Introduction to Well Stimulation

Pedro Artola
PSE Domain Champion PCE Schlumberger

Objectives of Well Stimulation

Maximize the NPV on well drilling and completion investment
- Increase hydrocarbon production rate - Increase the reservoir economical life - Increase reserves

Reduce, or overcome, near wellbore damage Stimulation for reservoir management - Efficient drainage of laminated formations
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- Delaying the onset of water production - Sand control

Post Stimulation Production Increase

600 500 400

Pre-stimulation production

Post-stimulation production

BOPD

300

Well Stimulation
200 100 0 0 20 40 60 80 100

Well Economic Limit

Time (months)
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Well Stimulation
Stimulation is a chemical or mechanical method of increasing flow capacity to a well. Schlumberger is mainly concerned with three methods of stimulation: 1. Wellbore Clean-up : Fluids not injected into formation n a. Chemical Treatment n b. Perforation Wash 2. Matrix Treatment : Injection below frac pressure n a. Matrix Acidizing n b. Chemical Treatment 3. Fracturing Injection above frac pressure n a. Acid Frac n b. Propped Frac
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Stimulation Techniques
n

Restores Flow Capacity:

Wellbore Clean-up Matrix Treatment

These procedures are performed below fracture pressure.

n

Create New Flow Capacity:

Hydraulic Fracturing (Acid and Sand)

These procedures are performed above fracture pressure.

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Three Areas Where Reduction in Flow Capacity May Occur

1. Wellbore: n Scale Damage n Sand Fill n Plugged Perforations n Paraffin Plugging n Asphalt Deposits n Etc. 2. Critical Matrix: n Drilling Mud Damage n Cement Damage n Completion Fluids n Production n Native Clays/Fines 3. A naturally low permeable reservoir.
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Wellbore
Primary Purpose : Restore flow capacity by removing restrictive damage to fluid flow in the wellbore.
n

Methods :
n n n

Mechanical Chemical Treatment Acidizing Treatment

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Critical Matrix
What is It? The area of formation that r is 3' to 5' from the (Drainage Radius) wellbore. (Pe) 2,000 ft 1,000 ft Why is it critical? 100 ft
n
50 ft 20 ft 10 ft 5 ft 3 ft 2 ft 1 ft 0 ft % Pressure Drop P (psi) 5,000 4,934 4,719 4,654 4,568 4,503 4,439 4,391 4,000 3,150 2,000 P/ft 0.07 psi/ft
(Pe - P) (Pe - Pwf) * 100

1.3 psi/ft 6.5 psi/ft

Pressure

850 psi/ft 1,150 psi/f

Reduction in Near Wellbore Pressure Drop

(Pwf)

0 2.5 10.8 13.3 16.6 19.0 21.5 23.3 24.8 27.3 100

Distance
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Major Goals of Matrix Treatment

1. Restore Natural Permeability
n

By Treating the Critical Matrix

2. Minor Stimulation 3. Leave Zone Barrier Intact

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Matrix Acidizing
1. Sandstone: n Major Effects:
Dissolves/Disperses Damage Restores Permeability
n Minor Effects:

Minor Stimulation

2. Limestone: n Major Effects:

Enlarge Flow Channels/Fractures Disperse Damage by Dissolving Surrounding Rock Creation of Highly Conductive Wormholes
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Wormholes creation

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Etching Process

Increase pumping rate

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Applications For Matrix Treatment

n

High Permeability Formation with Damage. Unproppable Formations. Treating Limitations. Thick Zones. To Supplement Fracturing.

n
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Production Enhancement
5 100

Percent of Original Flow

60% 30%

rd
0.25 0.75 2 5

0.25

PIs x100 PI 10

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Ks x100 K Percent of Original Natural Permeability:

10

100

1,000

Challenges of Matrix Stimulation Treatments

Diagnostic and damage characterization Treatment Design Quality control during the treatment Tubing contamination Complete zone coverage Undesirable precipitates of reactions Complete damage removal Fines migration

