Article: Development and application of a type curve for gel damage identification in tight gas wells Journal: International Journal of Petroleum Engineering (IJPE) 2014 Vol.1 No.1 pp.34 - 48 Abstract: Fracture treatments have been proved to be the effective and efficient method in stimulating tight-gas reservoirs. The key is to create a long, highly conductive fracture to increase the well productivity and ultimate gas recovery. Since 1960s, fracture damage mechanisms have been investigated by petroleum engineers, researchers, and field personnel to better understand what caused lower fracture conductivity and shorter fracture lengths. Based on our critical and comprehensive literature review, we found that more than 20 damage factors have been understood and quantified. However, there is still no method available for identification of gel damage in the field. Based on numerical simulation results (Wang et al., 2008), we have developed a new type curve for identification of gel damage in tight gas wells. The type curve has been applied to six wells in the Cotton Valley formation of central Texas. The severity of gel damage in each well was ranked in the order of no damage, slight damage, medium damage, and severe damage. This type curve provides a new tool for practicing petroleum engineers to identify fracture damages in tight gas wells worldwide. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Development and application of a type curve for gel damage identification in tight gas wells

Authors: Jiahang Han; John Yilin Wang

Addresses: Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering, EME and EMS Energy Institute, Penn State University, 3S Laboratory for Petroleum Research, 202 Hosler Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA ' Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering, EME and EMS Energy Institute, Penn State University, 3S Laboratory for Petroleum Research, 202 Hosler Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA

Abstract: Fracture treatments have been proved to be the effective and efficient method in stimulating tight-gas reservoirs. The key is to create a long, highly conductive fracture to increase the well productivity and ultimate gas recovery. Since 1960s, fracture damage mechanisms have been investigated by petroleum engineers, researchers, and field personnel to better understand what caused lower fracture conductivity and shorter fracture lengths. Based on our critical and comprehensive literature review, we found that more than 20 damage factors have been understood and quantified. However, there is still no method available for identification of gel damage in the field. Based on numerical simulation results (Wang et al., 2008), we have developed a new type curve for identification of gel damage in tight gas wells. The type curve has been applied to six wells in the Cotton Valley formation of central Texas. The severity of gel damage in each well was ranked in the order of no damage, slight damage, medium damage, and severe damage. This type curve provides a new tool for practicing petroleum engineers to identify fracture damages in tight gas wells worldwide.

Keywords: well damage; hydraulic fracture; tight gas reservoirs; type curve; gel damage identification; well productivity; gas recovery; oil and gas industry; damage factors; tight gas wells; petroleum engineering.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPE.2014.059419

International Journal of Petroleum Engineering, 2014 Vol.1 No.1, pp.34 - 48

Received: 24 Feb 2013
Accepted: 25 Jun 2013
Published online: 26 Jul 2014 *

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Title: Development and application of a type curve for gel damage identification in tight gas wells

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