62-04-01
W ell.Bore Notehin~
(12th Annual Technical Meeting, Edmonton, May, 1961)
ABSTRACT
Several advanced procedures for
planning hydraulic fracturing treat-
ments were introduced by research
engineers during 1957 and 1958.
Fracturing with the single-plane
entry technique was one promising
new concept. With this technique
the well-bore is prepared at a sel-
ected point using a hydraulic or a
mechanical notching tool. The well
is then fractured with a treatment
designed to generate a single, large-
areal-extent fracture. A partial
monolayer of large-size propping
agent is distributed in the fracture
to give high-flow capacity after the
treatment. An experimental pro-
gram was conducted in the Pincher
Creek, Steelman and Pembina
fields during 1959 and 1960 to eval-
uate single-plane-entry fracturing.
It was found that the technique
could not be indiscriminantly ap-
plied to every reservoir. Interfer-
ence from natural vertical fracture
systems was a problem. However,
when reservoir conditions were fa-
vorable. the results indicated that
wells fractured with the single-
plane entry technique have higher
and more sustained productivity
than those fractured by convention-
al methods.
INTRODUCTION
SIGNIFICANT technological ad-
vances in the science of hydrau-
lic fracturing were made by re-
search engineers during 1957 and
1958 (1). These were received with
considerable interest by the Cana-
dian oil and gas industry (2). In
* H.J. Strain, British-American Oil
Company Ltd., Estevan, Saskat-
chewan.
Technology, Winter, 1962, Calgary
and Hydraulie
By H. J. STRAIN*
particular, the concept of a single,
high-flow-capacity fracture held
promise for many areas (3), An
experimental program was carried
out by The British American Oil
Company Limited during 1959 and
1960 to evaluate some of the new
fracturing theories. Fracturing
with the single-plane entry techni-
que was first attempted in Canada
at a gas well in the Pincher Creek
field.
Another proving ground for this
type of fracturing were poor-pro-
ductivity wells along the north side
of the Steelman field. Rapid de-
cline in production rate after nor-
mal acid completion treatment was
characteristic of wells in this area.
Conventional sandfracturing had
been tried with no success. In an
effort to overcome the problem and
work out a superior completion me-
thod, single-plane-entry fracturing
treatments were performed on nine
edge wells during the latter part
of 1959 and in early 1960. An abra-
sive jetting tool and a mechanical
under-reamer were evaluated as a
means of notching the well-bore.
Partial-monolayer and multilayer
fracturing treatments were tried in
conjunction with the single entry.
Production data from these nine
experimental wells and from off-
setting conventionally _ completed
wells are compared to evaluate the
usefulness of the single-plane entry
technique and the partial-monolay-
er propping theory.
At Steelman, difficulty was expe-
rienced in generating a horizontal
Fraeturin~
fracture because of interference
from existing vertical fractures in
the Midale Beds limestone reser-
voir. In this respect, absence of
natural vertical fractures in the
Cardium sandstone reservoir made
the Pembina field more attractive
for application of the single-plane-
entry fracturing procedure. Ac-
cordingly, in late 1960, three poor-
productivity Pembina wells were
mechanically notched and refrac-
tured with treatments designed to
distribute a partial monolayer of
propping agent in a large-areal-ex-
tent horizontal fracture. In this
paper, preliminary results of these
treatments are discussed.
THEORY OF SINGLE-PLANE
FRACTURING
The object of single-plane-entry
fracturing is to provide a high-flow-
capacity conduit from deep in the
reservoir to the well bore. This
can be accomplished by creating a
single, large-areal-extent, horizon-
tal fracture with a spearhead of
sand-free fracturing fluid, then dis-
tributing a partial monolayer of
large-size propping agent in the
fracture with the remaining frac-
turing fluid. Improved well produc-
tivity, compared to conventional
fracturing, can be obtained because
conventional fracturing usually re-
sults in multiple fractures having
less penetration into the formation.
Also, fractures packed with small-
size propping agent have much low-
er permeability than a partial mon-
olayer of large-size propping agent
(3).
153
 A B
Fignre I.-Mechanical Tool for Notching Well-bore.
Illustrated are (A) the blades used to cut a ring
section from the casing and (B) the pointed blades
used to cut a circumferential notch in the formation.
The first step in designing a treat-
ment for a single fracture system
is to determine the areal extent and
flow capacity of the fracture need-
ed to stimulate the well effectively.
For a large-areal-extent fracture,
having a radius of about 150 ft.,
flow capacity of the well can be
assumed equal to flow capacity of
