Hydraulic Fracturing of Miocene and Oligocene Sandstones in the Taranaki Basin, New Zealand

摘要

The Taranaki district of New Zealand, located in the southwest corner of the North Island, is the center of the country's emerging oil and gas industry. Over the last five years, an active campaign of propped hydraulic fracture stimulation has been performed in the early Miocene and Oligocene sandstones, located towards the south of the Taranaki sedimentary basin. Although hydraulic fracture stimulation is relatively rare in New Zealand, it has shown itself to be highly effective. This is due, in part, to the application of sound scientific and engineering principals, rather than the stochastic approach that is often applied when fracturing. The formations themselves are highly complex and consequently the techniques used for fracturing are at the cutting edge of today's fracturing technology. The results of the programme have significantly benefited from this methodical and progressive approach. This paper deals with the various aspects of fracturing into these formations and the lessons learned, including the equipment and methods used. It also details how the methods have evolved and allowed treatments to increase in both size and effectiveness, using numerous case histories. These detail what can be achieved in an area that is generally unfamiliar with the processes involved, when an existing technology is systematically applied.