Practical Considerations of Horizontal Well Fracturing in the "Danish Chalk"

Abstract

Practical Considerations of Horizontal Well Fracturing in the "Danish Chalk" K.A. Owens; K.A. Owens Maersk Oil & Gas A/S Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar M.J. Pitts; M.J. Pitts Maersk Oil & Gas A/S Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar H.J. Klampferer; H.J. Klampferer Halliburton Services Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar S.B. Krueger S.B. Krueger Halliburton Services Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Paper presented at the European Petroleum Conference, Cannes, France, November 1992. Paper Number: SPE-25058-MS https://doi.org/10.2118/25058-MS Published: November 16 1992 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Twitter LinkedIn Get Permissions Search Site Citation Owens, K.A., Pitts, M.J., Klampferer, H.J., and S.B. Krueger. "Practical Considerations of Horizontal Well Fracturing in the "Danish Chalk"." Paper presented at the European Petroleum Conference, Cannes, France, November 1992. doi: https://doi.org/10.2118/25058-MS Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentAll ProceedingsSociety of Petroleum Engineers (SPE)SPE Europec featured at EAGE Conference and Exhibition Search Advanced Search ABSTRACTPlacement of a propped hydraulic fracture in a horizontal well is dependent on several parameters. These parameters include topics such as reservoir conditions, drilling practices, and completion techniques. This paper outlines some of the practical considerations that must be accounted for during the placement of proppant in a horizontal well in describing a propped fracture treatment on an offshore horizontal well, the paper discusses treatment design considerations and verifies the operational and logistical improvements which can be made by utilizing a state-of-the-art stimulation vessel.INTRODUCTIONHydraulic fracturing of horizontal wells is often attractive for a formation where conventional wells driled in the vertical condition to require this type of treatment. The Dan field in the Danish sector of the North Sea is no exception to this philosophy. The field, discovered in 1971, is produced from the Tertiary Danian and Cretaceous Maastrichtian chalks, typified by high porosities (30%) and low permeabilities (1 md). Since the start of development, all conventional deviated wells in this field were fracture stimulated to improve productivity. However, post stimulation production results were disappointing. A feasibility study performed on application of horizontal wells in the Dan field concluded that horizontal wells were economically attractive only by fracture stimulating multiple zones in the drainhole section and maintaining appropriate zonal isolation.1–3 Therefore, in 1987 the operator commenced drilling of horizontal wells to increase the field's production potential.The initial Dan horizontal wells were stimulated with acid fracture treatments, the industry standard for a chalk reservoir. The placement of these treatments proved effective, however, the medium term production was limited due to the low formation integrity and consequent collapse of the induced fracture system. Propped fracture treatments replaced the acid treatments and the benefits to productivity were quickly seen. However, the placement of proppant into some of the Dan horizontal wells became difficult, and in some cases impossible. The difficulties in placement are attributed to several factors. Principal among these is the direction of the horizontal wellbore relative to the preferred direction of the induced fracture.4 The situation is further complicated by the varying nonconformities that can exist at the near wellbore area.5 Keywords: dan field, practical consideration, treatment design, drilling operation, stimulation vessel, spe 25058, loading, upstream oil & gas, placement, horizontal well Subjects: Drilling Operations, Hydraulic Fracturing, Directional drilling, Fracturing materials (fluids, proppant) This content is only available via PDF. 1992. Society of Petroleum Engineers You can access this article if you purchase or spend a download.