the fracture. By application of the
Darcy equation it has been shown
by other authors (4) that, for effec-
tive well stimulation, the fracture
flow capacity should be about 10
times the formation flow capacity.
Formation flow capacity is defined
as the product of horizontal perme-
ability times the thickness of the
productive zone. Fracture flow cap-
acity is the product of fracture per-
meability times its width.
FORMATION NOTCHING TOOLS
The type of single entry to the
formation believed to be most effec-
tive is the V-shaped notch. With
the notch, leverage is provided for
hydraulic pressure to initiate a hor-
izontal fracture in the desired plane
at the apex of the notch. Two me-
thods have been used to cut a
notch through casing and cement
sheath into the formation.
Mechanical Notching Tool
In the mechanical method a mod-
ified underreamer is used. The
reamer, with casing-cutting blades,
is run in on drill pipe or drill tub-
ing and a ring section is cut from
the casing by rotation (Figure 1A).
The casing-cutting blades are then
replaced with formation-notching
blades that extend through the cas-
ing cut and are rotated to notch
154
Figure 2.-'Hydraulic Tool for Notching Well-bore.
The notch is cut by high-pressure streams of sand-
laden liquid as the tool is rotated.
the formation (Figure 1B). The
two opposing blades are actuated
by means of linkage from a piston
having a ~-inch circulation orifice.
Circulation of water down the drill-
ing string provides pressure differ-
ential across the piston and forces
the blades out against the casing.
The tool provides a signal to the
operator by a reduction in pump
pressure when the correct casing
cut and formation notch have been
made. Rotation must be stopped
immediately after the pressure drop
occurs, so that the desired V-shap-
ed geometry of the notch is not
destroyed. Somewhat flexible power
requirements for the mechanical
notching operation can best be fur-
nished by a service rig equipped
with a unitized engine and small
mud pump and a separate engine
driving the rotary table. Rotating
time for cutting a ring section from
the casing was normally about 272
hours and for notching the forma-
tion about 172 hours. Failure to
provide sufficient pump pressure
resulted in considerably longer ro-
tating times at two of the Pembina
wells.
Hydraulic Notching Tool
In the hydraulic notching method,
a tool fitted with single or multiple
jet orifices on the same plane is
run in on tubing. Rotation at 5 to
10 rpm is commenced and abrasive
fluid is pumped down the tubing
and through the jets at high veloc-
ity to pierce the casing, cement
sheath and cut a circumferential
notch in the formation (Figure 2).
The carrying fluid can be oil or
water. Normally the abrasive ma-
terial used is 20-40 mesh sand in a
concentration of 1 to 2 lb./gal.
Sufficient pumping rate is main-
tained to provide a 2,500 psi pres-
sure differential across the 3/16-
inch diameter jets. Penetration
distance into the formation depends
primarily on energy supplied to the
jets, formation hardness, jetting
time and size of cut through the
casing (5). With the single entry
technique, the shape of notch cut
into the formation is of greater
significance than the depth of pen-
etration because the subsequent
fracturing treatment provides the
penetration. Surface tests have in-
dicated that a V-shaped rather than
the preferable V-shaped notch is
obtained with the hydraulic notch-
ing method. A sonic collar locator
log run after notching 472-inch cas-
ing at one well indicated a notch
width of about six inches. In the
Steelman Midale Beds formation,
rotating time of about 10 minutes
using 5 jets or about 25 minutes
using 2 jets was sufficient to cut a
satisfactory notch.
PINCHER CREEK FRACTURING
ATTEMPT
The first attempt with the single-
entry fracturing technique in Can-
ada was made at a 12,000 ft. well
in the Pincher Creek gas field. Pro-
duction casing had been set on top
of the productive Mississippian
Rundle limestone leaving 235 ft. of
open hole at Pincher Creek 10-35-3-
29-W5M. A notch was cut into the
open hole section in June, 1959, by
rotating and jetting 7,500 gals. of
10% HCI acid through a hydraulic
notching tool. A caliper log show-
Journal of Canadian Petroleum
ed the notch to be 18 in. wide at
the well bore and 6 in. wide 1 ft.
into the formation, indicating a to-
tal penetration of about 1 Y2 ft. In.
jection pressure in excess of 9,000
psig restricted the injection rate of
a subsequent 40,000 gal. gelled-acid
fracturing treatment to only 10
bbl.!min. From observation of the
injection pressure during the frac-
turing operation it was doubtful
that a fracture was obtained.
It appeared that formation conduc-
tivity from existing fractures or
from permeability created by pre-
vious acid treatments was beyond
the pumping capacity of the equip-
ment at the injection pressure en-
