SPE 94049
Injection Fracturing in a Densely Spaced Line Drive Waterflood - The Halfdan Example
M.H. Rod and O. Jrgensen, Mrsk Olie og Gas AS
Copyright 2005, Society of Petroleum Engineers
This paper was prepared for presentation at the SPE Europec/EAGE Annual Conference held
in Madrid, Spain, 13-16 June 2005.
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Abstract
Induced fractures are actively steered along horizontal water
injection wells in a densely spaced line drive water flood, thus
ensuring efficient sweep and minimising random connections
between parallel producer and injector wells. Due
consideration of flow-induced changes to the stress field
reduces the risk of premature water breakthrough during
injection at fracturing conditions. The paper differs from other
works concerning flow-induced stresses by focussing on the
application of this phenomenon and the practical experiences
from a field-wide implementation.
A technique, named "Fracture Aligned Sweep Technology"
(FAST), has been implemented on the Halfdan chalk field in
the Danish North Sea with horizontal wells drilled at 600 ft
lateral spacing in a parallel pattern of alternating producers
and water injectors with 10,000 to 15,000 ft long reservoir
sections. Fracturing of the injector wells is the key to the
process of voidage replacement, due to the low mobility of
water compared to oil and gas.
FAST uses the fact that fluid flow in rock of low permeability
affects reservoir stresses. Before propagating a fracture, the
prevailing pressure field is manipulated through a period of
injection below fracture propagation pressure and
simultaneous production from the neighbouring wells.
Numerical simulation of fracture propagation shows that
seepage forces strongly influence the propagation direction
when an injection fracture propagates in a laterally varying
pressure field. At slow propagation rates the pressure diffusion
from the fracture itself causes alignment of the fracture with
the injection well, i.e. the technique works because the
injection rates are actively controlled.
Confinement of injection fractures along horizontal injector
wells is verified by production data from areas where FAST
has been implemented. After 2-3 years of injection, water
breakthrough to the neighbouring producers has not occurred.
A positive production response to the high rate injection is
demonstrated by increasing oil rate and decreasing gas-oil
ratio.
Introduction
The Halfdan Field is located in the Danish part of the North
Sea Central Graben, some 250 km off the West Coast of
Denmark (Figure 1). The field is operated by Mrsk Olie og
Gas AS on behalf of the Danish Underground Consortium
(DUC). The Halfdan oil and gas accumulation was discovered
in December 1998 by a 30,000 ft long horizontal well drilled
from the Dan field. First production from the field was in
February 1999.
The Halfdan oil and gas accumulation is laterally extensive
and comprises a high porosity (25-35%), low permeability
(0.5-2 mD) chalk reservoir of Maastrichtian (Upper
Cretaceous) and Danian (Lower Paleocene) age, located
without structural closure1, 2.
The field is developed with long horizontal wells of 10,000-
15,000 ft reservoir sections drilled in a parallel pattern of
alternating producers and injectors located 600 ft apart.
Productivity from the tight chalk is achieved by acid
stimulation of the wells. Injectors are typically stimulated
using the Controlled Acid Jet (CAJ) 3 liner, a completion and
stimulation technique that enables an efficient stimulation of
the very long horizontal well sections through a non-cemented
perforated liner in a single operation. Producers are typically
completed with cemented liners to maximum coiled-tubing
reach to give the possibility of zonal isolation and with CAJ-
liners outside coiled-tubing reach.
Rock and fluid properties in the Halfdan field are favorable for
displacement of oil with water due to the lower mobility of
water compared to oil. The dense well pattern facilitates an
efficient line drive water flood. However, an enhanced
reservoir contact area is required to achieve adequate injection
rates for voidage replacement and pressure maintenance at
attractive production rates. In non-fractured Danish North Sea
chalks this may only be realised by injecting water above the
fracture propagation pressure4-6.
The risk of premature water breakthrough associated with
injection at fracturing conditions is mitigated by actively
