Evolution of Multi-Stage Fracturing with

Ball Drop Systems

Presentedby,
CamStempfleC.E.T.
CompletionsEngineeringTechnologist

Where is the Canadian Bakken?

-The Bakken extends

throughout the Western
Canadian Sedimentary Basin
and Williston Basin

Penn West in the Bakken

Penn West is currently

located in 2 regions of
the Bakken formation

West Central
Saskatchewan
Saskatoon
Kindersley

Regina

South East
Saskatchewan

West Central Saskatchewan

-25 horizontal wells drilled to date
-Reservoir Quality
- Permeability: 3-12 mD
- Porosity: 30-35%
- API: 10

-Depths: 5,600 MD (2600 TVD)

-Intermediate Casing: 8.625
-Horizontal Legs: 2,300
-Liner System: 5.5 slotted liner
-No stimulation attempted to date

West Central Saskatchewan

Typical Completion Method:
-Run to TD with coil tubing and displace out Aphron
mud / sand
-Run pump to surface equipment until initial inflow
stabilizes
-Equip well with progressive cavity pump
-Wells completed in 4 days

South East Saskatchewan

-14 wells drilled to date
-Reservoir Quality
- Permeability: 3-20mD
- Porosity: 15%
- API: 40

-Depths: 8,850 MD (3,600 TVD)

-Intermediate Casing: 7
-Horizontal Legs: 5,000

South East Saskatchewan

Liner Systems:
PackersPlus StackFrac
- Baker Hughes Frac-Point
- Xtreme Oil Tools Iso-Pak
-

-The number of stages has varied from 11 all the

way up to 21
-All 3 system has shown benefits with a few issues
along the way

Open Hole Liner Systems

PackersPlus Stack-Frac
4 systems installed to date
-Sizes: 4.5
-Number of Stages: 11
-Ball Sizes: 1.0 and increasing up to 3.5
-Pump Rates: 6.2 bbl/min
-Proppant: 2,000 lbs of 50/140 sand and 20,000 lbs of
20/40 sand
-Fluid: 3,460 bbl (315 bbl/stage)
-Fluid System: Borate Crosslinked Produced Water

10

Open Hole Liner Systems

PackersPlus Stack-Frac System

11

Open Hole Liner Systems

PackersPlus Stack-Frac
Successes:
- 1ST ball drop system used by Penn West in the Bakken
- 39 of 44 stages were fractured successfully

Issues:
- Ports not shifting open
- Ports being set at incorrect depths

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Open Hole Liner Systems

Baker Hughes Frac-Point
8 systems installed to date
-Sizes: 4.5
-Number of Stages: 11-21
-Ball Sizes: 1.125 and increasing up to 3.650
-Pump Rates: 5.0 6.2 bbl/min
-Proppant: 2,000 lbs of 50/140 sand and 20,000 lbs of
20/40 sand
-Fluid: 4,500 bbl (282 bbl/stage)
-Fluid System: Borate Crosslinked Produced Water

13

Open Hole Liner Systems

Baker Hughes Frac-Point System

14

Open Hole Liner Systems

Baker Hughes Frac-Point
Successes:
- Allowed us to increase our frac density with up to

21 stages
- 102 of 115 stages were successfully fractured
Issues:
- Sleeves not opening at expected pressure
- Balls breaking when being seated

15

Open Hole Liner Systems

Xtreme Oil Tools Iso-Pak
2 systems installed to date on re-entry wells
-Sizes: 3.5
-Number of Stages: 11 and 15
-Ball Sizes: 1 and increasing up to 3.5
-Pump Rates: 6.2 bbl/min
-Proppant: 2,000 lbs of 50/140 sand and 20,000 lbs of
20/40 sand
-Fluid: 3,770 bbl (290 bbl/stage)
-Fluid System: Borate Crosslinked Produced Water

16

Open Hole Liner Systems

Xtreme Oil Tools Iso-Pak System

17

Open Hole Liner Systems

Xtreme Oil Tools Iso-Pak
Successes:
- Fullbore ID after drill out of ball seats

- 25 of 26 stages were fractured successfully

Issues:
- Sleeves not shifting open

18

Conclusion
- By evolving, Penn West was able to increase frac

density while saving money

-Each system had problems with shifting open
sleeves
-Experienced service company employees are very
important to the success of the job
-Future developments are moving towards full drift
systems

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Questions?