PETE 629 Advanced Hydraulic Fracturing - Harold Vance ...

PETE 629 Advanced Hydraulic Fracturing
Spring 2007 Rm 313 TR 8:00 – 9:15 am
Peter P. Valkó, professor
Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering, Texas A&M University
office: 501K Richardson Building
mail: 3116 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-3116
phone: (USA)-(979)-862 2757
web (personal): www.pe.tamu.edu/valko/public%5Fhtml
e-mail: p-valko@tamu.edu
office hours: M 4:00 pm - 5:00 R 11:00 am – 12:00
Course Description:
The purpose of this course is to integrate the necessary fundamentals from flow in porous media,
elasticity theory, fracture mechanics and fluid mechanics in order to understand, design, optimize and
evaluate hydraulic fracturing treatments. Our goal is to establish a unified design and analysis
methodology for propped fracturing. Starting from the reservoir engineering description of the
performance of a fractured well, we provide a firm basis for determining the optimum fracture dimensions
based on the effective Proppant Number concept. Technical constraints will be satisfied in such a way
that the design will depart from the theoretical optimum only to the necessary extent. We discuss fluid,
proppant and rock properties, data gathering, design models of various complexity, on-site calibration,
real-time and post-job data evaluation, in addition to deriving and solving models of fracture propagation.
In this course we put special emphasis on using the computer not just as a number-crunching device but
rather to do all kind of mathematical derivations and to use advanced algorithms. Therefore,
approximately one third of the course will be devoted to the use of the Mathematica (MMA) software.
Textbooks:
• Economides-Oligney-Valkó: Unified Fracture Design, ORSA Press, TX, 2002
• Haneberg, W. C.: Computational Geosciences with Mathematica, Springer, New York , 2004
Grading Policy:
Exam 1 25 %
Exam 2 25 %
In-class work, quizzes, homeworks 20 %
Final Examination / Project 30 %
Academic Integrity Statement:
“An Aggie does not lie, cheat, or steal or tolerate those who do.” Collaboration on examinations and
assignments is forbidden except when specifically authorized. Students violating this policy may be
removed from the class roster and given a grade F in the course or other penalties as outlined in the Texas
A&M University Student Rules.
1

ADA Policy Statement:
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides
comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation
requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for
reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an
accommodation, please contact the Department of Student Life, Services for Students with Disabilities, in
Cain Hall or call 845-1637.
Course Schedule
Week Day Date Fracturing Theory
1 T
R
2 T
R
3 T
R
4 T
R
5 T
R
6 T
R
7 T
R
8 T
R
T
Jan.
16
Jan.
18
Jan.
23
Jan.
25
Jan.
30
Feb.
1
Feb.
6
Feb.
8
Feb.
13
Feb.
15
Feb.
20
Feb.
22
Feb.
27
Mar.
1
Mar.
6
Mar.
8
Mar.
13
Orientation, Introduction, History
Fracturing Calculations with
Mathematica and other software tools
Introduction to MMA, H_Ch_1
Assigned
Equipment and Materials Special plots, H_Ch_2 HW1
Production forecast, Theoretical
calculations of PI
Optimum Fracture Dimensions
Hydraulic Fracturing Technology
Conference
Stress State in Formations,
Induced Stresses, Fracture
Initiation and Orientation
Linear Elasticity and Rock
Mechanics Ideal Crack Shapes
Rheology, Fluid Flow in
Fractures
Proppant Transport, Bulk Fluid
Loss Concept
Coupling of Elasticity, Flow and
Mat Balance
Symbolics and equation solving, H_Ch_3
Statistics, Probabilistic simulations,
H_Ch_4-5
HW2
Due
HW1
Interpolation and Regression, H_Ch_6 HW3 HW2
Visualizing and analyzing surfaces,
H_Ch_7 Digital image and signal
processing, H_Ch_8
MMA: Crack shape solutions HW4 HW3
MMA: Solving rheology models
MMA: Derivation of G-function
MMA: Width equations
HW5
HW4
2 D Design MMA: 2D Design HW6 HW5
Modeling Height Containment
Exam 1
MMA: 3D Design
On-Site Injection Test Analysis MMA: Leakoff analysis HW6
Modeling Fracture Propagation: 3
D
MMA: Height
2

R
10 T
R
11 T
R
12 T
R
13 T
R
14 T
R
15 T
R
16 T
17 M
Mar.
15
Mar.
20
Mar.
22
Mar.
27
Mar.
29
Apr.
3
Apr.
5
Apr.
10
Apr.
12
Apr.
17
Apr.
19
Apr.
24
Apr.
26
May.
1
May.
7
Treatment Analysis, Diagnostics MFrac: Design HW7 HW6
Post Job Analysis: Well testing,
Production Analysis
FracPro: Design
Frac & pack, Slopes analysis MMA: Programming 1 HW8 HW7
Fracturing horizontal wells MMA: Programming 2
Staging strategies, Perforation
strategies. Near wellbore
tortuosity diagnostics, Proppant
and high-viscosity slug
techniques
Exam 2
Boundary element model of finite
conductivity fracture, pss PI
Transient performance models
Current trends
Project Presentations
Project Presentations
Project Presentations
No class (day redefined to be F)
1-3: pm Final Exam (if not
waived)
MMA: Symbolics Projects HW8
MMA: Numerics
MMA: Visualization
Project
Interim
Report
1
Project
Interim
Report
2
Project
Final
Report
3