controlling the stresses which are induced in a low
2 MALENE HOLM ROD, OLE JRGENSEN
permeability rock during injection and production. Hence, the
generation and monitoring of stresses, caused by seepage
forces associated to the production of fluids, is a key element
of the reservoir management.
Factors Affecting Fracture Propagation Direction
Waterflooding and production are known to be able to change
the orientation of stresses in reservoirs2,6,7. The changes are
induced because pressure gradients in the reservoir fluid phase
are balanced at the fluid-rock interface by volume forces in the
rock, (bx, by, bz).
p p p obvious in the case of an uneven pressure field (Figure 3b)
bx = ; by = ; bz = (1)
x y z
In cases where a reservoir is depleted uniformly, e.g. cases
where a nearly constant pressure applies throughout the
reservoir, pressure gradients remain too small to affect the
state of stress in the rock. In the low permeability chalk of
Halfdan, however, the desire to accelerate production using
both water injection and artificial lift of wells has caused steep
pressure gradients in the reservoir fluid phases, and under
these conditions seepage forces can become important. The
Halfdan waterflood generates stresses, and these stresses are
used to steer injection fracture propagation, as explained
below.
Non-uniform orientation of principal stresses in a
producing reservoir.
The Halfdan well pattern is characterised by long parallel
horizontal well sections of 10,000-15,000 ft length placed in
the reservoir with a spacing of 600 ft (Figure 2). Alternating
production and injection wells gives 1:1 producer-injector
coverage. Initially, the changes to the intial state of stress are
reviewed6 with emphasis on the horizontal principal stress
direction. For the calculations in Reference 6 it was assumed
that a stress anisotropy of 300 psia, with axes oriented 25
degrees to the well pattern, applied before production (Figure
3a). Production and injection causes the direction of maximum
horizontal stress to be turned in directions perpendicular to
production wells and parallel to injection wells (Figure 3b).
For the analysis it was assumed that the effective elastic stress
is that of Terzaghi8, but otherwise the shown effect on the
stress field can be derived using standard principles of
elasticity theory6. In this paper, the analyses will be further
elaborated to demonstrate how fractures propagate within a
stress regime such as the one depicted in Figure 3b.
Criteria for fracture propagation in a reservoir.
According to Terzaghis effective stress concept8, the
criterion for (tensile) fracturing to occur is that the effective
tensile stress becomes equal to the tensile strength of the rock.
The strength of chalk is sensitive to cracks and imperfections
in the rock. Based on fracture mechanics theory fracture
propagation will occur at a critical stress for a fixed in-situ
crack size, or equivalently for a critical crack size at a fixed
stress level. For stimulation fracturing and propagation of
injection fractures, the induced fractures are, however, so large
SPE 94049
that the critical stress approaches zero. This means that a
fracture nucleates when effective stresses become zero and
that tensile stresses can not be carried in the rock. The
direction of fracture propagation is thus controlled by the state
of stress in the reservoir rather than the rock properties.
Fracture propagation in a producing reservoir.
In a perfectly uniform pressure field, initiation and
propagation of a tensile fracture would be along the direction
of maximum horizontal stress (Figure 3a). Injection into the
fracture would strengthen the existing stress anisotropy (SH-
Sh) and uphold the existing orientation. The situation is less
since in this case injection from a propagating fracture may
change the orientation of stress axes and thereby change the
path of propagation. This feedback effect has been
demonstrated in simulation to be described in the following.
Again cases are studied where alternating producers and
injectors are spaced at 600 ft, and again a pre-existing
anisotropy of 300 psia is assumed oriented 25 degrees to the
well axes. The producers are producing at a constant flowing
bottomhole pressure of 1,500 psia while injectors are at 5,150
psia. Fracturing in simulations is assumed to commence from
a starter fracture extending some 200 feet laterally away from
the injector (dotted lines in Figure 4 and Figure 5). The
