The document discusses the role of hydraulic fracturing in enhancing oil and gas production in horizontal wells, particularly in the context of the Marcellus shale play. It explains the geological characteristics of reservoirs, emphasizing the significance of porosity and permeability, and outlines historical developments in drilling techniques and fracturing methods. Additionally, it touches upon the classification of shale's permeability and the importance of understanding rock properties for effective frac design.

1. 1/9/2014
Slides excerpted from my upcoming class in Colombus, Ohio on Fracturing.
(There are some slides left out, so the slides may not "flow" from one to the
next).
WHY DO WE FRAC?
Frac’d horizontal wells
cost more, but they
also produce more
than conventional
wells.
GEOLOGY AND RESERVOIR ENGINEERING
FRACTURING
Data from Perry and Wickstrom, 2010
The Marcellus Shale Play: Geology,
History and Gas Potential in Ohio
SHALE
•
•
Reservoirs are rocks that contain oil and gas that
can be economically extracted.
Sandstones and limestones are the best reservoirs.
• We always want more “perm”
• You may hear the term “stimulation”
used with respect to oil and gas
wells.
• Stimulation is when you pump fluids
into the well in order to improve the
perm, and thus, the production.
• In addition to fracs, you might have:
– Porous – lots of pore space for the oil or gas
– Permeable – easy to get the oil or gas out
•
Shales were thought of as uneconomic
– May have high or low porosity
– Have low permeability
– May be naturally fractured
•
PERMEABILITY
Utica Shale Outcrop
Numerous incremental advances have added up to
–
–
–
–
– More accurate, quick, less expensive horizontal
drilling
– Frac techniques with more efficient equipment, and
that can be used in horizontal wells
Acidizing
Xylene to remove paraffin deposits
“Snake oil”
Hot oiling
http://geology.com/articles/utica-shale/
GEOLOGY AND RESERVOIR ENGINEERING
GEOLOGY AND RESERVOIR ENGINEERING
TERMS
HISTORY – WAAAAY BACK
Appalachian Basin Depositional Environment.
• Porosity and permeability are
different
• But they are related
• Notice that shales are not
shown
• Limestone “perm” varies a lot
– Sands tend to be “cleaner” in that
they contain less clay
– Not much organic muck builds up
in the sands
• Shales typically form far offshore
– Depends on vugs, fractures,
matrix perm
Kostelnik, 2010.
This table represents one person’s classification.
You can find similar tables with different numbers, but
the pattern will be the same: perm in shales is poor.
Units of perm are “millidarcies.” 1 darcy is approx. 10−12 m2
• Sandstone forms closer to shore,
and at the beach
http://petrowiki.org
– Fine particles are easier to move
with water
– They remain suspended until
they get farther
– Organic material tends to collect
in shales
– Over time, the organic material
becomes oil or gas
APPALACHIAN BASIN
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2. Slides excerpted from my upcoming class in Colombus, Ohio on Fracturing.
(There are some slides left out, so the slides may not "flow" from one to the
next).
FRACTURING
• Suffice it to say that the
geologists and reservoir
engineers figure out where the
fracs need to be
– Some considerations will be
on next slide
• The drilling and completions
engineers then figure out
where to put the well in order
to accomplish this scope
1/9/2014
ROCK PROPERTIES DATA
• Veatch listed data required for
frac design in 1983
• It’s quite a list
• He pretty much nailed it, so we
don’t need a new list even 30
years later
8. Parameters for fracture height or vertical growth
extent that will occur during treatment.
9. Fracture extension pressure and/or fracture
closure pressure.
10. Critical net fracturing pressure.
11. Formation effective modulus. (strength)
– Some considerations for them
on next slide too
GEOLOGY AND RESERVOIR ENGINEERING
GEOLOGY AND RESERVOIR ENGINEERING
2