First Successful Massive Hydraulic Fracturing Treatment Unlocks Reservoir Potential 4 Fold: Case Study from Tight Gas HPHT Field in Southern India

Hydrocarbon production from high-pressure/high-temperature (HPHT) unconventional and tight gas reservoirs is challenging the industry with its increasing complexities, changing geological and reservoir dynamics with deeper depth and temperature, stimulation techniques and the strategic cost investment. The southern basins of India offers a complete set of such variability, uncertainties and challenges that demand a more synergic approach and effort to produce. Field X is a deep HPHT tight gas field in the Krishna Godavri Basin with a permeability of < 0.1 mD and a porosity of 10-12%. Prior attempts of hydraulic fracturing were carried out in the field with limited success. Small volume jobs were pumped, yielding low-permeability coverage, with just an initial production gain and no sustainability on the gas production increase. Frac fluid recovery was an additional concern because of the tight nature of the reservoir. This paper discusses the integration of log data, lab/fluid testing, production modelling, and fracture diagnostics that were used to design and optimize the massive hydraulic fracturing treatment. The technical methodology implemented during design, execution and evaluation phases for fracturing an HPHT tight gas well is discussed, including how the various risks were mitigated and the technical challenges were overcome. Finally, this paper elaborates the successful execution of the hydraulic fracturing treatment wherein ~332,000 lb of proppant were pumped–the largest in this field in a single stage. Initial production was enhanced by four times after the hydraulic fracturing. With the success of the hydraulic fracturing treatment execution strategy, fracturing operations were planned for the future field development wells to realize the true potential of the reservoir for increased and sustainable production.