An Engineered Microparticles-Based Slurry Pumped in Over 10,000 Stages Provided Notable Operational and Production Improvements in Challenging Formations

Abstract In some shale plays, insufficient formation breakdown and presence of near-wellbore tortuosity make it challenging to reach the designed pumping rate and lead to premature screen-outs. Screen-outs during a fracturing operation are a tremendous burden for operators as they diminish the well's total production and add cost to do a wellbore cleanout. In some cases, these issues could cause suboptimal perforation cluster efficiency and production loss. There is a critical need for an easy-to-implement solution that can help operators in achieving their desired fracture designs. This paper presents field case studies of a new microparticles-based slurry (MPS) technology that proves ease of operations and an improvement in production across four different US shale basins. Non-hazardous water-based slurry contains engineered glass microparticles with a median size of 550–625 mesh. It was implemented in the Rockies, Powder River, Permian, and SCOOP/STACK with over 10,000 stages stimulated so far. The slurry was usually deployed as an additive to the pad or as a pill before pumping the proppant-laden slurries. It is compatible with commonly used fracturing fluids. The MPS technology helps in scouring the perforations and lessening fracture entry restrictions. This results in better fracture initiation and lowers the screen-out potential. The technology also widens fracture openings, restricts fracture complexity, reduces near-wellbore tortuosity, and increases reservoir connectivity. The slurry can be used as a far-field diverter pill as well. Field studies in multiple challenging formations involving alternating stages between the microparticle slurry and the standard control showed a 12–25% reduction in pump time due to significant pressure relief. In another pad, the MPS reduced the screen-outs by over 6 folds. Production data showed up to 19% uplift within a 15-month period against control wells. The production improvement analysis is a subject of further study. Oil and water tracer tests confirmed the production improvement in stages that had the microparticle slurry. Overall, the success rate of the technology has been unprecedented and has been gaining significant ground over the past year. Realizing a treatment design is a critical step in maximizing the rate of return on a well. This new chemical slurry offers operators a simple, cost-effective, and field proven solution to alleviate operational issues and potentially be more aggressive in completion designs. The diverse case studies in this paper prove the efficacy of this innovative technology in solving the major day-to-day fracturing challenges faced by completion engineers.