Presentation_SPE-212571-MS.pptx

1
20–22 Marzo 2023
Buenos Aires, Argentina
IV Simposio de Exploración & Producción de Recursos No Convencionales
“El Camino a la Eficiencia y la Sustentabilidad“
Argentine Petroleum Section
Patagonia Section
Tailoring The Frac Fluid´s Paradigm in Vaca Muerta.
A Complete Review from Traditional Guar to New High
Viscosity Friction Reducers Systems – Case History
SPE-212571-MS
Juan Carlos Bonapace, Fabio Borgogno, Luis Riolfo, Rodrigo Zrain, Nicolas Santander,
Mohamed Lamine Moussi

2
20–22 Marzo 2023
Patagonia Section
Agenda
SPE-212571-MS
 Introduction
 HVFR fluid systems in Total Austral
 Initial applications in tight gas wells
 Field trial and implementation in Vaca Muerta
 Water well with medium salinity level
 Surfactant as friction reducer booster for longer slim well completion
 Optimization of HVFR (emulsion)
 New Powder System
 Laboratory testing - Fluid performance understanding
 Conclusions
 Acknowledgments

3
20–22 Marzo 2023
Patagonia Section
Introduction
SPE-212571-MS
 High-Viscosity Friction Reducers (HVFR) are PolyAcrylaMide-based (PAM) additives
 At the last seven years, more than 50 technical papers have been published related to HVFR
 Extended application in USA (Bakken, Marcellus, EagleFord, Permian), Saudi Arabia and China
 Hybrid design has been changed form Guar to HVFR systems in unconventional reservoirs
Argentina (VM) - Fluid system evolution
 Timeline for 3 main pumping services
companies in Neuquén basin
 Total Austral History

4
20–22 Marzo 2023
Patagonia Section
HVFR fluid systems in Total Austral & Initial applications in tight gas wells
SPE-212571-MS
 Local market conditions, availabity has imposed
evaluate and work with different HVFR
 Workflow to validate and standardize results
 lab testing, equipment yard revisions, planned
trials, evaluation and implementation
Tight Gas Wells (HVFR-A, 2017)
 First application in a horizontal well – csg 4 ½”
 Extensive lab test
 Pumped as replacement of Lineal Gel (25ppt)
 Executed a total of 3 horizontal wells (48 stages) applying
annular frac technique & CT operated sleeves
 5ppg Max Conc (20/40 mesh ceramic) at 17 bpm (frac rate)

5
20–22 Marzo 2023
Patagonia Section
Field trial and implementation in Vaca Muerta
SPE-212571-MS
Field “A” (HVFR-A, 2018/19) – Development phase I
 Slim architecture Csg-4 ½” (5000MD) – Plug & Perf
 Replacement of Guar systems in hybrid design
Laboratory Test
 Performed lab test for HVFR-A using water
wells.
 Executed field trial (6 stages) at the 1st well
Field Operation and Results
 Implemented in 3 fields (“A, B and C”) in 22
wells (465 stages)
 Lower friction pressure, improved operational
efficiency and reliability
 Easier to implement on-the-fly changes, 10%-
15% cost reduction in fracturing fluid

6
20–22 Marzo 2023
Patagonia Section
Water well with medium salinity level
SPE-212571-MS
Field “B” (HVFR-A, 2019)
 2 wells with slim architecture Csg-4 ½”, longer drain (5650MD)
 Frac design (large proppant and fluid intensity), 4.5ppg 30/50 LWC
 New sources of water (WW#2) “medium salinity level”
 HVFR-A fluid systems available (implemented in Field A)
Laboratory Test and alternative
 HVFR-A showed viscosity degradation with WW#2
 Water Blend, High conc HVFR-A and specific surfactant
Field Operation Execution
 Strict quality control for fluid performance
 Removed surfactant (WS) and reduce for (LWC)
 Completed 46 stages, tailoring HVFR-A + surfactant

7
20–22 Marzo 2023
Patagonia Section
Surfactant as friction reducer booster for longer slim well completion
SPE-212571-MS
Field “A” (FR-A, 2019) – Development phase II
 Longer horizontal drain in slim architecture Csg-4 ½”
 Frac design (HDC) – more proppant, fluid and stage per well
 Achieve Frac Rate at the TOE stages (improve Limited Entry)
 Evaluate surfactant as booster for slickwater (FR < 1.0 gpt)
Laboratory Test
 Performed several stages with FR-A + surfactant showing WHP
reduction (source water – water wells)
 Evaluated different SURF:FR relation - defined min concentration
Field Operation Execution
 Applied in 4 wells at the TOE section in a total od 44 Stages during
the PAD and the first proppant concentrations (0.25-0.5ppg)
 Improved diversion → 2.2 to 2.5 bpm/hole