countered. For this reason the op-
eration was more in the nature of
a high pressure acid treatment than
a fracturing treatment. No im-
provement in well productivity was
experienced.
STEELMAN FRACTURING
OPERATIONS
MidaZe Beds Reservoir
The Steelman oilfield is located
20 miles northeast of Estevan, Sas-
katchewan. It contains 850 wells
drilled on 80-acre spacing (Figure
3). The main producing pool is
the Mississippian Midale Beds
which is a heterogeneous carbonate
reservoir overlain and underlain by
anhydrite. There are three produc-
ing rock types within the reservoir.
In order of superior quality they
are the algal limestone, microgran-
ular dolomite and fragmental lime-
stone. No definable water table
TWP
5 and simulated overburden pressure
STEELMAN
TWP
4 basis for designing single-plane-
TWP
3 North Steelman wells had a forma-
RGE.6
Figure 3.-Steelman Field showing location of wells fractured by the
single-entry technique.
Technology, Winter, 1962, Calgary
exists at the producing wells, how-
ever formation water is present
down dip from the field. Connate
water content is excessive in low
permeability, chalky, argillaceous
and anhydritic sections within the
reservoir. Using 7% porosity and
0.5 md. permeability cut-offs, which
correspond to 50% water satura-
tion, normal gross pay thickness of
30 ft. is reduced to 15 ft. of net pay
at the average well. Regional dip of
Mississippian strata is about 50 ft./
mile to the south-southwest, result-
ing in a variation of well depth
from 4,400 ft. to 4,900 ft.
As development drilling extended
the Steelman field northward duro
ing 1958, it became apparent that
lithology changes were causing a
gradual deterioration in the reser-
voir quality. An intensive geolog-
ical investigation has shown this
deterioration to be largely caused
by decreased grain size and degree
and dolomitization of the micro-
granular dolomite, rather than any
marked decrease in porosity or pay
thickness (6), Acid completion pro-
cedures used in the central portion
of the field proved unsatisfactory
along the north edge. A number of
conventional sand-fracturing treat-
ments were performed, but well
productivities continued to exhibit
rapid decline characteristics.
Injectivity Tests
Improved results in other fields
(4) with designed fracturing treat-
ments encouraged the initiation of
an experimental program to deter-
SINKEWICZ 11-10
THORNTON I - 30
ETHEL 13 - 6
FIELD
HIRSCHBERG
1- 16
RGE.5 RGE.4 W2M
mine a superior method of stimu-
lating low productivity north Steel-
man wells. In May, 1959, injectiv-
ity tests were run at Sinkewicz 11-
10, a newly-completed representa-
tive well in this area. A bottom
hole pressure bomb was positioned
just above perforations in 4 112-
inch casing. Lease crude was
pumped at rates varying from :14
bbl./min. to 21 bbl.!min. Bottom-
hole pressure stabilized at 3,920
psig, and the plot of pressure versus
rate indicated that a pumping rate
of 16Y2 bbl.!min. was required for
formation parting (Figure 4). Be-
low this pressure and rate the
fluid was apparently leaking-off
through existing natural fractures.
This information showed that high
sand-off frequency at many earlier
conventional fracturing treatments
performed in Steelman had been
caused by low pumping rate. It
was recognized that this required
rate would vary somewhat through-
out the field depending on forma-
tion permeability and extent of nat-
ural fracturing. Subsequent expe-
rience showed that a high-viscosity
fracturing fluid in conjunction with
the 15-20 bbl./min. injection rate
was advisable for any large volume
treatment. Gravity of Sinkewicz
lease crude used in the tests was 32
degrees A.P.I.
Fracturing Design Considerations
Representative core samples and
reservoir fluid samples were sent
to Gulf Research and Development
Company at Barmarville, Pennsyl-
vania for laboratory testing. Fluid
compatabilities were checked and
filter loss tests through core wafers
were taken for selection of frac-
turing fluid. Various sizes of sand
were placed between core samples
applied, for selection of propping
agent. Penetrometer studies were
utilized to determine optimum con-
centration of sand to have in place
in the propped fracture. The Darcy
flow equation was then used as a
entry fracturing treatments. By
estimating the formation flow cap-
acity from core analyses, the flow
capacity of fracture and the radius
of fracture needed for effective
stimulation was readily determined.
tion flow capacity of about 50-100
md-ft. The partial monolayer treat-
ments were designed to give a
fracture of 150-ft. radius. The
gelled-acid treatments were design-
ed to give a multi-layer rather than
155
 turing treatment was injected down
~.~!
---c?"l"............
"--
.~.-_.,
- the annulus. This well was located
3800
on the south flank of the field
where capacity is such that most
wells easily flow their allowable.
~ 3600
(f)
(L

