ProTechnics Technical Bibliography
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- Application and Evaluation
of Advanced Completion Optimization Technology in the Black Warrior Basin,
Bob Barba, Buddy Woodroof, SPE 36673, October 1996.
ABSTRACT
Application and Evaluation
of Advanced Completion Optimization Technology in the Black Warrior Basin
The Black Warrior Basin
continues to be an active area for development of coalbed methane in spite
of the expiration of the Section 29 tight gas tax credit. The majority of
the successful wells have been in areas with relatively high permeability,
with mixed results in low permeability areas. A study was initiated in late
1995 to determine if stimulation results could be improved in these areas by
implementing specific optimization procedures for each of the coal groups.
The optimization process involved extensive prefrac formation evaluation,
injection/falloff testing, in-situ stress testing, fracture modeling using a
P-3D simulator, perforating small intervals with 45 degree phased to
minimize multiple fractures and tortuosity, intense quality control onsite
prior to and during the jobs, estimation of spurt loss by pumping dual
minifracture treatments, fracture height control by limiting rate and
viscosity, real-time P-3D modeling of minifrac and main frac treatments to
obtain tip screenouts, radioactive tracing of individual fluid and proppant
stages with time-lapse monitoring, and postfrac history matching of job
results. The real-time fracture modeling involved monitoring bottomhole
pressures using a live annulus after comparison to data from a remote
telemetry system and a quartz gauge on the initial well. Several practical
innovations were developed during the study that will aid in designing the
optimum treatment for each well.
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