Recently, there has been an increased interest in optimising horizontal multifrac completion technologies used to complete unconventional US onshore wells. The developing technologies and techniques are increasingly being used for offshore applications and have found widespread use in horizontal wells in areas such as the southern North Sea. This case history describes the application of two complementary technologies which have enabled the placement of 1.4 million pounds of proppant in four treatments within 4 consecutive days. Prior to this similar offshore completion operations have typically taken 12 to 25 days.

Historically, cemented liners and "plug-and-perf" completions have been used for horizontal fracturing in the southern North Sea. Such operations often involve extensive coiled tubing interventions between fracturing stages. This introduces unnecessary technical and associated operational risks due to the extended, long horizontal well architectures that are often used. An openhole, ball-activated multi-stage system, recently introduced into the North Sea, was applied in tandem with the application of a new environmentally-compliant seawater fracturing fluid. The use of the seawater-based system allowed sufficient fluid volume to be loaded and pumped for the placement of four hydraulic fracturing treatments on consecutive days, without the need for the vessel to disconnect and sail back to port to reload fresh water.

As a result of this dual development and correct application of the completion technologies, the requirement for coiled-tubing interventions between stages was eliminated, saving both vessel and rig time. Ultimately, such savings result in faster turnaround times for wells to be placed on production, thereby improving overall well economics. Following the success of the application of this technology the operator is actively pursuing similar new complimentary technologies. Such operational improvements will not only enhance well economics, but possibly define future North Sea fracturing operations.

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