I 3400 /
I
The completion was entirely satis-
factory, as the small 840-gal. gelled-
acid treatment resulted in well pro-

~JECTIVITY
W ductivity equal to conventional per-
0::
forated and acidized completions on
~ 3200
the lease (Table 1). Flowing bot-
(f)
TESTS i
w
g: 3000 I SINKEWICZ 11-10-5-5W2M i
tom hole pressure data calculated
to a normal productivity index,
showing that the single well-bore
/
W
...J
a 2800 : entry gave adequate reservoir drain-

I
I age.
25 2600 !
Partial Monolayer-Open Hole
l-
I-
a . Notched.
/
:,:

en 2400
. ,
i I
22000 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18
PUMPING RATE - BARRELS PER MINUTE
Figure 4.-Graph of bottom-hole-pressure versus pumping rate showing
fracturing pressure for representative Steelman well.
a partial monolayer of propping 1960 (Figure 3), As previously
agent and a lesser fracture radius. stated, the experimental program
For the anticipated injection rate, was carried out entirely in an area
the volume of spearhead needed to of extremely poor-productivity
generate the fracture and the vol. leases for the purpose of finding a
ume of carrying fluid and concen superior completion method for this
tation of propping agent at the type of well. Particulars of treat-
pumping equipment were then cal ments and comparison with con-
culated by application of a varia ventionally-completed offset wells is
tion of the Howard and Fast form- given by Table I.
ula (1) to the laboratory data.
The single entry technique in
Steelman was first used on Septem-
Single-Plane Entry Technique
ber 16, 1959, at the completion of
Nine single-plane-entry fractur- Hirschberg 1-16. A circumferential
ing treatments were performed in notch was cut using the hydraulic
the Steelman field during 1959 and jetting method and a small frac-
Only four of the nine single entry
treatments were designed to give a
20 22 partial monolayer of propping
agent in the fracture. The first
partial-monolayer fracturing treat-
ment attempted was at Anton 3-11
in October, 1959. This well had
originally been completed open hole
and acidized with 500 gals. mud
acid followed by 1,000 gals. 15%
HCI early in 1957. The well-bore
was prepared for a single-plane-
entry fracturing treatment by hy-
draulically notching the open hole
at the best point in the pay section.
Fracturing treatment was perform-
ed according to the schedule shown
in Table II, but screened out with
22,000 lbs. away to the formation.
The screen out was attributed to
excessive carrying fluid leak-off due
to multiple fractures instead of a
single, horizontal fracture being

Table I.-Comparison of Single-Plane-Entry Fracturing Treatments Versus Conventional Treatments in Steel-

man Field.
Gallons Injection
Well-Bore Fracturing Carrying Pounds Rate Present
Well Name Preparation Fluid Fluid
._--- Sands bbl/min Production
- ---
l. Hirschberg 1-16-3-4-W2M Hyd. notch Gelled acid 840 1,SOO 8.S Flows 4S BOPD
lao Hirschberg 7-16-3-4-W2M Perforated Acidized 1,SOO 2.S Flows 30 BOPD
2. Nikolas S-4-S-S-W2M Hyd. notch Medium crude 10,800 44,000 20 Pumps 10 BOPD
2a. Nikolas 13-4-S-S-W2M Perforated Acidized 1,000 2 Pumps 8 BOPD
3. Anton 3-11-S-6-W2M Hyd. notch Light crude 12,200 22,000 31 Pumps 20 BOPD
3a. Peter 13-2-S-6-W2M Open hole Gelled acid 3,000 7,SOO 13 Pumps 13 BOPD
4. Thornton 1-30-S-4-W2M Hyd. notch Gelled crude 11,200 26,SOO 26 Pumps 6 BOPD
4a. Mason 13-20-S-4-W2M Open hole Lease crude 2,000 9,900 23 Pumps 10 BOPD
5. Ethel 13-6-S-4-W2M Mech-notch Diesel fuel 7,200 6,800 2S Pumps 17 BOPD
Sa. Ethel lS-6-S-4-W2M Perforated Acidized 3,000 3 Pumps 10 BOPD
6. Ethel 11-6-S-4-W2M Hyd. notch Gelled acid 2,000 1,000 8 Pumps 40 BOPD
7. Walter 9-14-S-6-W2M Mech-notch Gelled diesel 11,400 16,300 20 Suspended
7a. Walter 11-14-S-6-W2M Perforated Acidized 1,000 4 Pumps 10 BOPD
8. Nikolas 9-4-S-S-W2M Mech-notch Gelled acid 4,800 12,000 17 Flows 40 BOPD
8a. Sinkewicz 13-3-S-S-W2M Perforated Medium crude 8,000 16,000 9 Pumps 12 BOPD
<'/ . Nikolas 7-4-S-S-W2M Hyd. notch Gelled acid 4,S7S 13,000 17 Suspended

