Increase in Profitability Ratio of Hydraulic Fracturing for Multi-Layer Formation

Abstract

It is the purpose of this paper to search for options to improve technical and economic efficiency of hydraulic fracturing. The paper presents conventional hydraulic fracturing technologies at multiple development targets and interval frac technology using diverter soluble balls for directional wells under the conditions of multiple development targets. The paper also presents experience of technology application at the enterprise and economic analysis (costs reduction for workover actions). The technology is based on application of diverter soluble balls and it allows performing selective hydraulic fracturing for two and more productive formations for one packer trip-in and one frac fleet approach thereby enabling considerable reduction in the time and increasing the economic value of actions. The main elements of the process are diverter balls which plug (creating a temporary artificial overlap) perforated intervals of the first development target after fracturing at a continuous process, enabling flow redistribution and deviation of frac drive fluid to lesser permeable second frac development target. The process is continuous as follows DFIT, frac #1, diverter balls injection, frac #2. Diverter balls have been tested in the enterprise’s labs against characteristics and properties, compatibility of products with formation fluids. Frac technology using diverter balls has been successfully tested as part of the pilot project and it is applied at the enterprise on a commercial scale enabling reduce costs for workover crew’s work by 23%, workover actions – by 20%, increasing profitability of frac workover actions for both an existing producing well stock and at the cost of a new well stock drilling. It is worthwhile noting that the existing conventional frac equipment allows applying the technology. It does not need special upgrading. The technology applicability criteria are identified. Success of works which have already been performed is over 95% and it is approved by well logging to determine flow profile. The technology application allows involving into development all low productive formations of dissected section with a considerable reduction in the time and workover action costs.