pressure in the fracture (and in the injection well) is kept
constant (5,150 psia is assumed for propagation pressure in
simulations) and the leakoff is derived concurrently by the
reservoir simulator. The fracture propagation direction is
determined at each increment by the stress orientation at the
tip, such that fracture growth is always in the direction of
maximum horizontal stress evaluated at the tip. Each
increment is of approximately 5 ft.
Two fracturing cases are simulated; one for slow
propagation and one for high speed propagation. Naturally, a
high speed of propagation (stimulation type response, e.g.
approximately hundred feet per hour) is synonymous with a
high leak off rate, whereas more moderate speeds of
propagation (injection fracturing type response, e.g.
approximately hundred feet per month) results in lower leak
off rates. But the leak off rate (not shown) is not the only
difference. The fracture paths also differ between the two
cases. The fracture connects to the adjacent producer (Figure
4a-c) in the case of high speed growth, whereas the fracture
aligns with the injector in the case of slow propagation (Figure
5a-c). In the latter case the cumulative leak off from the
fracture is significant, and a leeside develops between the
fracture and the injector. Extension of the rock immediately to
the left side of the fracture tip, caused by flow from the tip
towards the direction of the producer to the left, (in the
direction perpendicular to wells) causes the fracture alignment.
The connection made where a high speed of propagation
(~100 ft/hr) is simulated, is via a path almost parallel to the
stress trajectories shown in Figure 3b. For this case the total
injection volume is insufficient to change the state of stress in
the reservoir, thus the path can not be distinguished from a
principal stress trajectory calculated without presence of the
SPE 94049 INJECTION FRACTURING IN A DENSELY SPACED LINE DRIVE WATER FLOOD, THE HALFDAN EXAMPLE
fracture (compare Figure 3b to Figure 4). The two cases hint at
important conclusions for managing fields with high pressure
gradients:
High speed fracture propagation, which may be
caused by overly agressive water injection or during
stimulation, increases the risk of short cutting to
nearby producers.
Slow speed fracture propagation results in a more
stable situation, with the fracture running in parallel
to the well pattern. Inter-well connections can be
avoided, while the benefits of the increased leak off
area can be realised.
Well Stimulation.
The risk of connecting wells during stimulation is apparent
from the above analysis. For this reason fracturing during
stimulation is avoided. However, even matrix acidisation
involves the risk of some fracturing, because acid diversion
requires high rates of injection during stimulation. The risks of
uncontrolled fracturing are mitigated by imposing upper limits
on pump pressure and pump rate during stimulations.
The FAST Concept.
Fracturing in the vertical plane along the length of
horizontal water injectors is pursued by FAST6. The
sensitivity to deviations from this path was investigated in the
previous section, where the analysis explained why alignment
of injection fractures with the well pattern occurs at slow rate
of propagation, whereas the opposite can happen at high rates
of propagation.
The requirement for aligned fracturing is obvious
considering the dense well pattern, so a method to prescribe
injection rate increase is essential. In Halfdan injection
fracturing follows a three-step procedure, which is repeated
each time a well is converted to injection. The three-step
implementation is illustrated schematically in Figure 6.
Step 1- realignment of stress field.
In step 1 the reservoir stress field is under the influence of
production and injection. Before commencing injection
fracturing, a period of injection at reduced rates, below
fracture propagation pressure, is implemented to establish the
pressure gradients in the reservoir on which the fracture
confinement depends (refer Figure 5). Also during this period
the maximum horizontal stress reorientates and aligns (near
the injector) with well pattern.
Step 2- propagation of fracture.
In step 2 injection above fracture propagation pressure is
initiated. The injection rate is ramped up gradually, to invoke
fracture propagation at a slow rate and thereby facilitate
alignment with the well pattern (Figure 5). Regular pressure
transient analyses of fall-off surveys are used to estimate the
