JPT

 

Vol. 59 No. 3

March 2007

Hydraulic Fracturing

Optimizing Completion Strategies for Fracture Initiation in Barnett Shale Horizontal Wells

The Barnett shale is an unconventional gas reservoir, estimated to extend over 54,000 sq miles. To improve well economics and reduce the number of surface locations in populated areas, there has been a rapid increase in the number of horizontal wells drilled and completed. Inefficient fracture initiation is the largest problem encountered when completing horizontal Barnett shale wells. This field study examined 256 horizontal wells to identify the causes of these near-wellbore issues and to recommend corrective measures for future completions.

View a synopsis of SPE 103232 published in JPT

This article, written by Assistant Technology Editor Karen Bybee, contains highlights of paper SPE 103232, "A Field Study Optimizing Completion Strategies for Fracture Initiation in Barnett Shale Horizontal Wells," by A.A. Ketter, SPE, Devon Energy; J.L. Daniels, SPE, Schlumberger; J.R. Heinze, SPE, Devon Energy; and G. Waters, SPE, Schlumberger, prepared for the 2006 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, San Antonio, Texas, 24-27 September.

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