Hydraulic Fracturing: Theory & Application

Disciplines
Engineering
Category
Unconventional Reservoir
Format
Classroom • Live Online 
Available
Private 

Who Should Attend

This course is intended for petroleum engineers, geologists, geophysicists, and other technical staff wanting a more in-depth understanding of hydraulic fracturing. All types of reservoir applications are discussed, but a focus is placed on the design and application in horizontal well systems. Previous knowledge of hydraulic fracturing basic concepts is helpful, but not required.

Description

This course provides an in-depth look at hydraulic fracturing, first from a theoretical viewpoint, but also how this theory translates into application of the technique. The course starts with a discussion of the goals of hydraulic fracturing and the economic justifications that go along with them. From there, the reservoir characteristics such as in-situ stresses, rock mechanical properties, etc. and their impacts on hydraulic fracture behavior are covered.

Fracturing fluids and proppant types are presented, and an in-depth discussion of conductivity and the associated damage mechanisms under reservoir conditions are discussed. The impacts of such on production and reserve recovery is also highlighted. A large section of the course is dedicated to diagnostic techniques such as DFIT’s, tracers, microseismic, and fiberoptics. How these techniques work, benefits and drawbacks, and potential applications are reviewed. Fracture modeling is discussed, with some model examples presented. Finally, the course concludes with a discussion of economic considerations for hydraulic fracturing design, specifically in horizontal wells.

Learning Outcomes

  • Distinguish between the different fracture lengths (created, effective, propped, hydraulic) and understand their importance in fracture design and efficiency
  • Differentiate between various fracture conductivity damage mechanisms and understand the impacts to production
  • Compare and contrast different treatment diversion options
  • Calculate in-situ stress values and understand the impacts of over- and under-pressured reservoir systems on such values
  • Distinguish between different diagnostic techniques, both indirect and direct, and determine the pros/cons of various options

 

Course Content

What is hydraulic fracturing?

  • Intro & History of hydraulic fracturing
  • Goals of hydraulic fracturing
  • Operations/Treatment Schedule

Stress and Rock Mechanical Properties

  • Stress & Rock Properties
  •  Definitions
  • Stress
  • Strain
  • Young’s modulus
  •  Poisson’s ratio
  • Static (core) measurements
  • Dynamic measurements and log analysis
  • Effects of saturation and stress
  • Synthetic DTC curves
  • “Brittleness”
  • In situ stress
  • Uniaxial strain and total stress equations
  • Overburden
  • Pore pressure
  • Poroelasticity and Biot’s “constant”
  • Regional stress and strain
  • In-Situ Earth Stresses
  • Micro fracs
  • Block Experiments

Proppants and Conductivity

  • Proppants

-Types

-API specifications

  • Conductivity 

–Determination of realistic measurement

–Damage mechanisms

o    Embedment and spalling

o    Packing

o    Cyclic loading

o    Crushing

o    Gel damage and clean-up issues

o    Non-Darcy flow effects

o    Multiphase effects

o    Capillary effects

o    Gravity

o    Horizontal well issues

  • Non-Darcy Losses

Fracturing Fluids and Rheology

  • What is an optimal fluid?
  • Types

–      Polymers/water-based

–      Water-based foams

–      Oil-based

–      Surfactant-based

  • Additives

–      Crosslinkers

–      Breakers

  • Rheology
  • Fluid loss

Proppant Transport

  • Slot model results

Pressure Calculations

Completion Types

  • Horizontal vs. vertical wells

–      Performance considerations

–      Pros/cons of transverse vs. longitudinal

  • Treatment diversion techniques

–      Ball drop systems

–      Plug-n-perf

–      Dynamic diversion

Perforating

  • Damage
  • Stress Cages
  • Hydro-jetting
  • Spacing of clusters
  • Limited Entry
  • Near Wellbore Complexity

Fracture Diagnostics Overview

  • Pressure Diagnostics
  • Diagnostic Tools (tilt, microseismic, tracers, DAS/DTS, SWPM)

Fracture Mechanics & Model Types

  • Design
  • Fracture mechanics and tip mechanisms
  • Model types
  • Economic optimization of treatments

Conclusions

In-Person

Length
3 Days

Virtual

Length
6 Half-Days

Upcoming Events

Check back in periodically for updated Public and Live Online course dates! To schedule an In-House course, contact SCA’s Training Department at training@scacompanies.com.

Instructor

Karen Olson, MS headshotKaren Olson, MS

Sample Topic