OVERVIEW

Hydraulic Fracturing

Additional
Hydraulic
Fracturing
Technical Papers
Available at the SPE eLibrary:

www.spe.org
SPE 90357
Pushing the Limits of Hydraulic
Fracturing in Russia
SPE 89875
Modeling Proppant Settling in
Waterfracs
SPE 90406
Multiphase Non-Darcy
Pressure Drop in Hydraulic
Fracturing
SPE 90864
An Investigation of Non-DarcyFlow Effects on Hydraulically
Fractured Oil- and Gas-Well
Performance

To stay informed with the latest advancements in fracturing technology,

we continually search publications for useful theories or look for relevant
case studies that apply new models or methods. We find that the tools
and diagnostics available are impressive and gaining in sophistication:
frac models that are fully 3D, reservoir simulators that include non-Darcy
effects, and improved microseismic interpretation are recent favorites.
Also impressive are the advancements in isolation techniques, reducing
Hellman
the time between staging of fracture treatments and flowback. Now, 12
separate stages along a vertical well is commonplace, not to mention staging multiple fracture treatments along horizontal wells.
For those new to fracturing, with plans on becoming informed buyers of fracture technology, the complexity of the models and diagnostics may appear overwhelming.
Fortunately, the tools of the trade are becoming more user-friendly, more visual, and more
intuitive. A truly sophisticated frac model is technically superior, and it is becoming simpler to learn and use correctly. Like many engineering software applications, frac models
typically added functionality at the expense of complicating the user interface. Thankfully,
this trend appears to be reversing, and this is good news because our future success in optimizing fracture treatments will, at least in part, depend on our willingness to experiment
and master them.
However, it is slightly ironic that, even now, with 3D numerical models and microseismicdata interpretation at our fingertips, possibly our most powerful tool is a human trait
good old-fashioned curiosity. It drives us to keep searching for better answers to the fundamental questions. It raises our expectations. And from this years publications, it is evident that vendors and operators are finding better solutions to some of the most fundamental questions.
Maybe there is a lesson here for those new or returning to fracturing. One does not have
to be an expert to be a major contributor; we just need to keep asking questionsthe
JPT
answers seem to keep getting better and better.

Tom Hellman, SPE, is Senior Petroleum Engineer, BP Upstream Technology Group. He is

responsible for well performance and fracture stimulations throughout BPs international
operations and currently is focusing on a Gulf of Mexico high-pressure/high-temperature
development. Hellman was first introduced to fracture technology in western Canada
before transferring to Amoco Production Research and later to NSI Technologies before
returning to BP. He holds a BS degree in petroleum engineering from the U. of Alberta and
serves on the JPT Editorial Committee.

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MARCH 2005