Steps to conducting a valid hydraulic-fracturing laboratory test
Mohammad Sarmadivaleh A , Bahman Joodi A , Amin Nabipour A and Vamegh Rasouli BA Curtin University
B Deep Exploration Technologies Cooperative Research Centre [DET CRC], Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University, Australia
The APPEA Journal 53(1) 347-354 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ12029
Published: 2013
Abstract
Several parameters are involved in a hydraulic-fracturing-operation, which is a technique used mainly in tight formations to enhance productivity. Formation properties, state of stresses in the field, injecting fluid characteristics, and pumping rate are among several parameters that can influence the process. Numerical analysis is conventionally run to simulate the hydraulic-fracturing process. Before operating the expensive fracturing job in the field, however, it would be useful to understand the effect of various parameters by conducting physical experiments in the lab. Laboratory experiments are also valuable for validating the numerical simulations. Applying the scaling laws, which are to correspond to the field operation with the test performed in the lab, are necessary to draw valid conclusions from the experiments. Dimensionless parameters are introduced through the scaling laws that are used to scale-down different parameters including the hole size, pump rate and fluid viscosity to that of the lab scale. Sample preparation and following a consistent and correct test procedure in the lab, however, are two other important factors that play a substantial role in obtaining valid results. The focus of this peer-reviewed paper is to address the latter aspect; however, a review of different scaling laws proposed and used will be given.
The results presented in this study are the lab tests conducted using a true triaxial stress cell (TTSC), which allows simulation of hydraulic-fracturing under true field stress conditions where three independent stresses are applied to a cubic rock sample.
Mohammad Sarmadivaleh is a postdoctoral fellowship in the Petroleum Engineering Department of Curtin University, working on a Co2 core flooding experiment. He completed his PhD at Curtin University in Perth as a result of a numerical and experimental study of the interaction of an induced hydraulic fracture with a natural interface. Mohammad holds a BSc in petroleum engineering (reservoir engineering), and an MSc in drilling and production engineering from Petroleum University of Technology (PUT), Iran, and an MEng in petroleum well engineering from Curtin University. mohammad.sarmadivaleh@curtin.edu.au |
Bahman Joodi is a PhD candidate at Curtin University. After completing his Masters degree in petroleum well engineering from Curtin University in 2008, he worked as a well-site drilling engineer for two years. He is now working on a numerical and experimental simulation of drilling under bottom-hole conditions. Bahman holds a BSc in petroleum engineering, and an MSc in drilling and production engineering from Petroleum University of Technology (PUT), Iran, and an MEng in petroleum well engineering from Curtin University. bahman.joodi@postgrad.curtin.edu.au |
Amin Nabipour is a PhD student in the Department of Petroleum Engineering at Curtin University. His present research focuses on numerical and experimental ultrasonic monitoring of fracture propagation. He received his BSc in mining engineering from Isfahan University of Technology (IUT) in 2006, with a thesis focused on the drilling bit performance in horizontal drilling. In addition, he holds a Master of Petroleum Well Engineering Degree from Curtin University as well as in petroleum production and drilling engineering from Petroleum University of Technology (PUT), Tehran (2008) with a project on FEM modelling of stress induced in wellbore cement. amin.nabipour@postgrad.curtin.edu.au |
Vamegh Rasouli is an associate professor in the Department of Petroleum Engineering at Curtin University. He is a chartered professional engineer (CPEng), and is a registered engineer with the National Professional Engineers Register (NPER) of Australia. After completing his PhD in 2002 from Imperial College, London, Vamegh took up the position of assistant professor in the Department of Petroleum Engineering at Amirkabir University of Technology (Iran). In 2006, Vamegh joined the Department of Petroleum Engineering at Curtin University to add support to the delivery of the department’s Master of Petroleum Well Engineering degree, and to carry out research in his specialist areas of wellbore stability, sanding, hydraulic fracturing, etc. He established the Curtin Petroleum Geomechanics Group (CPGG), which has completed a number of successful research and consulting projects. Vamegh has also been a consulting engineer on various geomechanics related projects with Schlumberger’s Data and Consulting Services (DCS) in Perth. v.rasouli@curtin.edu.au |
