Gelled Prod Fluid For High Temperature Fracturing

The success of fracture-acidizing treatments in carbonate formations at high temperatures of 250- 400_F depends upon the in-depth penetration of live acid to produce effective etching of the fracture faces. In the fracture-acidizing treatments, viscous solutions called pads are injected ahead of the acid to improve acid penetration. Fracturing fluids which remain highly viscous at elevated temperatures create fractures with high fluid conductivity in both sandstone and carbonate reservoirs. With the greater flow capacity through the fracture, the depth of fracture penetration can be extended with larger volume treatments to increase productivity of the treated well. This paper describes the development, important characteristics, and a field test of a new high-temperature fracturing fluid called gelled PROD fluid. The viscous fluid was developed and tested in the laboratory in a cooperative project with personnel of Drilling Specialties Company, a Phillips" subsidiary.