E. Burkhalter & W. Salas, Halliburton Services
Coiled tubing fracturing has been widely used as a method of stimulation for the coal seam on the Vermejo Park Ranch. The purpose of this paper is to compare associated cost, production results, and differences in methodology between coiled tubing fracturing and conventional fracturing. The comparisons will be drawn between a sampling of 90 wells completed on two different areas of the field. Past stimulation (conventional fracturing) was done with stage work pumping down casing. This would affect 3 to 9 stages per well during pumping. Current stimulation being done on the Vermejo and Raton coal seams utilize coiled tubing (coiled tubing fracturing). The CT fracturing process increased the number of stimulation stages to 4 to 18 per well. This allows for a more accurate placement of proppant and a more effective stimulation of the producing zones in the well.