Enhancing Sand Strength for Fracturing Applications

摘要

Sustaining the fast economic growth in Saudi Arabia requires a ramp up of the gas supply. A strategic objective of Saudi Aramco is exploring and developing deep and unconventional gas reservoirs, many of which are considered extremely tight. These formations need hydraulic fracturing to allow the hydrocarbons to be efficiently produced. Unlike in North America, the infrastructure to commoditize the drilling and production processes is immature in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, many cost-reduction measures have to be exhausted, especially on materials. Prop-pant is the main material used in fracturing and, therefore, reducing its cost affects greatly the economics of any fracturing operation.