Fracturing Treatment Design Improved by Conductivity Measurements Under In-Situ Conditions

Abstract

ABSTRACT Gelled fluids are often used in hydraulic fracturing treatments. During these treatments a filter cake of gel solids is usually deposited on the walls of the fracture as the result of fluid leak-off into the formation porosity. The presence of this filter cake may have an adverse effect on the conductivity of the proppant bed used to prop open the hydraulic fracture. Laboratory testing methods that simulate these in situ fracture conditions have been developed. Multiple proppant concentrations and fluid systems have been used in this testing. The resultant data are incorporated into the design of a fracturing treatment to minimize the effect of the gel filter cake. This allows more effective stimulation of oil and gas wells and more realistic predictions of post-frac production improvements. The data presented in this work emphasizes the importance of achieving high concentrations of proppant to minimize the effects of gel filter cakes.