increases in fracture wing area until the size required to
establish and maintain voidage balance in the area is achieved.
3
Step 3 - injection through enhanced leak-off area.
Once the required leak-off area is achieved, the injection
pressure may be reduced to below fracture propagation
pressure to avoid further growth of the fracture. Step 3 is
nevertheless characterised by high injection rates, facilitated
by the large leak-off area.
Well HDA-4 Field Example
HDA-4 Injection History.
HDA-4 was the first injection well in which the FAST
concept was implemented (Figure 2). The injection history of
HDA-4 is shown in Figure 7. Injection in the well commenced
in January 2001 in the unstimulated well to test whether an
acceptable injection rate below fracture propagation pressure
could be achieved in openhole without stimulation. The
injectivity proved to be significantly below requirements and
the well was therefore acid stimulated end-February 2001 with
375 bbls of 15% HCl, spotted along the well bore with tractor
conveyed coiled tubing. Following stimulation, the injection
rate below fracture propagation pressure increased to the
anticipated level of 6,000 stb/d at an identical bottom hole
pressure.
During March and April, 2001, the injection rate of some
6,000 stb/d was sustained while the bottom hole pressure
gradually increased from 4,900 psia to 5,400 psia.
From May through July, 2001, the injection rate was
progressively increased by 1,000 stb/d every week to a final
rate of 20,000 stb/d, which was maintained for 1 to 2 weeks.
Fracture propagation commenced shortly after the first
increase in rate, at an observed bottom hole pressure of some
5,500 psia.
To prevent further growth of the fracture, the injection rate
was first reduced to some 15,000 bbl/d. In September 2001,
injection continued under bottom hole pressure control.
Fracture Growth Detection.
Pressure fall-off surveys have been used repeatedly to
monitor fracture growth in HDA-4. The pressure transient
analyses are based on an infinite conductivity fracture model,
where the dimensions of the fracture are given by the
horizontal length of the well and by the height of the fracture,
Hf [ft]. Naturally, the rectangular geometry of the fracture is
an idealisation, which is necessary for the analyses but
unlikely to be realised in the reservoir.
Figure 8 and Figure 9 show pressure derivative plots from
the fall-off survey conducted during Step 1 (April 2001) and
from the fall-off survey conducted at the final injection rate of
20,000 bbl/d (August 2001), respectively. The transition from
a predominantly radial flow regime to a pronounced linear
flow regime (half-slope in a log-log plot) is indicative of flow
through a conductive fracture.
The results of the pressure transient analyses are
summarised in Table 1. The analyses demonstrate the
increasing fracture wing area along HDA-4 with a final leak-
4 MALENE HOLM ROD, OLE JRGENSEN
off area corresponding to an average fracture height of some
140 ft.
Table 1: Calculated Fracture Heights (Hf)
Date
Injection Rate Average Hf
[bbl/d] [ft]
28-Apr-01 6,400 - The injected volume required during Step 1 in HDA-15,
27-May-01 10,400 52
06-Jun-01 12,400 62
14-Jun-01 13,450 60
06-Jul-01 16,500 94
25-Jul-01 19,500 140
09-Aug-01 20,000 142
Defining FAST procedures for other wells
One critical element of FAST implementation is the timing
of Step 2. The transition from Step 1 to Step 2 was
accomplished with success in HDA-4 and future
implementantations should therefore pursue similar conditions
as those valid for the HDA-4 trial. To simulate and replicate
conditions of stresses, a 2D cross sectional simulation model
coupled with a stress simulator is used to calculate the pore
pressures and the horizontal stresses in the area of interest.
The measures characterising the conditions at onset of Step
2 are related to the stress anisotropy (SH-Sh). A large
anisotropy gives rise to greater confidence in the predicted
orientation. Also, the larger the area around the injector, in
which the maximum stress axis is aligned with the injector, the
greater the confidence in fracture containment.
Figure 10 shows the simulated formation pore pressure and
horizontal stress anisotropy around HDA-4 at the time high
rate injection was initiated. In areas where normal stress has
been increased in the direction of the well, the stress
anisotropy is above the initial stress anisotropy of 300 psia.
