Hydraulic Fracturing Research in East Texas: Third GRI Staged Field Experiment
Authors: Robinson B.M. , Holditch S.A. , Whitehead W.S. , Peterson R.E. 
Published: December 2007

This paper presents results from research conducted on the third Gas Research Inst. (GRI) staged field experiment (SFE) well. Research well SFE No. 3 was drilled as part of a field-based research program conducted in east Texas during the past 7 years. Most of the work before SFE No. 3 involved the Travis Peak formation; however, the Cotton Valley sandstone was the primary research target for this well. SFE No. 3 is the last in a series of research wells planned for east Texas. A fourth SFE planned for east Texas. A fourth SFE is being conducted in the Frontier formation of southwestern Wyoming. Data on SFE wells are collected from whole cores, open hole geophysical logs, in-situ stress measurements, production and pressure-transient production and pressure-transient tests, fracture stimulation treatments, fracture-diagnostic measurements, and postfracture performance tests. These data then are analyzed by research scientists, geologists, and engineers to describe the reservoir and hydraulic fracture fully.

Introduction

GRI has sponsored a field-based research program in east Texas during the past 7 program in east Texas during the past 7 years. A major effort of this program has been the SFE project, in which wells were drilled specifically to conduct research in the analysis and stimulation of tight gas sands and to validate technologies under development in other GRI research projects. The first two SFE wells have been completed and the results published in various reports and technical papers. The fourth SFE project, in the Frontier formation of project, in the Frontier formation of southwestern Wyoming, was completed in late 1991. This paper presents the results from the third SFE well.

Data on SFE wells are collected from whole cores, openhole geophysical logs, insitu stress tests, production and pressure transient tests, fracture stimulation pressure transient tests, fracture stimulation treatments, fracture-diagnostic measurements, and postfracture performance tests. The main purpose of collecting such a comprehensive set of data is to describe the reservoir and hydraulic fracture fully. Our goal is to obtain the most accurate analysis possible to provide a better understanding of the possible to provide a better understanding of the hydraulic fracturing process. We hope that this work will lead to better treatment designs and additional gas production from tight gas sands, which we believe can be achieved through the practical application of new technologies and more rigorous analysis techniques with numerical models. Unless these models and tools can be applied on a more routine basis by the practicing engineer or geologist, however, technology transfer will not be accomplished. The development of practical and useful tools and methods that will benefit the natural gas industry is of primary importance to this research project.

SFE No. 3 was drilled and completed in late 1958 and 1989. The lower Cotton Valley (Taylor) sand was the primary interval of completion and stimulation in this well. In this paper, we summarize the work performed and data collected on SFE No. 3 and performed and data collected on SFE No. 3 and present results from the data analyses. present results from the data analyses.