Paper: Predicting, Preventing Remedying Hydraulic Fracturing Screen Outs

Due to recent trends in hydraulic fracturing with very high proppant concentrations there has been a substantial increase in the frequency of screen outs. The present paper discusses methods of predicting screen outs both during the fracture treatment design stage as well as during the actual performance of the treatment. Different types of screen outs are presented with examples. Reservoir data is used in presenting screen out prevention methods. Procedures to handle screen outs along with several remedies are suggested and the merits of each method are discussed. Lab data on formation and sand pack damage due to mishandling screen outs are also shown.