The plot illustrates how the drawdown of the reservoir pore
pressure around the off-set producers HDA-5A and HDA-6 in
combination with charging of the reservoir pore pressure in
HDA-4 results in a 300 ft band around the well in which the
stress anisotropy is higher than the original level of 300 psia,
with a peak stress anisotropy of some 700 psia. In this band an
aligned and strengthened stress field has been generated.
Compared to HDA-4, subsequent injectors were all back
produced prior to conversion to injection, and hence have
experienced a significant pressure depletion. In addition, the
stress field around these wells has been under the influence of
production from both the neighboring producers and from the
injector itself, as will be illustrated for HDA-15, the second
well in which FAST was implemented.
Figure 11 shows the simulated horizontal stress anisotropy
around HDA-15, just prior to conversion to water injection,
after production of some 1.0 MMrbbl. The strength of the
stress field around the well is reduced as a result of depletion
with the horizontal stress anisotropy in fact being lower than
SPE 94049
the initial level at 300 psia. In Figure 12 the situation at the
end of Step 1, after injection of close to 1.0 MMbbl, is shown.
At this point in time, the simulated stress anisotropy around
the well is comparable to the level obtained in HDA-4, when
Step 2 was initiated in this well; hence injection above fracture
propagation pressure (Step 2) was initiated in HDA-15 as well.
was more than double the volume required during Step 1 in
HDA-4 due to the reservoir off-take prior to conversion to
injection. A similar, large volume has been required in later
injectors, with an apparent degree of proportionality to the
reservoir off-take volumes prior to conversion to injection
(Figure 13).
Summary of FAST field experience
By end 2004 several wells were operated on Step 2 and
FAST was post stage 3 in four wells in the Halfdan field,
HDA-4, HDA-15, HDA-17 and HDA-22A (Figure 2). Based
on pressure fall-off analysis, the achieved fracture heights are
in the range of 100-200 ft.
So far, there are no indications of injection water
breakthrough in the producers located parallel to injectors
where FAST has been fully implemented. Considering the
well lengths of some 10,000 ft, the limited well spacing of 600
ft and the achieved fracture wing area, it can be concluded that
aligned fractures are present as prescribed by the FAST
concept.
The producers HDA-1XD and HDA-2X were both drilled
perpendicular to the predominant well direction as an early
means of delineating the field. Longitudinal fracture
propagation, i.e. fractures extending beyond the length of the
injectors is evidenced by early injection water breakthrough in
these wells (Figure 2).
The different salinity of formation water compared to
injected water (sea water) can be used to detect injection water
breakthrough in producing wells. The chloride/sulphate cross-
plots from producers located parallel to high rate injection
wells confirm injection water breakthrough has not occurred in
these wells, as exemplified by HDA-8 in Figure 14. In contrast
to this are the producers located perpendicular to the
prevailing well direction where, e.g. in HDA-2X, up to 60%
injection water is detected in the produced water. This
observation highlights an inbuilt penalty of deviating from the
prevailing well pattern when engaging in the FAST concept.
Production Performance.
Early in the field life, while solution gas drive was the
primary drive mechanism, producers typically suffered from
lift problems due to a combination of low solution GOR (400-
700 scf/stb) and water cut around 20-40%.
The lift problems in these producers were alleviated within
less than a year from injection start in the offset injectors, as a
result of pressure support. The improved lift performance was
followed by an increasing oil production rate and a decreasing
GOR at an unchanged water cut.
SPE 94049 INJECTION FRACTURING IN A DENSELY SPACED LINE DRIVE WATER FLOOD, THE HALFDAN EXAMPLE
The performance of the producers and injectors are closely
linked to the areal voidage balance, which is calculated for the
producers by assuming even support from each injector to its
two neighbouring producers. In Figure 15a-b the oil
production rate and the GOR for producer HDA-8 is plotted
with the cumulative voidage. Since injection rates were
sufficient to maintain a positive daily voidage balance (seen as