- No.2 and No.3 notches were cut in open hole of old wells. Remainder were cut on completion.
- Approximately 400 pounds 8-12 mesh walnut shells tailed in behind sand at No.6 and No.7.
- Conventional fracturing treatments used 20-40 mesh sand. Single-plane-entry used mainly 10-20 mesh.
- No.1, No.3, No. 4a, No. S and No. 7 screened out after amounts shown had been injected to formation.
- Treatments above 10 BPM injected down casing, above S BPM down annulus, below S BPM down tubing.
156 Journal of CClnadian Petroleum
 Table n.-Pumping Schedule Anton 3-11-5-6W2M Fracturing Treatment.
Volume of Fracturing
Fluid (U.S. Gals) Propping Agent
-------
Incremental
Concentration Size and Type Weight
Incremental Cumulative Type of Fluid (lb/gal) <.--.imes h2__ ____i.lbs )_.__

3,800 3,800 Anton lease crude with 0 0

0.1 Ib/gal Adomite

2,500 6,300 Anton lease crude with 1 10-20 sand 2,500

0.1 It/gal Adomite

2,500 9,800 Anton lease crude with l~ 10-20 sand 3 . 750

0.1 Ib/gal Adomite

5,000 14,800 Anton lease crude with 2 10-20 sand 10,000

0.1 It/gal Adomite

4,200 18,000 Anton lease crude with 2~ 10-20 sand 10,500

0.1 It/gal Adomite

TOTALS 18,000 26,750

For 30 bbl/min injection rate. Underflush 2 eels

initiated. Although the partial
monolayer of propping agent was
not achieved, the well productivity
was improved and showed less
rapid post-fracturing decline than
a conventionally-fractured offset
well (Figure 5). The less rapid de-
cline was not the result of notching
but rather the benefit from the
larger treatment at Anton 3-11 and
the use of 10-20 mesh rather than
commonly used 20-40 mesh sand.
It was concluded that the notch-
ing technique cannot be effectively
applied for single-plane-entry at
wells having a section of open hole
also exposed. Poor results at Nik-
olas 5-4 also supported this conclu-
sion. Even when reworking a
cased-through well it would be ad-
visable to cement-squeeze old per-
with only 6,800 Ibs. away to the
formation.
Samples of the fracturing fluid
checked after the job had a very
low viscosity and a sand-falling rate
of 10 ft./min., indicating that the
gel had partially broken down dur-
ing passage through the pump
trucks. The screen-out was, there-
fore, attributed to sand settling out
in the formation as the mixture
moved away from the well-bore at
progressively lower velocities. This
treatment resulted in normal well
productivity (Figure 6), but it was
45rr-rrr.--.:-rrrrrrrrr..--r-,-,--,-,--,-,-,-,-,-rrrT"'...--rrrrrr."....--r-'-'--'-'---r-l
CONVENTIONAL
SANDFRACTURE
:-:---z-J:.:
apparent that an improved fractur-
ing fluid was required to accom-
plish the desired partial monolayer
distribution of propping agent.
Another partial-monolayer treat-
ment with thickly-gelled diesel fuel
having a sand falling rate of less
than 2 ft./min. was then attempted
through a mechanically-cut notch
at Walter 9-14. When this treat-
ment screened out while attempting
to tail in with 1,000 Ibs. 8-12 mesh
rounded walnut shells, it was final-
ly concluded that single horizontal
fractures were not being generated
!
.,.,.'
HYDRAULICALLY
NOTCHED AND
::
. SAN DFRACTURED

...
forations before preparing the well
bore for a single-plane-entry frac- PETER 13-2-5-6 W2M

turing treatment. OPEN HOLE ACIDIZED

Partial M onolayer-Casing Notched

A partial-monolayer fracture
treatment was attempted at Ethel
13-6 on completion in January, 1960.
.
The well was cased-through and a .-. :
..... ............
notch was cut into the Midale Beds \:
w ANTON 3-11-5-6W2M
formation using the mechanical
reamer shown in Figure 1. Frac- ~ 10 OPEN HOLE ACIDIZED
a:::
turing fluid selected for this treat- w
ment was No.2 diesel fuel, gelled ~ 5
and treated with 0.1 lb. per gal.
Adomite for fluid loss control. A
spearhead of 5,000 gals. diesel fuel
ICl'17 1958 1959 1960
was pumped, followed by 12,800
Figure 5.-Production comparison from offset north-Steelman wells shows
Ibs. 10-20 mesh sand mixed in 10,200 that notching open-hole prior to fracturing offers no advantage over
gals. diesel fuel. Sand-off occurred conventional fracturing.

