2012-2013 SPE DL Season : Frank Syfan : Proper Proppant ...

Abstract:
Recent advancements in drilling and fracturing techniques have enabled the oil and gas (O&G) industry to economically exploit ultra-tight, naturally fractured shale formations. The widening price disparity between crude oil and natural gas is fostering remarkable recovery rates in formations like the Bakken, Eagle Ford, and Niobrara shales. This surge has prompted an uptick in drilling activities and a significant increase in fracturing equipment and workforce. Such developments are imposing unprecedented demands on hydraulic fracturing proppants. Anticipated shortages across all regions may deteriorate before new capacity offers some relief. Conventional options like Natural Quartz Proppant and Resin Coated Proppant are now being utilized in more extreme environments involving deeper, hotter, and higher closure stresses, often surpassing traditional design limits.

Maintaining fracture conductivity is paramount for maximizing production rates and ultimate recovery in wells. This presentation elucidates factors crucial for proper proppant selection, discussing the effects of depth, closure stress, formation permeability, multi-phase flow, embedment, and non-Darcy effects. The presentation aims to guide the audience on how to accurately select the appropriate proppant, emphasizing the criticality of fracture conductivity.

Biography:
Frank E. Syfan Jr., the Technical Director for Oil & Gas at U.S. Silica Company, is a Professional Engineer with more than 31 years of extensive global experience in completions and operations, hydraulic fracturing, and reservoir optimization. Having held leadership roles at Frac Tech Services, Halliburton, and Statoil, Mr. Syfan possesses in-depth engineering experience in sandstone and carbonate formations across various reservoir types. His expertise includes significant CBM experience and over 17 years of fractured shale operations across multiple shale formations. He is a recognized expert in hydraulic fracturing and formation damage, holding dual degrees in Petroleum Engineering and Geology from Texas A&M University. An active member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) and the Society of Petroleum Evaluation Engineers (SPEE), he has authored numerous papers and continues to serve in various influential roles within SPE and NCEES.

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit our website.

Selecting appropriate proppants is a pivotal aspect of hydraulic-fracture completion design. With the advent of regional sands as the preferred proppant in many liquid-rich shale plays, questions arise about their long-term efficacy in maximizing production and economic viability.

Historical and Current Proppant Trends

Historically, proppant choices have evolved significantly. The shift from ceramics and resin-coated proppant to white sand, and more recently, to regional sand in plays like the Permian and Eagle Ford, highlights the industry's adaptation to changing reservoir qualities.

Proppant Performance in Various Basins

Detailed studies spanning the Williston, Permian, Eagle Ford, and Powder River basins reveal the performance of different proppant types and their economic impacts. Techniques like big-data multivariate statistics, laboratory testing, and direct well comparisons provide insights into proppant efficiency.

Dimensionless Conductivity: A Key Metric

Dimensionless fracture conductivity, correlating proppant selection to fracture conductivity relative to the rock's flow capacity, emerges as a critical factor for well performance. This measure informs how much conductivity is needed for specific fracture lengths and reservoir permeability.

Economic Considerations in Proppant Selection

The economic evaluation of achieving optimal conductivity involves comparing high-cost proppants with less mass to lower-cost proppants with greater mass, alongside considerations of mesh size.

Integrated Approach to Proppant Selection

This approach combines various data sources, analytical techniques, and economic criteria, moving beyond reliance on a single method to offer a comprehensive view on selecting the most suitable proppant.

Goto AnYiCheng to know more.

Laboratory vs. Field Observations

The integration of production history, DFITs, and wellsite proppant-conductivity tests provides real-world verification of laboratory data, ensuring that theoretical models align with field performance.

Final Thoughts

This holistic methodology ensures that proppant selection is optimized for both performance and economic viability, tailored to the specific needs of different shale plays and reservoir conditions.

The company is the world’s best oil proppants supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.