a decrease in cumulative voidage), the oil production rate in
HDA-8 has effectively doubled from 2,000 stb/d to 4,000
stb/d. Additionally the GOR reduced from 1,500 scf/stb to a
level of 650 scf/stb, close to the initial solution GOR. As it
turns out, the production rate and cumulative voidage strongly
correlate, thus emphasizing the importance of maintaining
voidage replacement. Given the higher mobility of oil and gas
compared to water, injection at fracturing conditions is
required at some stage, to maintain voidage replacement and
sustain commercial production rates.
Conclusion
The Fracture Aligned Sweep Technology (FAST),
which was first implemented in HDA-4, has been
successfully repeated in another three wells in the
Halfdan field.
The dense well pattern and the high water injection
rates achieved as a result of large leak off areas,
effectively yields a response in the producing wells,
observed as increasing oil rate and a reduction in GOR.
Adherence to a strict well pattern and fracturing at slow
speed of propagation is key in avoiding premature
water breakthrough.
Fracturing at high speed of propagation involves the
risk of connecting to nearby producers while fracturing
at slow speed of propagation causes the induced
fracture to run in parallel to the well pattern.
The experience exemplifies that the principles and
methods described for water flood management are
typically applicable in cases where forces induced by
fluid flow are affecting the reservoir stresses and where
injection fracturing is used within a dense well pattern.
Nomenclature
b volume force; indices x,y and z indicating
direction
p pore pressure
Qi injection rate
Sh minimum horizontal effective stress
component
SH maximum horizontal effective stress
component
Hf Fracture height
5
Acknowledgements
The authors like to thank Mrsk Olie og Gas AS and their
partners in DUC, A.P. Mller, Shell Olie- og Gasudvinding
Danmark B.V. (Holland) and ChevronTexaco Denmark Inc.
for permission to publish this paper.
References
1. N.L. Jacobsen, F. Engstm, A. Uldall, N.W. Petersen,
Delineation of Hydrodynamic/Geodynamic Trapped Oil in Low
Permeability Chalk, paper SPE 56514 presented at the 1999 SPE
Annual Technical Conference, Houston, Texas, 3-6 October,
1999.
2. T. Albrechtsen, S.J. Andersen, T. Dons, F. Engstrm, O.
Jrgensen, F.W. Srensen, Halfdan: Developing Non-
Structurally Trapped Oil in North Sea Chalk, paper SPE 71322
presented at the 2001 SPE Annual Technical Conference, New
Orleans, Louisiana, 30 September 3 October, 2001.
3. Hansen, J.H., and Nederveen, N., "Controlled Acid Jet (CAJ)
Technique for Effective Single Operation Stimulation of 14,000+
ft Long Reservoir Sections" paper SPE 78318 presented at the
SPE 13th European Petroleum Conference, Aberdeen, Scotland,
U.K., 2931 October 2002.
4. Larsen, F.P., Cowie, D.R., and Ovens, J.E.V., Using 4,000 ft
Long Induced Fractures to Water Flood the Dan Field, paper
SPE 38558 presented at the 1997 SPE Offshore Europe
Conference, Aberdeen, 9-10 September.
5. Ovens, J.E.V., Larsen, F.P., and Cowie, D.R., Making Sense of
Water Injection Fractures in the Dan Field, paper SPE 52669
presented at the 1997 SPE Annual Technical Conference and
Exhibition, San Antonio, Texas, 5-8 October.
6. Jrgensen, O., Using Flow Induced Stresses for Steering of
Injection Fractures, paper SPE 78220 presentated at the
SPE/ISRM Rock Mechanics Conference held in Irving, Texas,
20-23 October 2002.
W.A. Minner, C.A. Wright, G.R. Stanley, C.J. de Pater, T.L.
Gorham, L.D. Eckerfield, K.A. Hajl, Waterflood and
Production-Induced Stress Changes Dramatically Affect
Hydraulic Fracture Behavior in Lost Hills Infill Wells, paper
SPE 77536 presented at the SPE Annual Technical Conference
and Exhibition, San Antonio, Texas, 29 September- 2 October
2002.
7. W.A. Minner, C.A. Wright, G.R. Stanley, C.J. de Pater, T.L.
Gorham, L.D. Eckerfield, K.A. Hajl, Waterflood and
Production-Induced Stress Changes Dramatically Affect
Hydraulic Fracture Behavior in Lost Hills Infill Wells, paper
SPE 77536 presented at the SPE Annual Technical Conference
and Exhibition, San Antonio, Texas, 29 September- 2 October
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8. von Terzaghi, K., The shearing resistance of saturated soils and
the angle between the planes of shear, International Conference
on Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering 1. Cambridge,
Mass. Proceedings, Vol. I, 54-56, 1936.
6 MALENE HOLM ROD, OLE JRGENSEN SPE 94049

