B.W. McDaniel and J.B. Surjaatmadja, Halliburton Energy
Until recently, there has not been an effective method for effective proppant fracturing of horizontal wells initially completed using uncemented liners, whether pre-perforated, slotted, or perforated after installation. A new technology that incorporates hydrajetting, fracturing, and simultaneous injection down the treating string and the annulus now allows the operator an opportunity to fracture stimulate such completions, placing separate propped fractures at specific selected locations along the lateral. This process is also applied in wells completed with barefoot openholes as well as cemented liners, but this paper will specifically address its use in non-cemented liner application. In some instances, the hydrajet-fracturing technology has been applied as a last-hope effort to make poor producers into economic completions. After the technology proved successful, operators have been able to continue drilling in areas that were at or near the point of abandoning the drilling program due to ineffective stimulation results.