Fracture Design Considerations Based on Pressure Analysis

TLDR

Amoco’s fracturing design philosophy has evolved since 1978, driven by coordinated field research and analytical studies, leading to marked improvements in treatment efficiency and effectiveness. The paper reviews procedures for analyzing, modeling, and interpreting fracturing pressure, and outlines benefits and examples of pressure‑controlled designs, including considerations for fluid, proppant, and pumping schedules. They developed a framework for interpreting fluid‑pressure responses during and after treatments, which informs subsequent design decisions. The study demonstrates that excessive fracture‑fluid pressure can cause height growth and screen‑outs, reducing penetration, and that limiting pressure by controlling fluid viscosity mitigates these issues.

Abstract

ABSTRACT The basis of Amoco's fracturing design philosophy has changed significantly since 1978 with a resulting marked increase in treatment efficiency and effectiveness. This change has resulted from a coordinated development of field research programs and analytical studies of the fracturing process. An important integrating part of these investigations was the development of a basis for interpreting the fluid-pressure response during and after a treatment and the resultant implications for subsequent treatment design. Principally, this work shows that excessive pressure due to fluid flow in the fracture can cause problems such as excessive height growth and screen-outs which reduce the potential fracture penetration. A primary design change was to limit the pressure through control of the fluid viscosity. This paper reviews the procedures for analyzing, modeling and interpreting fracturing pressure, the benefits and examples of pressure controlled designs, and the bases for special considerations in fluid, proppant, and pumping schedules to successfully execute controlled pressure designs.