Research and Application of Large Volume Fracturing Technology for Long Horizontal Well Shale Oil in Midland Basin, USA

Abstract

The rapid progress of shale oil and gas exploration and development is most representative in the United States. Since 2000, the shale gas has been made major breakthroughs in USA. At the same time, the shale oil developing has been moved into the fast lane. In particular, the Midland subbasin in the Permian Basin of the United States is rich in shale oil and gas resources, and multiplesetsofstrataaresuperimposed,wheretherearehighproductionincrement potentials. In recent years, because petroleum engineering technology has been making significant evolvement, the shale oil/gas productivity and EUR of new completed well have been increased while single well capital costs are decreased continuously. The lateral length of horizontal well in the targeted shale oil block from this basin are as long as 10,000ft with an average 55 upto 70 stages. A series of integrated shale oil/gas fracturing completion technologies have been formed,includingoptimalhorizontalwelldrilling,platformoptimizedwelllayout, well factory batch drilling/completion, longer horizontal well staged multi-cluster fracturing, larger volume fluid with closer slit network fracturing, shale oil/gas processing modular design technology of ground facilities, real-time fractures monitoring by microseismic, optimization design upgrading and joint research of geological engineering integration. Based on the geological, engineering and production data of 666 horizontal wells for the target region in Midland basin of USA, the key technologies of multistage fracturing for shale oil horizontal wells are summarized and analyzed, which has a good reference significance for the development of shale oil and gas in China.