A field study in optimizing completion strategies for fracture initiation in Barnett shale horizontal wells

The Barnett shale is all unconventional g-as reservoir that currently extends over an estimated 54,000 sq miles. In an effort to improve well economics and to reduce the number of surface locations ill Populated areas, the number of wells being drilled and completed has rapidly increased. With this charge in development strategy. operators and service companies alike have had to search for innovative Solutions to overcome challenges faced ill horizontal completions. Inefficient fracture initiation is the largest reoccurring problem encountered when completing, horizontal Barnett shale wells. These difficulties have manifested themselves as high-fracture initiation and propagation pressures, which lead to low injection rates and high treating pressures. These losses reduce the efficiency of proppant placement and Stimulation. As drilling activity has increased over the past couple of years. fracture-initiation problems are now a substantial source of expense and downtime. This field study examines 256 horizontal Barnett shale wells ill ail effort to identify the Causes of these near-wellbore issues and to offer corrective solutions for future completions. The goal of this study is to recommend in optimized completion strategy to minimize these near-wellbore problems, increase stimulation coverage, and decrease unplanned completion expenses. In 2005. 19% of the stages ill horizontal wells examined encountered near-wellbore difficultires. This field study inspects the major contributors to fracture initiation, Specifically focusing On cccemented VS. uncemented laterals, horizontal-stress anisotropy. perforation strategy, cementing strategey, and Stimulation design. The paper offers statistics oil which changes have had the greatest effect on stimulation placement. These problems call cost operators an additional 25% per stage or more. Using these optimized strategies has reduced by 74% the number of stages in which fracture-intiation difficulties have been encountered.