Paper: Increased Well Productivity Utilizing Improved Fracturing Fluids And high pH Enzyme Breakers A Case Study On San Andres Formation Wells In The Permian Basin

A case study was conducted on San Andres Formation wells to evaluate the benefit of focused efforts to optimize hydraulic fracturing treatments for improved well productivity. The application of conventional fluids and techniques had provided lower than expected post-treatment productivity and a rapid decline rate, suggesting that fracture conductivity was less than optimum. Several recently introduced hydraulic fracturing technologies were combined to develop an integrated treatment design and application package to improve well production. Included among these were real-time fracture treatment analysis, advanced mini-frac analysis, the use of state-of-the-art fracturing fluid and breaker chemistries, and the application of resin-coated sands and forced-closure techniques. Average incremental production was significantly increased through application of the new technologies. The effectiveness of the modifications in design, chemistry, and application is clearly demonstrated by the production improvements.