Research and Development Wells for Technology Transfer

Field: Energy (Physical Sciences)

Research and Development Wells for Technology Transfer J.T. Hansen; J.T. Hansen Gas Research lnst. Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar K.F. Perry K.F. Perry Gas Research lnst. Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Paper presented at the SPE Mid-Continent Gas Symposium, Amarillo, Texas, May 1994. Paper Number: SPE-27935-MS https://doi.org/10.2118/27935-MS Published: May 22 1994 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Twitter LinkedIn Get Permissions Search Site Citation Hansen, J.T., and K.F. Perry. "Research and Development Wells for Technology Transfer." Paper presented at the SPE Mid-Continent Gas Symposium, Amarillo, Texas, May 1994. doi: https://doi.org/10.2118/27935-MS Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex Search nav search search input Search input auto suggest search filter All ContentAll ProceedingsSociety of Petroleum Engineers (SPE)SPE Oklahoma City Oil and Gas Symposium / Production and Operations Symposium Search Advanced Search SPE MembersAbstractThe Gas Research Institute (GRI) has developed a project that is aimed at accelerating the transfer of several hydraulic fracturing related technologies to the marketplace. The project, known as the 'Research and Development (R&D) Wells for Technology Transfer", was initiated in the spring of 1992 and to date has been applied with nine producers on a total of 18 wells. The primary technology transfer vehicle used in the project is the cooperative research well, which is jointly sponsored by GRI and the participating producer. Emphasis is placed on heavy hands-on technology training and application by the producer, rather than on conventional GRI contractor involvement.The new technologies that are being promoted in this project include: special core tests and analysis; formation stress testing; expanded logging programs; three-dimensional fracture modeling using FRACPRO; fracture diagnostics; fracture fluid quality control; and special well clean-up techniques.Results from the project indicate that technology transfer using this technique can be effective under the right circumstances. The success is heavily dependent upon training, producer involvement, timing, and previous experience with hydraulic fracturing theory and technologies.IntroductionOver the past 10 years, the GRI Supply Division has developed many technologies which have reduced the cost and risk of exploiting natural gas from unconventional resources (coal, shale, tight sands). Specifically, the Tight Gas Sand Project Area has devoted much effort toward furthering the understanding of the hydraulic fracturing process and has consequently developed a series of integrated technologies which optimize applications. The center piece of these technologies is the PC based three-dimensional hydraulic fracture modeling package, FRACPRO. Other GRI developed or enhanced technologies such as formation stress profiling, special logging suites, fracture fluid quality control, and fracture diagnostics all provide critical input parameters into the FRACPRO analysis for fracture design optimization.During the initial development and validation of these fracturing technologies, GRI contractors gather data from a cooperative research well. The four Staged Field Experiment (SFE) wells of the late 1980's are examples of this type of well. Typically, the GRI contractor's first priority is on research with technology transfer to the participating producer as a secondary objective. Under these conditions, the producer does not realize the full benefit of the technology being applied and transfer of these procedures to the producer's routine operations can be limited.In recognition of this problem, GRI initiated a project in March 1992 which would accelerate the transfer of these technologies to industry. Intera Petroleum Production Division (Intera) and Eastern Reservoir Services (ERS) were contracted to promote the Research and Development (R&D) Wells for Technology Transfer project.P. 179^ Keywords: reservoir characterization, reservoir geomechanics, quality control, society of petroleum engineers, technology transfer, upstream oil & gas, procedure, consultant, union pacific resource, fracture diagnostic Subjects: Hydraulic Fracturing, Reservoir Characterization, Formation Evaluation & Management, Reservoir geomechanics, Drillstem/well testing This content is only available via PDF. 1994. Society of Petroleum Engineers You can access this article if you purchase or spend a download.