This paper will describe the ongoing Granite Wash completion project in the Buffalo Wallow field in Hemphill and Wheeler Counties, Texas. This study will discuss the reservoir development and characteristics, current and former completion techniques, and production comparisons. The goal for this study is to use best practices gained from a statistical analysis and new chemical technologies for completion procedures in the Granite Wash project utilizing a permeability core testing apparatus for optimized regained permeability in fracturing fluids.

Surface modification agents (SMAs) and their coating onto proppant have been applied in treatments of thousands of wells in the last 10 years and have undeniably improved their productivity in terms of production rates and duration. The coating of these SMA materials has been found to dramatically enhance the recovery of aqueous-based fracturing fluids during well cleanup after fracturing treatments. As a result, a significant improvement in gas production has been observed in treated wells. Friction-reduction polymer anti-flocculants have been developed to reduce the tendency of these polymers to damage the proppant pack/reservoir interface, resulting in a decreased effective fracture length. A nonionic, micro-emulsion surfactant has been developed to reduce capillary pressure in producing hydraulic fractures via surface tension reduction and contact angle modification. These chemicals have been used in various combinations; the field results as well as testing results will be presented.

A patented low-permeability core testing apparatus has tested two granite wash core samples from the Buffalo Wallow field for regained permeability using friction-reduction polymer anti-flocculants, SMAs (specifically diagenesis protective agents), and micro-emulsion surfactants. In addition, basic water-frac additive packages have been applied to continue the optimization of water fracs in the Texas Panhandle to increase long-term natural gas production.

The data from those tests and field case histories will be discussed.

Keywords:
proppant, cumulative production, hydraulic fracturing, Production Result, Granite Wash, case study, Clay Stabilizer, completion, friction reducer, reservoir
Subjects:
Drilling Fluids and Materials, Hydraulic Fracturing, Well & Reservoir Surveillance and Monitoring, Reservoir Characterization, Reservoir Fluid Dynamics, Improved and Enhanced Recovery, Formation Evaluation & Management, Information Management and Systems, Fracturing materials (fluids, proppant), Flow in porous media
Copyright 2007, Society of Petroleum Engineers
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