Day 4 3 multiple fractures design and control

Multiple fractures

1


Horizontal Hole 
S−mula−on 

Source: Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC)


State of the Art Hydraulic Fracturing 

3


Horizontal well fracturing 
σH,min
σH,max

σH,max

σH,min
Lf

σH,max

D

σH,min

Near‐wellbore fracture geometry 
Minimum stress

Minimum stress

Wellbore

Fracture

vertical

vertical

Minimum stress

vertical

Wellbore


Fracture Orienta−on w.r.t stress orienta−on 

Single fracture

σv = σ1

Single fracture
Multiple fractures

σH,max = σ2

σH,min= σ3


Comple−on Choices 
!  Cemented liner
!  Plug and Perf Method

!  Open Hole Completions
!  Uncemented perforated liners
!  Swell packers
!  Frac Sleeves
! 
! 
! 

SLB Falcon System
BHI Frac-Point system
Halliburton RapidFrac system

!  Multilateral Technology
! 

BHI Frac-Hook

7


Comple−on Choices 

!  Cemented liner
!  Plug and Perf Method

!  Open Hole Completions
!  Uncemented perforated liners
!  Swell packers
!  Frac Sleeves
! 
! 
! 

SLB Falcon System
BHI Frac-Point system
Halliburton RapidFrac system

!  Multilateral Technology
! 

BHI Frac-Hook

8


Cemented Liner 

Source: Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC)

9

Cemented Liner 

Source: Americas Petrogas

10


Cemented Liner 

Source: Americas Petrogas

11


Perfora−ng for fracturing 
horizontal wells 
!  Limit the perforation intervals for fracture initiation to

a maximum of 1 m to reduce the risk of near wellbore
problems and multiple fractures.
!  Best results are obtained by jetting the perforations
rather than shooting
!  The minimum number of perforations to be applied is
9, but a larger number is preferred, say, 12 to 15
!  Preferred phasing is 60o to minimize possible
tortuosity
" 

Note that some jetting tools can only provide 120o 

Well orienta−on and perforated interval  
affects  fracture growth 

Parasyte Frac

Main Frac
Parasyte Frac

13


Comple−on Choices 
!  Cemented liner
!  Plug and Perf Method

!  Open Hole Completions
!  Uncemented perforated liners
!  Swell packers
!  Frac Sleeves
! 
! 
! 

SLB Falcon System
BHI Frac-Point system
Halliburton RapidFrac system

!  Multilateral Technology
! 

BHI Frac-Hook

14


Open Hole Comple−ons 

Perforated liner

Open hole

Source: Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC)

15


Open Hole Comple−on 

Source: Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC)


Open Hole Comple−on 

Source: Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC)


Frac point isola−on system 

18

Frac point isola−on system 

19


Risk of loosing connec−on 
Plug and Perf requires
over-displacing before
pumping down plug to
isolate next zone

In isolation systems
pumping balls can lead to
overdisplacement if spacing
between sleeves is too small
for accurate ball placement


Hydro‐jet and (sand)Plug using CT 

21



Massive mul− fracs in Shalegas 

10/19/15

23


Fast decline in Shale plays 

24


Is the hype over? 

25