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Darcys Equation
Oil Well : Gas Well :

kh (P e - P wf ) q= re + S) 141.2 (In r w

kh (Pe 2 - P wf2 ) q= re + S) 1424 zT (In r w

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Skin (s)
The total Skin (ST) is the combination of mechanical and pseudo-skins. It is the total skin value that is obtained directly from a well-test analysis. Mechanical Skin: n Mathematically defined as an infinitely thin zone that creates a steadystate pressure drop at the sand face. nS>0 Damaged Formation nS=0 Neither damaged nor stimulated nS<0 Stimulated formation Pseudo Skin: n Includes situations such as collapsed tubulars, partial penetration, turbulence, and fissures. The Mechanical Skin is the only type that can be removed by stimulation.
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Formation Damage
Damage Definition :
n n

Partial or complete plugging of the near wellbore area which reduces the original permeability of the formation. Damage is quantified by the skin ( S ).
Hawkins formula

vertical wells rs rw
S
k = k s 1 ln

rs rw

horizontal wells
S
= k k r H V 1 ln s rw k k HS VS

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Formation Damage (Skin)

Matrix Acidizing:
n n

Sandstone: skin value can be reduced down to 0 (best case)

Limestone: can generate negative skin values. En Fractura:

n

A negative skin value is most likely. Completion Fractura StimPAC Open hole OH gravel pack Cased hole CH gravel pack Skin (average range) -6 to -2 -2 to +4 0 to +5 +2 to +10 +2 to +15 +5 to +20

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Skin Example
Pseudo Skin: n Producing at high rates --> turbulence n Collapsed tubing, perforations n Partial penetration / Partial perforation n Low Perforation Density (Shots/ft) n Etc. Formation Damage: n Scales n Organic/Mixed Deposits n Silts & Clays n Emulsions n Water Block n Wettability Change PA

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Example
An oil well produces 57 B/D under the following reservoir and producing conditions: k = 1 md / 10 md h = 50 ft o = 1.23 res bbl/stb o = .6 cp Pr = 2,000 psi Pwf = 500 psi rw = .33 ft re = 1,320 ft What is the Skin Factor? Is there potential for Stimulation?
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Introduction to Matrix Stimulation Treatments

Formation Stimulation
Matrix Stimulation
Inject fluid at rates below fracturing pressures Overcome damage in the near wellbore region - Invasion during drilling - Completion fluids - Native Clays/Fines Modify formation within a limited distance (inches to a few feet) of the wellbore

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Formation Stimulation
Matrix stimulation - Near wellbore flow modification

Pressure

Reduction in Near Wellbore Pressure Drop

Post Stimulation Fluid Flow

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Distance

Formation Damage

Damage Definition :
n n

Partial or complete plugging of the near wellbore area which reduces the original permeability of the formation. Damage is quantified by the skin factor ( S ).

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Types of Formation Damage

n Emulsions n Wettability

Change n Water Block n Scale Formation n Organic Deposits n Mixed Deposits n Silt & Clay n Bacterial Slime
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Areas of Damage

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Emulsions
Definition: n Formed by invasion of filtrates into oil zones or mixing of oil-based filtrates with formation brines. n Any two immiscible fluids Keys to Diagnosis: n Sharp decline in production n Water breakthrough n Production of solids n Fluid samples

Treatment: n Surfactants n Mutual solvents

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Wettability Change
Definition:
n Oil wetting of rock from hydrocarbon deposits or adsorption of an

oleophilic (attracts oil) surfactant from treating fluid. Keys to Diagnosis: (Normally difficult to diagnose)
n Rapid production decline n Water breakthrough n Water coning n Decrease or disappearance of gas

Treatment:
n Mutual solvent followed by water-wetting
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surfactant.

Water Block
Definition:
n Caused by an increase in water saturation near the wellbore which

decreases the relative permeability to hydrocarbons. Keys to Diagnosis:

n Rapid oil or gas production decline n Water breakthrough n Water out n Abnormally high water cut

Treatment:
n Mutual solvents or surfactants
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Scale Formation
Definition: n Scales are precipitated mineral deposits. Scale deposition occurs during production because of lower temperatures and pressures encountered in or near the wellbore. Keys to Diagnosis: n Sharp drop in production n Visible scale on rods/tubing n Water breakthrough Treatment: n Carbonate (Most Common) HCl, Aqueous Acetic n Iron HCl with various iron control agents n Sulfate n Silica EDTA Mud Acid NARS n Chloride 31 PA 1 - 3% HCl
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Scales : Inorganic Mineral Deposits

