foam
introduced for low reservoir
pressure

Early 1970’s Crosslinked Systems Higher viscosity / lower

polymer concentration.
Less expensive with good
prop transport and friction.

1980’s Better crosslinkers Stabilized systems.

Broader range of
applicability

1990’s Emphasis on “Clean Fluids” Minimize prop & reservoir

& delayed crosslink permeability damage.
 Conductivity vs. Stress & Concentration
100000
500 psi

Fracture Conductivity (md-ft)

1000 psi
2000 psi
3000 psi
4000 psi
10000 5000 psi
6000 psi

1000

100
10 100 1000 10000
Prop Conc. (lbs/1000 ft² of frac area)

Monolayer of 20/40 Proppant = 100-200 lbs/1000 ft²

“Partial Monolayer” of 20/40 Prop = 70-90 lbs/1000 ft²
 Rate & Horsepower Trends

Average Horsepower & Injection Rate

3000 25

2500
20
Hydraulic Horsepower-

2000

Injection Rate
15

1500

10
1000
HHP/Job
5
500 Injection Rate

0 0
1945 1955 1965 1975 1985 1995

Year
 What should you expect from a well after it has been
fracture stimulated?
Fractured Well Production vs.
Radial Flow

25000
Production Rate (MSCF/DAY)

20000

15000

10000

5000

0
0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000

Tim e (days)

Fractured Well Rates Radial Flow Rates

In this 0.1 md reservoir, pseudo steady-state doesn’t occur for approx.

15 years (5475 days). All production prior to that is transient.

The early fractured production is many times greater than the radial flow case.
It is not correct to say that this is “flush production” or “a folds of increase.”