Layer | Fill | Outline |
---|
Map layers
Theme | Visible | Selectable | Appearance | Zoom Range (now: 0) |
---|
Fill | Stroke |
---|---|
Collaborating Authors
Young Technology Showcase In December 2011, a record-setting 60-stage openhole fracturing system was installed in the Marcellus Shale in western Pennsylvania. One of the key technologies that enabled this application is a new stage multiplier device called the Packers Plus RepeaterPORT sleeve, which allows the same sized ball to be dropped multiple times. Initially, reservoir fracture modeling indicated that a relatively small number of planar fractures would adequately drain unconventional resource plays such as shale and ultratight rock for both oil and gas. However, empirical evidence has shown that this is not the case. No matter which completion technique is used, stage numbers have been increasing and spacing between fractures has been decreasing. In many cases, however, operational efficiencies are nearing an economic limit for conventional cemented liners and plug-and-perforation completions. Long planar fractures may not be the best approach to effective resource recovery; instead, shorter fractures, smaller fluid volumes, and higher stage numbers have increased productivity and ultimate recovery numbers by as much as 50%. In addition, liquids and condensate numbers (bbl condensate/MMcf/D of gas) increase with openhole completions and ultrahigh stage density. Technology Description The stage multiplier technology operates by allowing the ball to pass through the port, putting it through a passive shift that does not open the port but instead moves it to the next operating position. Subsequent balls of the same size will either provide another passive shift or prime the port to be opened with the next ball. In the latter case, the ball will move the port to an active shift position allowing the next ball to shift it to the open position. This technology creates a number of advantages. First, the ability to run the same size ball multiple times enables an increase in stage numbers—currently up to 60 stages in 5½-in. casing. A second advantage is that the smallest port size can remain relatively large compared with other approaches, reducing accumulated friction from fluid passing through multiple port restrictions. In addition, access with coiled tubing is enhanced for operations such as production logging and well cleanout. Third, operational efficiency is greatly enhanced by allowing uninterrupted stage-to-stage advancement. Furthermore, pumping rates can be reduced, saving on hydraulic horsepower and equipment requirements, because single intervals are being treated per stage rather than three or four perforation clusters. This means that the effective rate will be similar for individual intervals, but the total pump rate at surface can be reduced by approximately one-third, thus saving on surface treating pressure and friction while pumping.
- Geology > Rock Type > Sedimentary Rock > Clastic Rock > Mudrock > Shale (0.59)
- Geology > Petroleum Play Type > Unconventional Play > Shale Play (0.36)
- North America > United States > West Virginia > Appalachian Basin > Marcellus Shale Formation (0.99)
- North America > United States > Virginia > Appalachian Basin > Marcellus Shale Formation (0.99)
- North America > United States > South Dakota > Williston Basin > Bakken Shale Formation (0.99)
- (8 more...)
Abstract Over the last decade, an industry wide shift to unconventional plays has occurred due to advances in technology allowing for the recovery of previously uneconomic reserves. The primary objective of completions in these unconventional reservoirs is to increase the effective surface area of the well to maximize reservoir contact. Horizontal drilling and multi-stage fracturing are two technologies which have accomplished this. The two main methods of horizontal, multi-stage completions currently used in unconventional reservoirs are cemented liner "plug and perf" and open hole, multi-stage fracturing systems. This paper provides an introduction to unconventional reservoirs, describes the main methods of horizontal, multi-stage completions, and discusses how the choice of method can affect good fracturing practices as well as long-term production. Case study examples are presented from a variety of unconventional reservoirs including shale, tight sandstone and tight carbonate formations. Operators working in a number of unconventional reservoirs, such as shales and other tight rock formations are experiencing faster than expected production decline rates, resulting in reduced long-term, ultimate recovery. This may be in part due to the abandonment of good fracturing practices with the advent of horizontal, multi-stage fracturing. Issues such as near wellbore conductivity, flowback, and fracture tortuosity, which can have a significant effect on the long-term production of wells, need to be considered when choosing a completion method, particularly for unconventional reservoirs. Unconventional plays are becoming a significant part of the oil industry today and will become a bigger part in the future. It is important that the reservoirs are completed optimally to achieve maximum recovery. The information provided in this paper is applicable to unconventional resource plays worldwide.