Technology, Winter, 1962, Calgary 157

because of interference from natur-
al vertical fractures. Pressure
build up on the surface recorder at (J)
ETHEL 11-6-5-4- W2M
Walter 9-14 indicated fractures to d 64
be of insufficient width to receive
0:
0: r.. . . . . . HYDRAULICALLY NOTCHED AND
SANDFRACTURED
8-12 mesh propping agent. ~ 56 / \
, , \, '\
Naturul Fracture Study z , 1 ,

A geological study (6) of cores Q 48 I " / '

I- I ' I \ ,-
I ' , __ - ' \
from 195 Steelman wells revealed U
I , ,-
vertical fractures in all but two,
::>
g 40 / .... \ ,-
,-

/\ ---...... /
/1 .... \
with concentrations of fractures in
the fragmental limestone above and
0:
(L
/
, .0.
,\/ / .................. "
",'

below but rarely in the better qual- 6 32 ..

0

...

-----=---=-. ..... .. -..

ity microgranular section of the
reservoir. The lack of good bed- ~ ~
<[ 24 ETHEL 13-6-5-4 W2M
ding in the microgranular section o MECHANICALLY NOTCHED
makes it difficult to confine the AND FRACTURED
fracture within this unit and thus ~ 16 ACIDIZED INITIAL COMPLETION
<[
avoid contact with natural vertical 0:
W
fractures, even with the single, ETHEL 15-6-5-4 W2M
~ 8
notched well-bore entry. A frac- PERFORATED AND ACIDIZED
ture treatment performed in a con-
ventionally-completed well would
1960 1961
almost certainly follow the natural
Figure 6. - Production comparison at north-Steelman lease illus~r;;ttes
fracture system. It was probable less rapid decline characteristics of wells fractured rather than aCldlzed
that the partial-monolayer designs on completion.
at Anton 3-11, Thornton 1-30, Ethel treatments are superior to acidiz- tained by the unfractured micro-
13-6 and Walter 9-14 had also ing and that the gelled-acid frac- granular section of the reservoir by
broken into the natural vertical turing fluid is preferable to diesel means of an accurately - placed
fractures. Rather than further at- fuel. Also, the fact that it was notch. Casing collars were located
tempts with the large-volume, par- possible to inject the 8-12 mesh wal- relative to the formation by means
tial-monolayer design, it seemed nut shells at a lower rate than of a correlation log prior to comple-
that smaller, gelled-acid fracturing used at Walter 9-14 suggested that tion of Nikolas 9-4. The mechan-
treatments designed to prop exist- the high-viscosity gelled acid was ical reamer was run and a casing
ing fractures would be more ap- a more suitable fracturing fluid collar near the target point was
propriate. than gelled oil. checked by applying pump pressure
Notched and Acidized and gradually lowering the tool
1IIechanically Notching and Gelled until casing-cutting blades took
Ethel 11-6 had been hydraulically Acid weight off the surface indicator. A
notched and acidized with 100 gals.
There was a possibility that a V-shaped notch was then cut at the
mud acid followed by 1,500 gals. of
fracture treatment could be con- midpoint of a 4-ft. microgranular
retarded acid in December, 1959.
Initial production of 35 bbl./day (f) 90
....J
was silmilar to initial production W
from perforated and acidized com- a::
a:: 80 NIKOLAS 9-4-5-5 W2M
pletions on the lease. This showed
CD MECHANICALLY NOTCHED
that the single, properly-placed, AND FRACTURED AT
well-bore entry would provide ade- z 70 COMPLETION
0
quate drainage of the Steelman I-
Midale Beds reservoir but that the U
:::) 60
notch offered no particular advan- 0
tage over conventionally perforat- 0
a::
ing when only the normal acid com- a.. 50
pletion treatment was used. A sub- ....J
0
sequent treatment with 1,000 Ibs. CONVENTIONALLY
40
10-20 mesh sand and 400 Ibs. 8-12 ~ SANDFRACTURED SINKEWICZ 13-3-5-5 W2M
mesh rounded walnut shells mixed
0
in 2,000 gals. gelled acid on January
22, 1960, increased production to w
C>
the 50 bbl./day level for several
months (Figure 6). a::
w
Considering the fairly extensive >