Figure 1 Danish Sector location map

Figure 2 Halfdan Field

SPE 94049 INJECTION FRACTURING IN A DENSELY SPACED LINE DRIVE WATER FLOOD, THE HALFDAN EXAMPLE 7

a) Initial stress orientation 25o

offset to well axes P I P
time 0
Horizontal Producer

Horizontal Producer
Horizontal Injector

600 600

time 1

b) Orientation after 3 months of

production and injection
Horizontal Producer

Horizontal Producer
Horizontal Injector

time 2

600 600

Figure 3a and 3b Reorientation of stress axes

due to fluid flow

1,500 psia 5,150 psia

Figure 4 Fracture growth at a high speed of

propagation resulting in direct communication
between injector and producer. The nucleation site
for fracture intiation is at the tip of a starter crack
(red doted line). The simulated speed of propagation
is approximately 100 ft/hr.
8 MALENE HOLM ROD, OLE JRGENSEN SPE 94049

P I P
Implementation of FAST - Schematic
time A

Injection Rate
2 3

Time
Figure 6 - Schematic of FAST injection principle

25 6000
STEP 1 STEP 2 STEP 3
time B
20 5500

Bottom Hole Pressure (Psia)

Rate (Mstb/Day)

15 5000

10 4500
Acid
Stimulation
5 4000

0 3500

Jul-01
Jan-01

Mar-01

May-01

Sep-01
Inje ction Rate Bottom Hole pressure

time C
Figure 7 - HDA-4 Injection history

10000
April 28'th 2001
Qi = 6,400 bbl/d

1000
dP and dP'(psi)

100

10
1,500 psia 5,150 psia p-p@dt=0
Derivative
1
Figure 5 Fracture growth at a low speed of
propagation resulting in deflection of the fracture tip 0.01 0.1 1 10 100
and alignment with well pattern. The nucleation site dt (hr)
for fracture intiation is at the tip of a starter crack (red
doted line). The simulated speed of propagation is Figure 8 - Derivative plot from HDA-4 fall-off
approximately 100 ft/month. survey - Step 1
 SPE 94049 INJECTION FRACTURING IN A DENSELY SPACED LINE DRIVE WATER FLOOD, THE HALFDAN EXAMPLE 9

10000 6000 1500

August 9'th 2001
Qi = 20,000 bbl/d 5000
1200
1000
4000
dP and dP'(psi)

SH'- Sh'(psi)
900

p (psia)
700 psi
3000
100
600
2000

300
10 1000
p-p@dt=0
Derivative 0 0

HDA-5A
HDA-4
HDA-6

HDA-15

HDA-8
1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000
1
0.01 0.1 1 10 100 300 ft
dt (hr) Pore Pressure (p) Stress Anisotropy (SH'-Sh') Initial Anisotropy

Figure 9 - Derivative plot from HDA-4 fall-off

Figure 10 - Horizontal stress anisotropy (2D model).
survey Step 3
HDA-4 prior Step 2 - May 2001

6000 1500
2.5
5000
Cum. Injection, FAST Step 1 (MMrb)

1200
2
4000

SH'- Sh'(psi)
900
1.5
p (psia)

3000

600
1
2000

0.5 300
1000

0 0 0
HDA-5A

0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000
HDA-6

HDA-4

HDA-15

HDA-8
Cum. Reservoir Withdrawal (MMrb)

Figure 13 - Injection volumes required during Pore Pressure (p) Stress Anisotropy (SH'-Sh') Initial Anisotropy
Step 1 as a function of reservoir withdrawal
Figure 11 - Horizontal stress anisotropy (2D model).
HDA-15 at start of injection - November 2001

6000 1500
45

40
0% SW 5000
1200
35 20% SW

40% SW
30 4000
SH'- Sh'(psi)

60% SW
900
Chlorides (g/l)

p (psia)

25 80% SW
100% SW 3000
20
600
15 2000

10
HDA-8 300
1000
5 HDA-2X SW: Sea Water (Injection Water)

0 0 0
HDA-5A

HDA-8
HDA-6

HDA-4

HDA-15
1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0

Sulphate (g/l)

Figure 14 - Produced water salinity cross plot, HDA- Pore Pressure (p) Stress Anisotropy (SH'-Sh') Initial Anisotropy
8 (aligned with well pattern) and HDA-2X
(intersecting prevailing well pattern) Figure 12 - Horizontal stress anisotropy (2D-
model). HDA-15 prior to Step 2 - May 2002
10 MALENE HOLM ROD, OLE JRGENSEN SPE 94049

8,000 4

Cum. Voidage (MMrb)

Oil Rate (Stb/d)

6,000 3

4,000 2

2,000 1

0 0
Jan-01

Jul-01

Jan-02

Jul-02

Jan-03

Jul-03

Jan-04
Oil Rate Cum. Voidage

Figure 15a - HDA-8 response to water inejction - oil rate

and cumulative voidage

2,000 4
Cum. Voidage (M M rb)

1,500 3
GOR (Scf/stb)

1,000 2

500 1

0 0
Jan-01

Jul-01

Jan-02

Jul-02

Jan-03

Jul-03

Jan-04

GOR Cum. Voidage

Figure 15b - HDA-8 response to water inejction - GOR

and cumulative voidage