Application of Damage Removal Treatment Results in Multi-Fold Well Productivity Improvement: A Case Study

Abstract

Application of Damage Removal Treatment Results in Multi-Fold Well Productivity Improvement: A Case Study H.D. Brannon; H.D. Brannon BJ Services Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar R.M. Tjon-Joe-Pin R.M. Tjon-Joe-Pin BJ Services Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Paper presented at the SPE Western Regional Meeting, Bakersfield, California, March 1995. Paper Number: SPE-29677-MS https://doi.org/10.2118/29677-MS Published: March 08 1995 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Twitter LinkedIn Get Permissions Search Site Citation Brannon, H.D., and R.M. Tjon-Joe-Pin. "Application of Damage Removal Treatment Results in Multi-Fold Well Productivity Improvement: A Case Study." Paper presented at the SPE Western Regional Meeting, Bakersfield, California, March 1995. doi: https://doi.org/10.2118/29677-MS Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex Search Dropdown Menu nav search search input Search input auto suggest search filter All ContentAll ProceedingsSociety of Petroleum Engineers (SPE)SPE Western Regional Meeting Search Advanced Search SPE MembersAbstractDamage to proppant pack and formation permeability can drastically decrease well production. In many cases the damage is due to inconsistent degradation of gelled stimulation fluids and residual filter cake on the formation face. Several methods have been employed with limited success to remove polymeric damage in an effort to increase well productivity.A new technique utilizing polymer specific enzymes has been developed to facilitate removal of polymeric damage. The new, environmentally safe, remedial treatment can be applied over a wide pH range and at temperatures as high as 300 F. Laboratory analysis has shown that multi-fold permeability improvements can be achieved through polymeric damage removal with the new system.A case study of several low productivity wells suffering from polymeric damage was conducted. Production histories and return flow analysis were evaluated to characterize the damage and guide the remedial treatment design. The case histories of several wells treated with the remedial polymeric damage removal treatment demonstrate multi-fold improvements in well productivity.INTRODUCTION AND STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEMPolymers are widely used in drilling, completion, and stimulation applications as additives to provide friction reduction, viscosification, particle transport, fluid loss control, and zonal isolation. The residual effects of the insufficient degradation of polymers utilized in drilling, completion, and stimulation fluids has been identified as a primary contributor to permeability damage. Damage to the formation and/or proppant pack permeability can significantly decrease the hydrocarbon deliverability and hence, impair well productivity.Guar-based polymers are used extensively in hydraulic fracturing applications to provide the necessary transport properties to deploy the proppant into the fracture. The polymers are typically too large to penetrate the formation matriX and, consequently, are concentrated within the fracture due to dynamic fluid loss during the pumping treatment and fracture volume reduction upon closure. These concentration phenomena result in the formation of filter cakes which are elevated concentrations of polymer deposited on the fracture face and within the proppant pack. The concentration of these filter cakes can range from about 5 to greater than 25 times the surface polymer concentration depending on the reservoir properties, treatment design parameters, proppant concentration, and location in the fracture. Filter cakes with polymer concentrations of this magnitude are of high viscosity, low permeability, and practically insoluble.P. 591 Keywords: enzyme treatment, permeability, polymer, guar specific enzyme treatment, multi-fold well productivity improvement, breaker, hydraulic fracturing, fracturing materials, concentration, damage removal treatment result Subjects: Hydraulic Fracturing, Fracturing materials (fluids, proppant) This content is only available via PDF. 1995. Society of Petroleum Engineers You can access this article if you purchase or spend a download.