vertical fracturing observed in the 10
PERFORATED AND ACIDIZED INITIAL COMPLETION
core from Ethel 11-6, it was prob-
able that this fracturing treatment
served only to prop the existing o 1958 1959 1960 1961
natural fractures. Production de- Figure 7.-Comparison of offset well perf~rmance is indicati~e of supe.rior
cline curves on Figure 6 indicate productivity which can be obtained by smgle-entry fracturmg techmque
rather than conventional fracturing treatment at north-Steelman well
that sand-fracturing completion completions.
158 Journal of Canadian Petroleum
section. A fracturing treatment
consisting of 250 gals. 15% HCI
acid spearhead, followed by 9,000
lbs. 20-40 mesh sand and 3,000 lbs.
10-20 sand mixed in 4,800 gals. 200
cpo gelled acid was performed Feb-
ruary 16, 1960. The treatment was
displaced down the casing with
crude oil and no overflush was
used. Next morning the well flow-
ed without swabbing and has con-
tinued to flow its allowable to the
present time. Offsetting wells are
marginal pumpers (Figure 7).
These results showed that a high-
flow-capacity fracture could be
created in a poor-productivity well.
The unusually high initial potential
and below average water-cut indi-
cated that the fracture had been
contained in the 4-ft. microgranular
section of the reservoir. In addi-
tion to the V-shaped well-bore
entry, the type of fracturing fluid
was believed a significant factor in
the success of this treatment.
Hydraulically Notching and Gelled
Acid
An attempt was made to com-
plete Nikolas 7-4 in a similar man-
ner. As the mechanical tool was
no longer available, the well-bore
was notched with the abrasive jet-
ting tool. A fracturing treatment
consisting of 250 gals. 15% HCI
acid spearhead, followed by 8,000
lbs. 20-40 mesh sand and 5,000 lbs.
10-20 mesh sand mixed in 4,575 gals.
gelled acid was performed May 3,
1960 (Table 1). The well produced
95% salt water at swabbing rates
of 10 bbl./hr. for 3 days and was
then suspended. A correlation log
was run and the notch was located
3 ft. higher than the intended tar-
get point. It appeared that the
fracturing treatment had been con-
tained by natural vertical fractures
present in the highly water-satur-
ated fragmental section and had
not penetrated the oil bearing mic-
ro-granular section of the reservoir.
Comparison of results at Nikolas
7-4 and Nikolas 9-4 emphasized the
importance of exactly positioning
the entry point when fracturing a
heterogeneous reservoir.
Steelman Summary
The fracturing study showed that
the greatest intensity of natural
vertical fractures are present in the
higher-saturated, lower-permeabil-
ity sections of the Steelman Midale
Beds reservoir. It appears that
conventional sand-oil fracturing
treatments tend to follow the nat-
ural fracture system. The result
Technology, Winter, 1962, Calgary
is usually an increase in water cut,
but little improvement in oil pro-
duction as experienced at Nikolas
5-4, Mason 13-20 and Sinkewicz 13-3
(Table 1). Better results are ob-
tained when the fracturing fluid is
gelled acid rather than oil or water,
as the spending acid seems to
etch channels into the oil bearing
micro-granular section thus allow-
ing better drainage by the propped
natural vertical fractures.
The partial-monolayer fracturing
design has little application to this
situation because the natural frac-
ture system makes it extremely dif-
ficult to generate a single, large-
areal-extent fracture. Gelled-acid
sandfracturing treatments designed
to prop existing fractures are con-
sistently more successful, as illus-
trated by results at Hirschberg 1-16,
Peter 13-2, Ethel 11-6 and Nikolas
9-4 (Table 1). Several convention-
ally-completed north Steelman
wells have recently been reworked
by fracturing with 5,000 gal. gelled-
acid treatments using 10-20 mesh
sand. Results have not been com-
parable to Nikolas 9-4, but produc-
tion rates have been increased to a
value in excess of that experienced
after their initial acid completion
treatments. It is important to keep
injection rate above 15 bbl./min. to
avoid screening out during these
gelled acid fracturing treatments.
When completing a new well in
the north Steelman area, the single,
properly placed, well-bore entry
would probably be preferable to the
perforated or open hole entry. This
would limit the number of vertical
fractures exposed and should result
in further penetration of the treat-
ment into the formation.
PEMBINA FRACTURING
OPERATIONS
Cardium Sand Reservoir
The Pembina field is located 70
miles southwest of Edmonton, Al-
berta. It is the largest oilfield in
Canada, containing approximately
3,500 wells. The reservoir is a strat-
igraphic trap producing from the
Cardium sand. Neither bottom
water nor significant free gas has
been found. The natural producing
mechanism is a solution gas drive.
Recovery is now being augmented
by a pattern waterflood. The 50-
ft. gross oil pay section is normal
ly comprised of a relatively clean
upper sand and a thicker, lower
sand-shale sequence. The average
well has 20 to 30 ft. of net pay.
Well depth varies from 4,600 ft. to
5,500 ft.
Perforating and sandfracturing
has been the accepted completion
method since discovery of the field
in 1953. Many variations in size,
rate and treating procedure have
been used. Generally good initial
results were obtained, but many
wells required frequent refractur-
ing to maintain productivity. This
rapidly declining productivity can
now be attributed to conventional
fracturing methods, which were re-
sulting in low flow-capacity frac-
tures packed with multi-layers of
small-size propping agent.
Unlike the Steelman Midale Beds
reservoir with its complex system
of natural vertical fractures, the
Pembina Cardium sand reservoir
presents no complications from nat-
ural fractures to the single-entry
technique. Horizontal shale part-
ings in the lower portion of the
Cardium sand reservoir probably
assist in directing treatments into
horizontal fracture planes. With-
out properly-shaped single entry,
however, it would be difficult to
direct the fracture into a desired
plane in the net pay section and to
restrict the treatment to one large-
areal-extent fracture. There is like-
ly a tendency for propping agent
to imbed in the soft shale sections
of the lower Cardium sand-shale
sequence.
Operations
Partial - monolayer fracturing
treatment designs were calculated
for three Pembina wells using the
procedure previously applied at
Steelman. Wells in this area of
the Pembina field had an average
formation flow capacity of 200 md.-
ft. Fracturing treatments were
designed to give a fracture of 150-
ft. radius and about 4,500 md-ft.
flow capacity. The mechanical
reamer was chosen for well-bore
preparation as this tool was believ-
ed to best provide the preferable
V-shaped notch geometry.
A gel-type of temporary plugging
agent proved unsatisfactory for
sealing off existing perforations at
one well. At the two later wells,
sand plugs were used to seal off
perforations below and resin-gyp-
sum cement plugs were placed over
perforations above and through the
proposed entry points.
Resin-gypsum cement plugs were
partially drilled out and the well-
bore was pressure tested prior to
notching with the mechanical ream-
159
 Volume of Fracturing Table IlL-Pumping Schedule - Pembina Field.
Fluid (U.S. Gals) Propping Agent

