Chapter 13: Fracturing Pressure Analysis Available to Purchase

Fracture treating pressure is the hydraulic pressure applied, at the wellhead, to inject fluid and proppant during a fracture treatment. Aside from diagnostic measurements, treating-pressure analysis provides most of the information available to help the engineer understand what is happening during a stimulation treatment. Unfortunately, the usual point of measurement for treating pressure is far removed from the leading edge, or even main body, of the fracture. This chapter attempts to discuss the evolution of treating pressure and its analysis and interpretation, and provides useful methods to extract as much information as possible from the available data.

Most of the methods for fracture-pressure analysis have been derived for single vertical fractures in vertical wells. The industry paradigm has changed, and treating-pressure analysis has, as a result, become more complex. The vast majority of wells now being completed are horizontal, with multiple fractures that are often closely spaced. The interaction of multiple fractures and more-complex breakdown conditions, along with less efficient connection of the fractures to the wellbore, add additional uncertainty to the task.