Types of Scale
Carbonates

Usual Occurrence
CaCO 3 CaSO 42H 2 O (gypsum) BaSO 4 /SrSO
4

Treating Fluids
HCl

Comments
Very Common Common Rare

EDTA EDTA

Sulfates

Chlorides

NaCl

H 2O/HCl

Gas Wells

Iron

Fe S Fe 2O 3

HCl + EDTA
HCl + Sequestering Agent

CO 2/H 2S Possible Produced

Silica

SiO 2

HF

Very Fine

Hydroxides

Mg/Ca(OH)

HCl

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Organic Deposits
Definition: n Organic deposits are precipitated heavy hydrocarbons (parrafins or asphaltenes). They are typically located in the tubing, perforations and/or the formation. n The formation of these deposits are usually associated with a change in temperature or pressure in or near the wellbore during production. Keys to Diagnosis: n Sharp decline in production n Visual parrafin on rods and pump

Treatment: n Aromatic Solvents (Xylene, Toluene) 33 PA n Mutual Solvents 04/25/2006

Silts & Clays

Definition: Damage from silts and clays includes the invasion of the reservoir permeability by drilling mud and the swelling and/or migration of reservoir fines. Keys to Diagnosis:
n n n n n

Sharp drop in production Lost circulation during drilling Production tests

ARC tests Treatment:

n n n n
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HCl: Carbonate Reservoirs HF Systems: Sandstone Quaternary Amine Polymers (L55) Fusion (Clay Acid)

Bacterial Slime
Definition:
n

Anaerobic bacteria grows downhole without oxygen up to 150F. Bacteria may chemically reduce sulfate in a reservoir to H2S.

Treatment:
n

M91 (Bleach)

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Sources of Formation Damage

n n n n n n n n
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Drilling Cementing Perforating Completion and Workover Gravel Packing Production Stimulation Injection Operations

Successful Matrix Treatment

REQUIREMENTS :
n

Enough Treating Fluid Volume Correct Reactive Chemicals Low Injection Pressure Total Zone Coverage

n
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Introduction to Fracturing

Low Permeability Reservoir

Increase well productivity by creating a highly conductive path compared to the reservoir permeability.
Damage

XL = Fracture half length

XL

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The fracture will extend through the damaged near wellbore area. The fracture size is limited to two criteria : n Drainage Radius n Cost Fracturing is : Pumping fluid into the formation above fracture pressure. PA

Applications for Hydraulic Fracturing

n

If wells natural permeability is low ( Ke < 10 md ) Natural production is below economic potential Skin By-Pass HyperSTIM or higher permeability and soft formations. Modify flow regime deep within the formation (tens to hundreds of feet)

The injected fluid is pumped at a rate above the fracture pressure of the reservoir to create cracks or fractures within the rock itself.
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Hydraulic Fracturing Treatment

Primary Purpose :
n

To increase the effective wellbore area by creating a fracture of length XL whose conductivity is greater than that of the formation.

Dimensionless Conductivity ( Fcd ) = Kf Wf / Ke Xf Two Methods :

n n

Sand Frac Acid Frac

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Dimensionless Fracture Conductivity

CfD =
rw' / xf

kfw k xf

where:

kf = Fracture Permeability (mD) w = Average fracture width (ft) xf = Fracture Half-Length (ft) k = Formation Permeability (mD)

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CfD

Hydraulic Fracture Modification of reservoir flow

Linear Flow: Early times and for infinite conductivity fractures

Bi-linear Flow: Finite conductivity fractures

Psuedo-radial Flow: Long time

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Hydraulic Fracture Acid and Propped Fracturing

open fracture during pumping

0.5"

fracture tends to close once the pressure has been released

PROPPED FRACTURE

ACID FRACTURE

Sand/proppant used to prop the fracture open

Acid etches fracture surface Formation integrity prevents collapse

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Hydraulic Fracture Advantages

Connect discontinuous hydrocarbon bearing formations
- Production from lenticular formations

Connect naturally fissured system Assure production from laminated intervals Distribute pressure drop along the fracture length
- Hydraulic fracturing for sand control
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Hydraulic Fracture Advantages

Connecting Lenticular Reservoirs Naturally Fissured Systems

Sub - Parallel Fissures Orthogonal Fissures

Connecting Laminated Formations

Pay stimulated by a fracture treatment

Distribution of Wellbore Drawdown

Pressure

Reduction in formation sand production

Distance
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Pay stimulated by an acid treatment

