Channel Fracturing in the Remote Taylakovskoe Oil Field: Reliable Stimulation Treatments for Significant Production Increase

Abstract

Abstract The channel fracturing technique changes the concept of proppant fracture conductivity generation by enabling hydrocarbons to flow through open channels instead of through the proppant pack. The new technique is based on four main components: proppant pulsing at surface with fracturing equipment and software, a customized perforation strategy, a fibrous material to deliver stable channels, and a set of models to optimize channel geometry. The Taylakovskoe oil field is located in western Siberia—430 km away from the nearest settlements. The Jurassic reservoir in Taylakovskoe field is a sandstone formation with significant net pay (average 25 m) and middle-range permeability (3 to 20 mD). Bottomhole temperatures range between 85°C and 90°C. Fracturing gradient is typically 14 kPa/m. The majority of the wells are stimulated immediately after drilling. Sufficient fracture conductivity and effective fracture length are essential for adequate well performance. The optimization of hydraulic fracturing treatments conducted in recent years was based on improved fluid chemistry and pumping "aggressive" fracture designs; this yielded high-quality results. The new channel fracturing stimulation technique, which allows significant increases in fracture conductivity, became the next technological progression. With channels inside the fracture, fluid and polymer residue flow back faster than with a conventional proppant pack, improving cleanup and increasing effective fracture half-length. One of the most important advantages of the new technology is a very low risk of screenout events. The fibers make fluid more stable, while the presence of clean pulses around proppant structures promotes bridging-free flow. Reduced risk of premature treatment termination is even more important in remote operations such as in the Taylakovskoe field because of the higher costs of nonproductive time and deferred oil production. Candidate selection criteria were developed specifically for local conditions. Ten channel fracturing treatments performed in Taylakovskoe wells have already showed significant increases in incremental oil production—average 44% beyond expected production as shown by well performance analyses. We describe the performance evaluation of wells completed with this technology and future plans for applying channel fracturing methods in the Taylakovskoe field.