New tool gathers downhole pressure and temperature data while fracturing horizontal wells

摘要

Acquisition platform measures pressure and temperature before, during, and after fracturing. High costs are preventing operators from widely adapting to real-time data acquisition while fracturing horizontal wells. Common thought in the industry is that without downhole measurement, operators are fracturing blindly. Many believe measurements at the well-bore interface are needed to correctly understand what is happening during fracturing. "Everyone would like real-time data; however, there are issues with obtaining this," said John Ely, president of Ely and Associates, a hydraulic fracturing analysis and consulting company. Today, the downhole pressure values during fracturing operations are calculated using published friction data that are determined using smooth-wall pipe. Therefore, calculating downhole pressures by applying friction data to surface pressure is an inaccurate process.