scholarly journals Review of Geochemical and Geo-Mechanical Impact of Clay-Fluid Interactions Relevant to Hydraulic Fracturing

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriel Adua Awejori ◽  
Mileva Radonjic
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Fracturing ◽  
Clay Minerals ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Elevated Temperatures ◽  
Driving Forces ◽  
Gas Production ◽  
Oil And Gas Production ◽  
Petroleum Systems ◽  
Fracturing Fluids ◽  
New Research

Shale rocks are an integral part of petroleum systems. Though, originally viewed primarily as source and seal rocks, introduction of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing technologies have essentially redefined the role of shale rocks in unconventional reservoirs. In the geological setting, the deposition, formation and transformation of sedimentary rocks are characterised by interactions between their clay components and formation fluids at subsurface elevated temperatures and pressures. The main driving forces in evolution of any sedimentary rock formation are geochemistry (chemistry of solids and fluids) and geomechanics (earth stresses). During oil and gas production, clay minerals are exposed to engineered fluids, which initiate further reactions with significant implications. Application of hydraulic fracturing in shale formations also means exposure and reaction between shale clay minerals and hydraulic fracturing fluids. This chapter presents an overview of currently available published literature on interactions between formation clay minerals and fluids in the subsurface. The overview is particularly focused on the geochemical and geomechanical impacts of interactions between formation clays and hydraulic fracturing fluids, with the goal to identify knowledge gaps and new research questions on the subject.

Modeling and experimental investigation of the evolution of altered zones at the shale-fluid interface

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hang Deng ◽  
Sergi Molins ◽  
Carl Steefel ◽  
John Bargar ◽  
Adam Jew ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Fracturing ◽  
Reactive Transport ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Transport Model ◽  
Gas Production ◽  
Production Performance ◽  
Fracture Permeability ◽  
Oil And Gas Production ◽  
Fracturing Fluids ◽  
The Matrix

<p>Unconventional oil and gas production involves the use of acidic hydraulic fracturing fluids that interact with the rock matrix bordering the fractures. As a result, fracture permeability and mass transfer between the matrix and the fracture can be altered, affecting production performance. The evolution of the altered zones are controlled by the gradients of pH and concentrations of various species perpendicular to the fracture-matrix interface, mineral reactions in the matrix as the reactive fluid diffuse into the matrix, and potential mineral coating on the fracture surface where the matrix fluid and fracture fluid mix. In this study, we use reactive transport model to investigate the evolution of the altered zones bordering the fractures. The simulations are based on batch and fracture flow experiments of shales and syntheized hydraulic fracturing fluids. Through the simulations, we quantify the reaction front of different mineral phases and the change of local porosity, and examine their dependence on mineral composition and fluid chemistry. We also discuss the impacts of the altered zones on matrix diffusivity and fracture permeability.</p>

scholarly journals Perspectives for use of hydraulic fracturing in oil and gas production

2014 ◽  
Vol 67 (4) ◽  
pp. 373-378 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Mouallem ◽  
Wilson Trigueiro de Sousa ◽  
Ivo Eyer Cabral ◽  
Adilson Curi
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Fracturing ◽  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Groundwater Level ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Gas Production ◽  
Gas Extraction ◽  
Oil And Gas Production ◽  
High Productivity ◽  
Oil Exploitation ◽  
The World

Hydraulic fracturing emerges currently, all over the world, as one of the more strategic techniques used by companies in the oil exploitation sector. This technique is characterized by its high productivity and profit in relation to conventional methods of hydrocarbon exploitation. However, in many countries, as is the case of Brazil, there are several divergences considering the employment of this methodology. Many renowned researchers attest that there are several irreversible environmental impacts generated by the use of this methodology. Among the main environmental impacts are the risk of groundwater level contamination, the risk of surface subsidence, and the risk of the environment contamination with fluids used in the process of the oil and gas extraction.

