Schlumberger
has announced the release of the HiWAY flow-channel hydraulic fracturing technique.
This new technique maximizes production and hydrocarbon recovery through the
creation of open flow channels within the propped fracture.
“HiWAY redefines hydraulic fracturing by removing the link between flow within
the fracture and proppant pack conductivity,” says Patrick Schorn, president of
Schlumberger Well Services.
Schlumberger has successfully deployed HiWAY in Argentina, Russia, Mexico and
the United States. In Argentina, YPF, S.A. employed HiWAY to restimulate and
increase gas production from a late-Jurassic Eolian reservoir. HiWAY reduced
flowback times and improved effective fracture half-lengths and polymer
recovery, resulting in significant increases in hydrocarbon
production.
“The average initial production rate for the wells treated with HiWAY was 53
percent higher than that of the offset wells treated using conventional
fracturing techniques,” explains Emmanuel d’Huteau, stimulation advisor, YPF,
S.A. “Also, the hydrocarbon recovery per well is expected to increase by 15
percent over the next ten years.”
HiWAY fundamentally changes the way fracture conductivity is generated. A
combination of placement and completions techniques, fluid engineering and
process control creates a complex network of stable channels within the
fracture. The productivity of the fracture is decoupled from the actual
permeability of the proppant used, so rather than flowing through the proppant
pack, hydrocarbons flow through the highly conductive channels. The channels
extend from the wellbore to the tip of the fracture, allowing for longer
effective fracture half-lengths and better fluid and polymer recovery. These
effects allow for maximized production and superior hydrocarbon
recovery.
HiWAY is available for hydraulic fracturing applications in competent rock for
single- and multi-layer oil or gas wells.
