Creating Fractures Past Damage More Effectively With Less Environmental Damage

 

The objective of the work is to demonstrate a well stimulation process to increase production and/or ultimate hydrocarbon recovery from a reservoir of a small producer in an environmentally friendly manner. A novel fracture technology (NFT) concept has been identified that uses degradable biopolymers loaded with proppant in place of traditional cross-linked fracture fluids. The NFT leaves a residue-free fluid of environmentally benign materials that eliminates permeability loss, delivers optimum proppant pack, and require significantly less energy and fluid volume than conventional treatments. The proposed work will synthesize the NFT polymers in pilot-scale quantities (200-1,000 lb.), evaluate their performance characteristics (degradation rate and proppant suspension ability) in large-scale laboratory simulations of well conditions, and use computer simulation as a selection tool to identify candidate wells for testing in the field. The environmental advantages include the reduction of the footprint, reduced emissions, use of environmentally acceptable fluids and reduced manpower/vehicles. This project will cooperate with the EFD project and utilize the extensive network of operators, service providers and stakeholders.