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NAPS-03-18AUTHOR:GeorgeE.King,P.E.ApacheCorporation
ProppantErosionDuringFracturing:FromWellheadtoPerforations
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ProppantErosionFactors:Shape,Size,Density,Amount,Velocity,ImpactAngle,ProppantHardness
NAPS-03-18/Proppant ErosionDuringFracturing:FromWellheadtoPerforations
ProppantTypeProppantType SpecificGravity(g/cc) Mohs Hardness
Sand 2.6 ~7
ResinCoatedSand(RCS)
2.65
LightWeightCeramic(LWC)
2.7 ~6.4
IntermediateStrengthCeramic(ISP)
3.3 ~8.2
SinteredBauxite 3.6 ~9
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ProppantErosionFactors:ProppantSource
NAPS-03-18/Proppant ErosionDuringFracturing:FromWellheadtoPerforations
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ProppantErosionFactors:ProppantConcentrationandVelocity
NAPS-03-18/Proppant ErosionDuringFracturing:FromWellheadtoPerforations
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ProppantErosionFactors
TargetHardness
PipeGrade(Min.Yield)
HRCatMinYield
Higher YieldHRC
L-80 23max
P-110 30max 36+
Q-125 36max
IfproppantwasmeasuredonHRCscale–wouldgofromHRC50toHRC80.
Harderpipemayhavedrawbacksincorrosion.
NAPS-03-18/Proppant ErosionDuringFracturing:FromWellheadtoPerforations
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ProppantErosionFactors
Wellhead
NAPS-03-18/Proppant ErosionDuringFracturing:FromWellheadtoPerforations
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ErosionFactors– VelocityandDirectionChange
FracPacking– anExtremeErosionSituation
NAPS-03-18/Proppant ErosionDuringFracturing:FromWellheadtoPerforations
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Velocitiesasfluiddirectionchangesfromdownthepipeintothefracture
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MultipleStrings?– WhatEffect?5-12”x9-5/8”x13-3/8”DifficultforAnyPerforator5-1/2”x7”x13-3/8”(unrealisticspacing)
Verycloselyspacedstrings– mucheasier,butstillanissue– Erosionprobablywon’tbeseenintheouterstrings.
Notmuchdamagetothecement.
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ProppantErosionatJoint– alsoaproblem.
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Erosion-Corrosion
• Smallgapscausebigproblemsinhighrateflow.
Production– lowerrate,longterm Injection– highrate(+solids),
shortterm
Right:progressiveerosionofthedown-lookingpinathighproductionrate.
Left:erosioninawellheadafterseveralfracturetreatments.
11
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ErosionalCouplingDamage
12
Thisisclassicdownwardsflowerosion– notetheundamagedupperpinend.
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Caliper3-DView
exampleofmeasurableerosion
WellJointafter17fracs54,400m3H2O/3,400tSand16m3/min
Thereasontheselogswereimportant
Whatwesaw
13
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DF-70-J
Erosionbelowportsinwellhead
Coupling1
Coupling214
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Erosionmostseriousintheuppercouplings– justunderthewellhead.
Coupling1 Coupling42Coupling2 15
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2600feetdown.
16
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Conclusions• Erosionisvariable– manyfactorsaffecttheoutcome• Proppant– angularity,size,density,concentration• PumpRate– velocity• Welldesign– directionchanges,gaps,ports• Pipe- Casinghardness,diameter,depth
• Horizontals– Settling?• Flowback– Firstfewdayscritical• Heelvs.Toe– Dampingmechanisms
NAPS-03-18/Proppant ErosionDuringFracturing:FromWellheadtoPerforations
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NAPS-03-18AUTHOR:GeorgeE.King,P.E.ApacheCorporation
QUESTIONS?THANKYOU