8
20–22 Marzo 2023
Patagonia Section
Optimization of HVFR (emulsion)
SPE-212571-MS
Field “A” (HVFR-B, 2019/20) – New Services Company
 Longer horizontal drain in slim architecture Csg-4 ½”
 Frac design (HDC) – more proppant, fluid and stage per well
 First 2 wells returned to Guar System due no availability of HVFR
Laboratory Test
 Evaluated 2 HVFR “B and C” – find a lab match with HVFR-A (visc)
 Performed field trial (4 stages) with good results and implement
HVFR-B due availability and cost (sources water – water wells)
Field Operation Execution and Results
 Fast learning curve at the 1st well. Optimized concentrations and
obtaining a reduction in chemical volumes (close to 68%)
 Applied in 8 wells (227 stages), excellent operational reliability, very
good proppant transport (3.5ppg 30/70 WS with 1.5gpt @ 5.5 cp)
 Achieving a 35% cost reduction comparing with HVFR-A

9
20–22 Marzo 2023
Patagonia Section
New Powder System
Field “A” (HVFR-E & F, 2021/22)
 New well architecture Csg-5” and longer wells (6080MD)
 More aggressive limited entry (80/90 bpm @ 24 holes)
 Evaluated and implemented Dry HVFR
Laboratory Test
 Evaluated 3 HVFR “D, E and F” - Find a lab match with HVFR-B optimized
(visc) – (sources water - river and water wells)
 Implemented HVFR-E due availability and apply HVFR-F at the last 2 wells
(new serv comp)
Field Operation Execution and Results
 HVFR-E was applied in 633 stages and HVFR-F in 100 stages.
 Significant lower WHP, higher rate achieved → better LE
 reduction in footprint, lower fuel consumption
 Reduction of 8% in fracture fluid costs (HVFR-B to HVFR-F optimized)
SPE-212571-MS

10
20–22 Marzo 2023
Patagonia Section
Laboratory testing - Fluid performance understanding
SPE-212571-MS
Laboratory TEST (2022)
 Advanced rheometer with parallel-plate system (Anton Paar
USD 200 – MC200) → completed
 Friction loop → in progress
 Total of 40 tests (3 PAMs “B-E-F”) several concentration
 Sources of water: water well (Field A) and river (Nqn)
Evaluation performed
 Understand HVFR-B optimization - Substitution from HVFR-
B to HVFR-E - Water sources impact on HVFR-E -
Replacement HVFR-E for HVFR-F and optimization.
Understanding and Results
 Not all PAMs have the same behaviors (performance)
 Need to understand and match the viscoelastic properties
from emulsion to powder systems
 PAMs are sensitive to water types (river Vs water wells)

11
20–22 Marzo 2023
Patagonia Section
Conclusions
SPE-212571-MS
 A methodological workflow was applied to assess each type of HVFR, to validate and standardize
results, until full implementation in field operations. This approach helps to develop tailor-made
solutions.
 The field test and full implementation of new powder HVFR in Vaca Muerta formation allowed
Total Austral to save → more than 65% from initial frac fluid cost (guar systems).
 An important footprint reduction due to fewer products on location and lower fuel consumption
(less Hydraulic Horsepower used) and its associated GhG emissions.
 Operational benefits as low MAX WHP along the jobs (reduced pump time maintenance) and the
fluid simplicity (single chemical) boosted operational efficiency
 Advanced laboratory tests have been useful to get a better understanding of the latest results
and the pros and cons of different HVFRs available. Laboratory results have helped Total Austral
to select and continue optimizing products for future developments.

12
20–22 Marzo 2023
Patagonia Section
Acknowledgments
SPE-212571-MS
We would like to thank TOTAL Austral’s management for the continuous support along this project
and all the stakeholders involved in unconventional projects in Argentina.
Special thanks are extended to Youssouf Zotskine, Jose Luis Morales (Calfrac Well Services) and
Federico Cafardi (Schlumberger) for the support provided.

Presentation_SPE-212571-MS.pptx

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

Similar to Presentation_SPE-212571-MS.pptx

Similar to Presentation_SPE-212571-MS.pptx (20)

More from Juan Carlos Bonapace

More from Juan Carlos Bonapace (20)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

Presentation_SPE-212571-MS.pptx