Production Improvement via Optimization of Hydraulic Acid Fracturing Design Parameters in a Tight Carbonate Reservoir

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Abstract
Hydraulic fracturing can be utilized to extract trapped hydrocarbon where integrated fracture networks do not exist for sufficient production. In this work, design parameters of a hydraulic acid fracturing of a tight carbonate reservoir in the Middle East were optimized. The effect of optimized hydraulic fracturing on production performance and rate was investigated. Using the petrophysical well logs, formation integrity tests, core data the Mechanical Earth Model (MEM) of the tight carbonate reservoir was created, which resulted in rock mechanical properties and in-situ stresses. The other required parameters for fracturing design were either measured or found from empirical correlations. Following a candidate selection of suitable layers for fracturing, the input parameters were loaded in GOHFER software to design and optimize the fracturing job. Finally, the production forecast was performed and compared with current conditions. The injection parameters (flow rate, total volume, and number of stages) of the fracturing fluid (composed of guar and CMHPG and polymer with 15% HCL acid) were optimized to reach optimum resultant fracture geometry. Finally, optimized injection parameters were found at the injection flow rate of 18 barrels per minute, total injection volume of 90 K-gal, and three stages of injection. Using the optimal injection parameters, the optimized fracture geometrical sizes were determined: the fracture half-length (Lf): 148 m (486 ft), fracture height (Hf) of 64 m (210 ft) and fracture width (Wf) of 0.0962 in. Finally, the effect of this stimulation method on future production performance was investigated. The well production rate showed an increase from 840 STB/Day (before fracturing) to 1270 STB/Day (post fracturing). This study contributes to the practical design and optimization of hydraulic fracturing in the tight carbonate formation of the investigated oilfield and the other potential fields in the region. The results showed that this stimulation method can efficiently improve production performance from reservoir formation.

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