Preliminary Report on Fracturing by Vibration - A New Method of Well Stimulation

Abstract

Abstract Vibration fracturing is a new method of well stimulation which may be used in either cased or uncased wells. In a cased well, the interval to be fractured is prepared by perforating the interval with a special-type vibro perforator. A specially designed explosive charge is run on a wire line and activated under a fluid column. The charge is designed to fracture the formation horizontally or weaken it so that it will take normal sand fracturing or acidizing at lower pressures. This fracturing is accomplished by setting up a large number of impulses or vibrating pressure waves along a horizontal plane. This preliminary report is designed to give the results of the use of this new method of well stimulation in various types of formation in the Texas and Mid-Continent area, and covers the time interval from February through June, 1958. Introduction The new fracturing technique was offered commercially in Feb., 1958. Prior to this time it had been under intensive development and field testing for nearly two years. During that period the equipment and techniques were successfully demonstrated numerous times. Since Feb., 1958, more than 300 wells have been treated with this process. The difficulties which have arisen have resulted in modifications which give every indication of solving the indicated problems. The fracturing by vibration process was developed to provide a fast, economical method of stimulating formations of low permeability, or with permeability blocks. Description of Equipment The complete assembly (see Fig. 1) consists of the standard electrical conductor wire line, measuring equipment, cable head, collar locator and sinker bar (where required). The special equipment used in the process includes the vibro perforator, a specially designed gun used to shoot a 1.5-in. disintegrating projectile. The 1.5-in. hole is usually shot in the center of the zone to be fractured by vibration.