State of the Art Hydraulic Fracture Stimulation Treatment for a Western Tight Sand Reservoir

Abstract

ABSTRACT The Pinedale gas field is a tight sand reservoir in Sublette County, Wyoming. A number of wells have been drilled in this field since the 1930's. However, there has been no commercial production because of low initial flow rates and rapid production declines usually associated with low permeability. This field would become attractive if the technological problems impairing development could be overcome. This paper describes a resource evaluation and stimulation research program centered around the drilling of two new wells in the Pinedale Field. The resource evaluation involved a critical review of prior data, geological and geophysical work, laboratory testing of core samples from the new wells, and pre-stimulation and post-stimulation flow testing of the new wells. The stimulation research involved special core testing with candidate stimulation fluids and proppants, field in-situ stress testing for fracture geometry estimates, transient pressure testing for well and fracture evaluation, hydraulic fracture design and implementation, and well deliverability projection. Utilizing the state-of-the-art technology, a total recoverable reserve of 2.8 tcf is now possible from the 90,000 acres of Pinedale Field.