Considered approach improves hydraulic fracturing in horizontal open holes

摘要

Much of the successful exploitation of the tight gas reservoirs in the US and Canada is due to the ability to cost-effectively drill, complete, and hydraulically fracture horizontal wells. A big part of cost savings comes from innovations in fracturing. Fracturing open holes reduces the cost of well completions and allows earlier production. Innovations in horizontal fracturing have allowed large reservoir volumes to be reached and drained by creating multiple fractures in a single well through injection of several hundred thousand gallons of fluid carrying several hundred thousand pounds of proppant. It is now possible to complete and fracture horizontal wells open hole with savings in rig time, cementing and casing costs, reduced fracturing time and cost, and reduced time to production.