JPT

 

Vol. 59 No. 3

March 2007

Hydraulic Fracturing

Design of a Fracturing Fluid for a Deepwater Well

Fracturing fluids are presented with unique challenges in well depths that can exceed 20,000 ft with pore pressures greater than 20,000 psi. One major issue facing deepwater fracturing is generating sufficient bottomhole treating pressure to create a hydraulic fracture at the sandface without exceeding the limitations of the hydraulic equipment at the surface. The full-length paper summarizes a study to design, test, and qualify a sodium bromide (NaBr) weighted, delayed-crosslink fracturing-fluid system for use in deepwater fracturing.

View a synopsis of SPE 103089 published in JPT

This article, written by Assistant Technology Editor Karen Bybee, contains highlights of paper SPE 103089, "Systematic Approach to the Design and Application of a Well Fracturing Fluid To Ensure Deepwater Production," by E. Park, SPE, and K.E. Olson, SPE, BP America, and B.J. Weber, SPE, K.E. Cawiezel, SPE, T.D. Monroe, SPE, C.S. DeVine, SPE, J.L. Cutler, SPE, and S.L. Berry, SPE, BJ Services Co., prepared for the 2006 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, San Antonio, Texas, 24-27 September.

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