Implementation of Hydraulic Fracturing Operation for a Reservoir in KRG

Authors

  • Akram Humoodi Department of Natural Resources Engineering & Management, School of Science and Engineering, University of Kurdistan Hewler, Erbil, Kurdistan Region - F.R. Iraq http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3603-2613
  • Maha R. Hamoudi Department of Natural Resources Engineering & Management, School of Science and Engineering, University of Kurdistan Hewler, Erbil, Kurdistan Region - F.R. Iraq http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4127-3470
  • Rasan Sarbast Petroleum Engineer, Erbil, Kurdistan Region - F.R. Iraq

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25079/ukhjse.v3n2y2019.pp10-21

Keywords:

Hydraulic fracturing, Proppants, Fracpro, Fracture width, Fracture length

Abstract

This study focuses on procedures to enhance permeability and flow rate for a low permeability formation by creating a conductive path using the hydraulic fracturing model. Well data are collected from the Qamchuqa KRG oil field formation. A Fracpro simulator is used for modelling the hydraulic fracturing process in an effective way. The study focuses on an effective hydraulic fracturing design procedure and the parameters affecting the fracture design. Optimum design of fracturing is achieved by selecting the proper fracturing fluid with a suitable proppant carried in a slurry, determining the formation fracturing pressure, selection of a fracture propagation fluid, and also a good proppant injection schedule, using a high pump rate and good viscosity. Permeability and conductivity are calculated before and after applying the hydraulic fracturing. Fracture height, length, and width are calculated from the Fracpro software, among other parameters, and the production rate changes. From the results, it is observed that by using hydraulic fracturing technology, production will increase and permeability will be much higher. The original formation permeability is 2.55 md, and after treatment, the average fracture conductivity has significantly increased to 1742.3 md-ft. The results showed that average fracture width is 0.187 inch. The proppant used in this treatment has a permeability of 122581 md. The suitable fluid choice is hyper with an apparent viscosity of 227.95 cp, and the proper proppant type is Brady sand with a conductivity of 2173.41 md-ft. Fracture orientation from the Khurmala oil field in Kurdistan is vertical fractures produced at a depth of 1868 m. Fracture half-length, total fracture height, and average fracture width are 220 ft, 42 ft, and 0.47 inch, respectively. After fracturing, the maximum and average area of fracture are 33.748 and 17.248 ft2, respectively. The recommended pump hydraulic horse power is 3200 HHP, and the total required fluid is 1076.3 bbl. In this study, hydraulic fracture is designed, and then, it has been analyzed after that production is optimized.

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Author Biographies

  • Akram Humoodi, Department of Natural Resources Engineering & Management, School of Science and Engineering, University of Kurdistan Hewler, Erbil, Kurdistan Region - F.R. Iraq

    Akram H. AbdulWahhab is Holding a Ph.D. degree  in Petroleum Engineering. He has teaching experience more than 34 years in Baghdad University and field experience for 11 Years. He was heading the Department of Petroleum Engineering in Baghdad University for 11 years continuously (1996-2007). He was appointed as Iraqi cultural attaché in Poland (2007-2012).He was awarded by appreciation letters from several ministries, presidents of universities and deans. He published 5 text books, 35 papers and supervised 21 MSc. and 5 theses and more than 100 undergraduate projects. Presently he is working as a professor in UKH.

  • Maha R. Hamoudi, Department of Natural Resources Engineering & Management, School of Science and Engineering, University of Kurdistan Hewler, Erbil, Kurdistan Region - F.R. Iraq

    Maha Raoof Abdulamir Hamoudi holding a Ph.D. in Petroleum Engineering/ Production of Petroleum. Her academic teaching experience extends for more than 28 years as a lecturer and an assistant professor in petroleum Engineering Department/ Engineering College / Baghdad University and other Universities. Her research interests include oil and gas production optimization, enhanced oil recovery, fluid flow in porous media and in pipes, along with stimulation, artificial lift techniques, petroleum economics and some other scientific aspects. She has many published papers and have written a book in Arabic concerning the Horizontal Wells Technology. She has also taught and supervised many undergraduate and postgraduate theses (M.Sc. & Ph.D.).

  • Rasan Sarbast, Petroleum Engineer, Erbil, Kurdistan Region - F.R. Iraq

    Rasan Sarbast graduated from the University of Kurdistan in 2019 with an M.Sc. degree in Pertoleum Engineering. His are of interest is hydrolic structuring. 

     

     

References

Bajestani, B. M. & Osouli, A. (2015). Effect of hydraulic fracture and natural fractures interaction. In Fracture Propagation. International Society for Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering.
Cleary, M. P. (1980). Comprehensive design formulae for hydraulic fracturing. Society of Petroleum Engineers. doi:10.2118/9259-MS.
Economides, M. (1992). A practical companion to reservoir stimulation. Amsterdam: Elsevier.
Geertsma, J. & Haafkens, R. (1979). Comparison of the theories for predicting width and extent of vertical hydraulically induced fractures. Journal of Energy Resource Technology, 101(1), 8-19.
Jones, J. & Britt, L. (1997). Design and appraisal of hydraulic fractures. Richardson, TX: Society of Petroleum Engineers.
Sarbast, R. (2019). Design of hydraulically fracturing operation for a reservoir in KRG. Department of Natural Resource Engineering & Management. School of Science and Engineering, University of Kurdistan-Hewler, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, - F.R. Iraq.
Wieland, D. R. (1971). Recent trends in hydraulic fracturing. Society of Petroleum Engineers. doi:10.2118/3659-MS.

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Published

2019-12-27

Issue

Vol. 3 No. 2 (2019): ISSUE 5

Section

Research Articles

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How to Cite

Implementation of Hydraulic Fracturing Operation for a Reservoir in KRG. (2019). UKH Journal of Science and Engineering, 3(2), 10-21. https://doi.org/10.25079/ukhjse.v3n2y2019.pp10-21