Sustaining Fracture Conductivity

作者：Jimmie D. Weaver, P. D. Nguyen, Mark Parker, Diederik van Batenburg · 发表于：SPE European Formation Damage Conference · 年份：2005 · DOI：10.2118/94666-ms · 被引用次数：78 · 研究领域：Hydraulic Fracturing and Reservoir Analysis、Oil and Gas Production Techniques、Drilling and Well Engineering

Abstract The industry has developed standard methods to effectively evaluate the propping agents used in hydraulic fracturing operations. The understanding gained from the consistant application of the methods has greatly helped to optimize productivity.of hydraulicly fractured wells. This paper presents two mechanisms that may significantly increase the understanding of how to optimize fracture conductivity to sustain productivity. The standard methods use well "aged" (passive) proppant and simulated formation materials; whereas, in practice, formation faces are highly activated as an immediate result of mechanical fracturing, as is a significant portion of the pumped proppant. The chemistry that occurs at freshly exposed mineral surfaces is different than that of the aged surfaces used in the laboratory. For example, condensation of polymers on freshly generated surfaces may result in polymer chains becoming anchored to the surface. This anchoring prevents some polymer from being removed by normal gel-breaking mechanisms and forms points of attraction for the collection of broken polymer and fines debris, leading to significant permeability damage and reduced fluid recovery. After a treatment when pressure is relieved and well clean-up begins, temperature and stress gradients are high; significant crushing of proppant and formation material may occur as a packed fracture moves toward an equilibrium condition. The presence of hHigh-ionic-strength fracturing fluids, particula...