Using a 3D hydraulic fracture simulator to assess the impact of perforation design on high near-wellbore pressure loss in the Cooper Basin
Nicholas Eades A , Mohit Patter A and Aldi Smokaj AAustralian School of Petroleum, The University of Adelaide.
The APPEA Journal 56(2) 569-569 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ15075
Published: 2016
Abstract
Fracture stimulation in the Cooper Basin has long been challenged by high near-wellbore pressure loss (NWBPL) present in hydraulic fracture treatments. Though many strategies have been applied to either mitigate or prevent this, the industry is still in need of a broadly applicable, economic and practical solution. An approach that has significant potential, and targets NWBPL from its foundation, is perforation design.
Perforation design has been shown in the past to have a significant effect on the initiation of a fracture and the success of its continued propagation. A commercial 3D hydraulic fracture simulator has been applied to data from Cooper Basin wells. These vertical wells contain tight sand intervals and are characterised by high differential stress. A sensitivity analysis has been performed using industry-standard GOHFER software, focusing on parameters including perforation diameter, shot density, interval length, number of intervals, and shot spacing.
Though many previous authors have suggested that perforation design has limited impact on pressure loss, the analysis performed in this study indicates that there are methods inherent in perforation design that can impact on high NWBPL. In particular, this study has noted a potential for many cost-saving strategies that could be applied to future completions.
This is an innovative study that examines the underlying links between perforation design and the resulting near-wellbore pressure loss. It focuses on problematic areas of the Cooper Basin in the hope that by examining these links useful recommendations can be made to the industry.
Nicholas Eades is a recent graduate from the University of Adelaide’s Australian School of Petroleum, where he completed a Bachelor of Petroleum Engineering (Honours) and a Bachelor of Science in geology and geophysics. His final-year honours research project focused on perforation design and its relationship with various aspects of hydraulic fracturing, with emphasis on the Cooper Basin. This project was selected and successfully presented at the Ingenuity Exhibition in 2015. Nicholas’ future research interests include completions design and hydraulic fracture stimulation. His industry experience includes working with Baker Hughes in their wireline logging and perforating product lines situated in Moomba. |
Mohit Patter finished his Bachelor of Petroleum Engineering degree in 2015 at the Australian School of Petroleum (ASP), University of Adelaide. Mohit’s area of interest is in stimulation and fracturing fluid design. As a project for final-year thesis, he investigated the impact of various perforation-related parameters on near wellbore pressure loss in the Cooper Basin. In 2015, he started working in ASP as a research intern on fracturing fluid design with the primary focus on the influence of nano-particles on the fluid stability under high temperature. |
Aldi Smokaj is an honours graduate from the University of Adelaide. He joined the ASP in 2011. A member of SPE, he has undertaken a number of research projects for the university during his studies, ranging from production stimulation to formation damage. He presently resides in Adelaide. |
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