High Arctic Well Control Inc. (High Arctic) conducted the first Stand Alone Selective Snub Fracturing operation in Southern Alberta, Canada in 1999. The practice of fracturing has been utilized since the early 1900's to optimize the production in hydrocarbon reservoirs. This procedure is nothing new; but an efficient Stand Alone Snubbing System is. High Arctic's Stand Alone Snubbing System has the ability to minimize the number of difficulties encountered with conventional multi-stage fracturing. Selective Snub Fracing is the process of isolating zones in a multiple zone wellbore, and individually stimulating each zone with joint tubing. This can typically be achieved as a one-day event.
Prior to the development of this system, selective Coiled Tubing Fracturing (CT Frac) had been the preferred method for multi stage fracturing. CT Fracing has had limitations due to friction pressure and spacing limitations, thus suggesting that a better process would be welcomed by the industry.
High Arctic's objective was to develop a stand alone, single source operation that would be installed on a well after all potential zones have been perforated. By utilizing our Stand Alone System, the costs of mobilization and demobilizing equipment from several service providers is reduced significantly.
High Arctic Well Control Inc. (High Arctic) conducted the first Stand Alone Selective Snub Fracturing operation in Southern Alberta, Canada in 1999. The practice of fracturing has been utilized since the early 1900's to optimize the production in hydrocarbon reservoirs. This procedure is nothing new; but an efficient Stand Alone Snubbing System is. High Arctic's Stand Alone Snubbing System has the ability to minimize the number of difficulties encountered with conventional multi-stage fracturing. Selective Snub Fracing is the process of isolating zones in a multiple zone wellbore, and individually stimulating each zone with joint tubing. This can typically be achieved as a one-day event.
Prior to the development of this system, selective Coil Tubing Fracturing (CT Frac) had been the preferred method for multi stage fracing. CT Fracing has had limitations due to friction pressure and spacing limitations, thus suggesting that a better process would be welcomed in the industry.
High Arctic's objective was to develop a stand alone, single source operation that would be installed on a well after all potential zones have been perforated. By utilizing our Stand Alone System, the costs of mobilizing and demobilizing equipment from several service providers is reduced significantly.
Our first attempt in 1999 was made using Coil Tubing (CT) selective fracturing tools and tubing plugs to assist in the repositioning of jointed pipe for each frac interval. Replacing CT with jointed pipe offered the advantage of more general industry understanding and knowledge in its use. The jointed pipe was successful, but in adverse conditions when sand was involved, the tubing plugs proved to be unreliable and difficult to work with. As a result, this trial operation proved to be unsatisfactory.
