Abstract
The objective of this work is to describe the productivity obtained through the use of Channel Fracturing technique in a conventional reservoir characterized by its stratigraphic complexity, isolated sandstone bodies of low thickness, low volume, lenticular geometry, moderate reservoir rock quality and high tobaceous content.
Channel Fracturing (Gillard et al, 2010) began to be used in Argentina in 2011-2013, both in conventional and non-conventional wells. It provided significant benefits in costs and logistics during the initial period of Vaca Muerta development because of the reduction the proppant and the liquid required by the method.
This technique generates a network of open channels within the proppant pack, providing highly conductive paths to recover fracturing fluid residue and subsequently produce hydrocarbons. The improvement in well productivity in unconventional was shown in SPE Completion of the Eagle Ford Formation with Heterogeneous Proppant Placement (SPE149390).
The case study corresponds to the Pampa del Castillo-La Guitarra Field, operated since 2001 by Enap Sipetrol Argentina S.A., located on the North Flank of the San Jorge Gulf Basin (Chubut-Argentina) 50 km west of the city of Comodoro Rivadavia
A comparison of the productivity, of the same level, was made in wells fractured by both Channel Fracturing, and conventional fracture and without fracture. Fracture simulation models were performed and the results obtained using the two techniques were compared. Such a comparison shows that Channel Fracturing stimulation provides greater connected surface. Despite the reduction of the proppant by 40 to 50%, when using Channel Fracturing, production monitoring indicates a decrease in the decline liquid rate compared to conventional hydraulic fractures.
Due to the results obtained, this technique started being use in other wells (22 wells to November 2016) of the field with satisfactory results in production increase.
