Abstract
Technology Focus Edward de Bono (physiologist and lateral thinker) said: “You can’t dig a new hole by digging the same one deeper.” The “same hole” refers to current beliefs or work processes and a “new hole” refers to new ideas or concepts. This quote alludes to the “psychological inertia” that tells us to stay in the hole we have been digging since “how could we possibly let it go to waste?”* In our fast-paced world it can seem more acceptable to continue digging the same hole than be seen “sitting back” considering where to dig next. This is general societal commentary, but how does the fracture-stimulation industry compare? The diagram shows the proportion of papers reviewed for the 2010 hydraulic-fracturing feature and which phase of the project cycle they focus on (i.e., initiation, planning, implementation, or review). These data imply that we spend the least amount of dedicated effort conducting detailed look-back reviews of our work. It begs the question—Are we doing our best to learn from the past (i.e., using existing information to reflect on where to “dig”), or are we happy just to “dig the same hole deeper?” Hydraulic Fracturing additional reading available at OnePetro: www.onepetro.org SPE 123586 • “Proper Evaluation of Shale-Gas Reservoirs Leads to a More Effective Hydraulic-Fracture Stimulation” by Donald Kundert, SPE, Halliburton, et al. (See JPT, July 2009, page 59) SPE 124327 • “Coupled 3D Numerical Investigation of Hydraulic-Fracture Cleanup for Both Slickwater and Gelled Fluids” by Hector A. Wills, SPE, Colorado School of Mines, et al. SPE 124227 • “Evaluation of Haynesville Shale Vertical-Well Completions With a Mineralogy-Based Approach to Reservoir Geomechanics” by Brian LeCompte, SPE, Baker Hughes, et al. SPE 122315 • “ Geomechanical Factors Affecting the Hydraulic-Fracturing Performance in a Geomechanically Complex, Tectonically Active Area in Colombia” by J.G. Osorio, SPE, BP plc, et al. SPE 122185 • “The Use of Saturated Fracturing Fluid To Cope With Hydrate in Gas Wells Located in Ultradeep Waters” by C.A. Pedroso, SPE, Petrobras, et al. *Mann, D., www.triz-journal.com/archives/1998/08/b/index.htm, accessed 27 January 2010.
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