Hydraulic Fracturing
Harsh Fracturing Environments Very high permeability ( 1-2 Darcy ) Weak barriers to fracture height growth Very high pore pressure (i.e. overpressurized reservoirs) Formations with a high degree of natural fissures Proximity to oil-water contact Lenticular formations bounded by higher stressed formations
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Hydraulic Fracturing
Typical Formations Very tight formations => mD permeability Wells with significant damage Good producing wells (high permeability formations) Fracture for Sand Control
Every well should be considered for hydraulic fracturing
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Fractures in High Permeability Formations

rw' / x f

Low Permeability xf r' w = 2

1.00

Low Permeability xf limited

0.10

High Permeability
r' w = 0 .28 kf w k
0.01 0.1

High Permeability kf w limited

10

100

1000

FCD

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Fractures in High Permeability Formations

r ' w = 0.28

kf w k

Increase in rw => large fracture conductivity

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Increased fracture width Increased fracture permeability

Fracture length not important

Short fractures bypassing near wellbore damage

Importance of Fracture Width

Overcome detrimental effects of proppant embedment Reduce skin effects due to non-darcy hydrocarbon flow in fracture (significant in gas wells) Reduce convergent flow skin, particularly for deviated wellbores.

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Proppant Embedment in High Perm

Reduced propped width and conductivity 40% reduction in width

1.5 - 2.0 lb/ft2 prop. conc. loss

Damage to proppant pack from subsequent fines migration Higher in soft formations, larger proppant sizes and increased fluid leakoff

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Proppant Embedment
4.00

) Embedment (lb/ft
2

3.00

2.00

1.00

Embedment at 7 lb/ft2
0 300,000 600,000 900,000 1,200,000

0.00

Modulus (psi)
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Productivity Increase
High Permeability Formations Folds of Increase, (J/Jo)
14 12 10 8 6 4 2

Low Permeability Formations

100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10%

Xf re

10

10

10

10

10

Relative Conductivity,
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kfw k

40 A

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What is the Real Fracture Length??

Propped Length

Effective Length

Hydraulic Length
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Propped Fracture Optimization

Optimize the reservoir deliverability by balancing fracture characteristics and reservoir properties Analyze the effect of production systems : n Nodal Analysis Determine the pumping parameters :
n

Minifrac (DataFRAC*)

Tailor the fracturing fluid and proppant to the reservoir Determine treatment size (Fluid & proppant amount) n Calculate XLand FCD Calculate the benefit of the treatment => $ n FracNPV
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Acid Fracture
n

Bottom hole pressure above fracturing pressure Acid reacts with the formation Fracture is etched Formation must retain integrity without fracture collapse

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Hydraulic Fracturing Accomplishes:

Creates Deep Penetrating Fractures to :
n n n n n

Improve productivity Interconnect formation permeability Improve ultimate recovery Aid in secondary recovery Increase ease of injectivity

A hydraulic Fracture has to be cost effective to the operator.

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Fracture Penetration is influenced by:

FORMATION CHARACTERISTICS : n Type n Hardness n Permeability n Zone Height Presence of Barriers n Drainage Radius FRAC FLUID CHARACTERISTICS : n Base Fluid n Viscosity n Volume n Pump Rate n Fluid Loss
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Orientation of The Fracture

The fracture will extend perpendicular to the axis of the least stress.
Overburden Pressure

X - Y - Z Coordinate :
Favored Fracture Direction

Least Principal Stress (i.e. Vertical Fracture)

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Hydraulic Fracture Fracture Orientation

Overburden Pressure Vertical fracture plane is perpendicular to earths surface due to overburden stress being too great to overcome

Least Principal Stress

Maximum Principal Stress

Overburden Pressure/Least Principal Stress

Rule of Thumb FG < 0.8 psi/ft = Vertical Fracture FG > 1.0 psi/ft = Horizontal Fracture

Intermediate Principal Stress

Horizontal fracture with a pancake like geometry. Usually associated with shallow wells of less than 3,000 ft. depth

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Maximum Principal Stress

Decision Tree For Stimulation

Start Production Test K, S Analyze Skin Mech Skin Wellbore Skin Location Zero Pseudo Recommendation

K<20
No

Wellbore Clean Up
No

Matrix Treatment Be Happy

Candidate for high K Frac

Yes

HCI Soluble
No

Yes

Prop Frac

Acid Frac

Predict Production Do $ End Dont

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