Simultaneous Hydraulic Fracturing Improves Completion Efficiency and Lowers Costs Per Foot

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Russell ◽  
Price Stark ◽  
Sean Owens ◽  
Awais Navaiz ◽  
Russell Lockman
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Fracturing ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Horizontal Wells ◽  
Asset Returns ◽  
Gas Production ◽  
Well Performance ◽  
Additional Time ◽  
Oil And Gas Production ◽  
Single Well ◽  
Lateral Length

Abstract Reducing well costs in unconventional development while maintaining or improving production continues to be important to the success of operators. Generally, the primary drivers for oil and gas production are treatment fluid volume, proppant mass, and the number of stages or intervals along the well. Increasing these variables typically results in increased costs, causing additional time and complexity to complete these larger designs. Simultaneously completing two wells using the same volumes, rates, and number of stages as for any previous single well, allows for more lateral length or volume completed per day. This paper presents the necessary developments and outcomes of a completion technique utilizing a single hydraulic fracturing spread to simultaneously stimulate two or more horizontal wells. The goal of this technique is to increase operational efficiency, lower completion cost, and reduce the time from permitting a well to production of that well—without negatively impacting the primary drivers of well performance. To date this technique has been successfully performed in both the Bakken and Permian basins in more than 200 wells, proving its success can translate to other unconventional fields and operations. Ultimately, over 200 wells were successfully completed simultaneously, resulting in a 45% increase in completion speed and significant decrease in completion costs, while still maintaining equivalent well performance. This type of simultaneous completion scenario continues to be implemented and improved upon to improve asset returns.

scholarly journals Comment on “The intensification of the water footprint of hydraulic fracturing”

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (8) ◽  
pp. eaav2110
Author(s):  
Daniel Raimi
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Fracturing ◽  
Water Consumption ◽  
Energy Production ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Water Footprint ◽  
Gas Production ◽  
Permian Basin ◽  
Oil And Gas Production ◽  
Oil And Natural Gas ◽  
Water Intensity

Kondash et al. provide a valuable contribution to our understanding of water consumption and wastewater production from oil and gas production using hydraulic fracturing. Unfortunately, their claim that the water intensity of energy production using hydraulic fracturing has increased in all regions is incorrect. More comprehensive data show that, while the water intensity of production may have increased in regions such as the Permian basin, it has decreased by 74% in the Marcellus and by 19% in the Eagle Ford region. This error likely stems from an improper method for estimating energy production from wells: The authors use the median well to represent regional production, which systematically underestimates aggregate production volumes. Across all regions, aggregate data suggest that the water intensity of oil and natural gas production using hydraulic fracturing has increased by 19%. There also appears to be an error in estimates for water consumption in the Permian basin.

Experimental Study on the Wall Factor for Rod-Shaped Proppant Settling in Vertical Fracture

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhaopeng Zhu ◽  
Xianzhi Song ◽  
Xuezhe Yao ◽  
Shuo Zhu ◽  
Silin Jing
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Hydraulic Fracturing ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Prediction Models ◽  
Gas Production ◽  
Oil And Gas Production ◽  
Transport Distance ◽  
Fracture Closure ◽  
Settling Process

Abstract Hydraulic fracturing is an important technology to improve oil and gas production. In recent years, rod-shaped proppant has received increasing attention for its advantages in avoiding fracture closure and enhancing conductivity. Due to its special shape, the settling process in the fracture is more complicated than that of a spherical proppant. Accurate description of the wall factor of fracture on the settling rod-shaped proppant is pivotal in predicting the transport distance of rod-shaped proppant and improving the effect of fracturing. However, few researches have been reported about the fracture wall factor on the settling rod-shaped proppant. In this study, the transparent fracture model with different width and a high-speed camera were used to record the settling process of the rod-shaped proppant in the fracture. A total of 215 tests were carried out to analyze the effects of fluid properties, the equivalent dimensionless diameter, sphericity, and Reynolds number on the wall factor, involving the ranges of the equivalent dimensionless diameter and the particle Reynolds number are 0.03 to 1.47 and 0.03–1354.14, respectively. The settling processes of rod-shaped proppant under horizontal and vertical states were studied, and two wall factor models for the two states were established, respectively. The results show that the wall factor is a function of both the equivalent dimensionless diameter and Reynolds number. Finally, the prediction models of wall factor with the prediction error of 1.70 and 4.44% are established for these two Reynolds number regions, respectively. The results of this study can further improve the performance of rod-shaped proppant in hydraulic fracturing.

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