An Analysis, Of Single Point Entry And Fracture Plane Control

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PUBLICATION RIGHTS RESERVED This paper is to be presented at the 36th Annual Fall Meeting of the Society of Petroleum Engineers of AIME in Dallas October 8–11, 1961, and is considered the property of the Society of Petroleum Engineers. Permission to publish is hereby restricted to an abstract of not more than 300 words, with no illustrations, unless the paper is specifically released to the press by the Editor of JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGY or the Executive Secretary. Such abstract should contain conspicuous acknowledgment of where and by whom the paper is presented. Publication elsewhere after publication in JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGY or SOCIETY OF PETROLEUM ENGINEERS JOURNAL is granted on request, providing proper credit is given that publication and the original presentation of the paper. Discussion of this paper is invited. Three copies of any discussion should be sent to the Society of Petroleum Engineers office. Such discussion may be presented at the above meeting and considered for publication in one of the two SPE magazines with the paper. Abstract "Single point entry" is rapidly becoming a conventional well completion technique when a well is to be stimulated by hydraulic fracturing. Along with this, the concept of "control of fracture planes" is becoming acceptable. As a practical matter, the two concepts are almost inseparable. For years we have searched for ways and means for controlling oil reservoirs (i. e. getting them to produce oil the way we want them to). Hydraulic fracturing, and more particularly, CONTROLLED hydraulic fracturing, is a good long stride in this direction. There is little argument against the two concepts. Considerable well data supports the desirability of creating as much fracture AREA AWAY from the well bore as possible and as much fracture CONDUCTIVITY as possible near the well bore. Statistical data now substantially supports that fractures can be controlled to the plane de sired a high percentage of the time - possibly as high as 75%. Skeptics of controlled fracture planes, however, have little to lose if they do believe in the advantages of single point entry. The worst failure that can be expected from attempted fracture plane control is simply an uncontrolled fracture. This result is assured if no attempt is made to control the fracture plane. Single point entry completions offer the following substantial advantages:Greatly minimizes the chances for communication between zones. This is due to the longest amount of blank space possible between perforated intervals. Also, laboratory and field data collaborate in indicating that many cases of communication are caused by initiation of vertical fractures. These may occur up the cement column and/or in the formation adjacent to the bore hole.Excellent opportunity to retain all the fracture area in the producing zones.