- North America > United States > North Dakota (1.00)
- Europe (1.00)
- Asia > Middle East (1.00)
- (4 more...)
- Geology > Petroleum Play Type > Unconventional Play (1.00)
- Geology > Rock Type > Sedimentary Rock > Clastic Rock > Mudrock > Shale (0.57)
- Geophysics > Borehole Geophysics (0.49)
- Geophysics > Seismic Surveying (0.46)
- North America > United States > Texas > James Lime Formation (0.99)
- North America > United States > Texas > Fort Worth Basin > Barnett Shale Formation (0.99)
- North America > United States > Texas > Fort Worth Basin > Barnett Field > Barnett Shale Formation (0.99)
- (18 more...)
Abstract Over the last decade, an industry wide shift to unconventional plays has occurred due to advances in technology allowing for the recovery of previously uneconomic reserves. The primary objective of completions in these unconventional reservoirs is to increase the effective surface area of the well to maximize reservoir contact. Horizontal drilling and multi-stage fracturing are two technologies which have accomplished this. The two main methods of horizontal, multi-stage completions currently used in unconventional reservoirs are: cemented liner "plug and perf" and open hole, multi-stage fracturing systems. This paper provides an introduction to unconventional reservoirs, describes the main methods of horizontal, multi-stage completions, and discusses how the choice of method can affect good fracturing practices as well as long-term production. Case study examples are presented from a variety of unconventional reservoirs including shale, tight sandstone and tight dolomite formations. Operators working in a number of unconventional reservoirs, such as shales and other tight rock formations are experiencing faster than expected production decline rates, resulting in reduced long-term, ultimate recovery. This may be in part due to the abandonment of good fracturing practices, developed over the past 50 years, with the advent of horizontal, multi-stage fracturing. Issues such as near wellbore conductivity, flowback, and fracture tortuosity that can have a significant effect on the long-term production of wells need to be considered when choosing a completion method, particularly for unconventional reservoirs. Unconventional plays are becoming a significant part of the oil industry today and will become a bigger part in the future. It is important that the reservoirs are completed optimally to achieve maximum recovery. The information provided in this paper is applicable to unconventional resource plays worldwide.
- North America > United States > Texas (1.00)
- North America > United States > North Dakota (1.00)
- Europe (1.00)
- (3 more...)
- Geology > Petroleum Play Type > Unconventional Play (1.00)
- Geology > Rock Type > Sedimentary Rock > Clastic Rock > Sandstone (0.68)
- Geology > Rock Type > Sedimentary Rock > Clastic Rock > Mudrock > Shale (0.58)
- Geology > Rock Type > Sedimentary Rock > Carbonate Rock > Dolomite (0.54)
- North America > United States > Texas > Fort Worth Basin > Barnett Shale Formation (0.99)
- North America > United States > Texas > Fort Worth Basin > Barnett Field > Barnett Shale Formation (0.99)
- North America > United States > Texas > Anadarko Basin > Cleveland Formation (0.99)
- (11 more...)
