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 The Results of Increased Fracture Conductivity on Well Performance in a Mature East Texas Gas Field
J.R. Flowers, SPE, CARBO Ceramics Inc; M.T. Hupp, SPE,
CARBO Ceramics Inc; J.D. Ryan, SPE, Ely & Associates
The paper shows the effects of increased fracture conductivity found by using lightweight ceramic proppant (LWC) instead of resin coated sand (RCS). This case study examines 18 wells completed in the Haynesville Lime in an East Texas gas field. Most wells were originally completed and acid stimulated from 1978-1982, and have average permeabilities of 0.2 md and 75 ft net pay. Beginning in early 2002, nine wells were fracture stimulated using CARBOECONOPROP® and were compared to nine offset wells that were previously stimulated using a premium RCS.
The study suggests that the folds of increase (FOI) of the CARBOECONOPROP® wells averaged 4.8 vs 3.6 for those that used RCS. In terms of real numbers, this translates into average initial post frac production rates of 2400 MSCFD (500 MSCFD prefrac) for LWC wells vs 2280 MSCFD (600 MSCFD prefrac) for RCS.
Longer term, the study also indicates that the increased fracture conductivity provided by CARBOECONOPROP® allowed an additional 2 BCF reserves per well to be realized. At an incremental investment of $50,000, this yields a reserve cost of only $0.03/MCF. Using data provided by the operator, the study suggests that the increased investment of the LWC proppant was paid off in less than 3 weeks. The operator currently continues to select CARBOECONOPROP® for all completions in this field.
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