Abstract Argentina possesses some of the largest shale oil and gas reserves in the world and has the potential to benefit from the technologies currently used to extract unconventional shale resources in North America. Historically, Vaca Muerta resources were produced using vertical wells that were often stimulated in a few zones with plug-and-perf technology. Recently, operators started to adopt horizontal drilling and new multistage completion technologies to maximize access to the reservoir and increase production. Although vertical wells are still popular, horizontal wells are gaining popularity in Argentina. Operators experimenting with horizontal wells are drilling longer laterals and are increasing the stage count within those laterals. Plug-and-perf is the typical completion system in horizontal wells; however, new technologies such as ball-activated sliding sleeve systems are being tested. This paper will present the unconventional multistage hybrid completion of an exploratory well in the Neuquén Basin targeting the Vaca Muerta formation. The completion was comprised of 28 total stages: 13 open-hole, ball-drop sliding sleeve stages in the lower portion and 15 cemented plug-and-perf stages in the top portion. Disintegrating ball technology was used in conjunction with sliding sleeves so that post-frac intervention was eliminated in the deepest part of the well. The plug-and-perf stages were milled out after the fracturing treatment. This well was the longest lateral drilled to date in Argentina at 2,016 meters (6,614 feet) and had the highest initial production rate of any well in Argentina's history. The lessons learned from this well can help Argentinian producers select the best completion method for large-scale development of unconventional resources in the Vaca Muerta Shale.
- South America > Argentina > Patagonia Region (1.00)
- South America > Argentina > Neuquén Province > Neuquén (1.00)
- Geology > Rock Type > Sedimentary Rock > Clastic Rock > Mudrock > Shale (0.82)
- Geology > Petroleum Play Type > Unconventional Play > Shale Play (0.50)
- Energy > Oil & Gas > Upstream (1.00)
- Government > Regional Government > North America Government > United States Government (0.32)
- South America > Argentina > Patagonia > Neuquén > Neuquen Basin > Vaca Muerta Shale Formation (0.99)
- North America > United States > Texas > West Gulf Coast Tertiary Basin > Eagle Ford Shale Formation (0.99)
- North America > United States > Texas > Sabinas - Rio Grande Basin > Eagle Ford Shale Formation (0.99)
- North America > United States > Texas > Maverick Basin > Eagle Ford Shale Formation (0.99)
Abstract Over the last decade, an industry wide shift to unconventional plays has occurred due to advances in technology allowing for the recovery of previously uneconomic reserves. The primary objective of completions in these unconventional reservoirs is to increase the effective surface area of the well to maximize reservoir contact. Horizontal drilling and multi-stage fracturing are two technologies which have accomplished this. The two main methods of horizontal, multi-stage completions currently used in unconventional reservoirs are cemented liner "plug and perf" and open hole, multi-stage fracturing systems. This paper provides an introduction to unconventional reservoirs, describes the main methods of horizontal, multi-stage completions, and discusses how the choice of method can affect good fracturing practices as well as long-term production. Case study examples are presented from a variety of unconventional reservoirs including shale, tight sandstone and tight carbonate formations. Operators working in a number of unconventional reservoirs, such as shales and other tight rock formations are experiencing faster than expected production decline rates, resulting in reduced long-term, ultimate recovery. This may be in part due to the abandonment of good fracturing practices with the advent of horizontal, multi-stage fracturing. Issues such as near wellbore conductivity, flowback, and fracture tortuosity, which can have a significant effect on the long-term production of wells, need to be considered when choosing a completion method, particularly for unconventional reservoirs. Unconventional plays are becoming a significant part of the oil industry today and will become a bigger part in the future. It is important that the reservoirs are completed optimally to achieve maximum recovery. The information provided in this paper is applicable to unconventional resource plays worldwide.
- North America > United States > North Dakota (1.00)
- Europe (1.00)
- Asia > Middle East (1.00)
- (4 more...)
- Geology > Petroleum Play Type > Unconventional Play (1.00)
- Geology > Rock Type > Sedimentary Rock > Clastic Rock > Mudrock > Shale (0.58)
- Geophysics > Borehole Geophysics (0.49)
- Geophysics > Seismic Surveying (0.46)
- North America > United States > Texas > James Lime Formation (0.99)
- North America > United States > Texas > Fort Worth Basin > Barnett Shale Formation (0.99)
- North America > United States > Texas > Fort Worth Basin > Barnett Field > Barnett Shale Formation (0.99)
- (18 more...)