Incremental
Concentration Size and Type Weight
Incremental Cumulative Type of Fluid (lb!gal) (mesh) (lbs)

9,000 Gelled lease crude with o

9,000
0.1 Ib!gal Adomite
2,000 11,000 Gelled lease crude with LO 10-20 sand 2,000
0.1 Ib!gal Adomite

4,200 15,200 Gelled lease crude with 0.1 8-12 shells 420
0.1 Ib!gal Adomite

3,200 13,400 Gelled lease crude with 0.2 8-12 shells 640
0.1 Ib!gal Adomite

6,600 25,000 Gelled lease crude with 0.3 8-12 shells 1,980
0.1 Ib!gal adomite

TOTALS 25,000 2,000 sand

3,040 shells
For 30 bbl!min injection rate. Underflush 2 bbls
Sand used as an abrasive ahead of rounded walnut shells.

er. All wells were notched in the
upper Cardium sand. After spot-
ting 150 gals. mud acid opposite the
notches, the fracturing treatments
were performed generally accord-
ing to the pumping schedule shown
in Table III, with the exception that
gelled fresh water was substituted
for gelled lease crude at one of the
three jobs. Rounded walnut shells
were selected as the propping agent
because silica propping sand placed
between Cardium formation core
samples in the laboratory had
crushed when simulated overbur-
den pressure was applied.
It was necessary to shut down for
two 15-min. periods to repair leaks.
Considering that fracturing fluid
was leaking off to the formation
during these periods, the planned
large-areal-extent fracture contain-
ing a partial-monolayer distribu-
tion of propping agent was definite-
ly not achieved.
The other gelled-crude fracturing
treatment successfully accomplish-
ed a high-flow-capacity fracture at
Robin 10-20. Present productivity
of 100 bbl./day five months after
treatment, is double the pre-frac-
turing capabilities of the well. Be-
cause of the difficulties experienced
at Robin 2-20 and Wren 10-29, only
the Robin 10-20 results can be util-
ized to properly evaluate the use-
fulness of the single well-bore-entry
and partial - monolayer propping
technique in Pembina. First five
months post-fracturing production
history compares very favorably
with results obtained at wells treat-
ed by large conventional sandfrac-
turing treatments (Figure 8).

Production Performance (/) 110

..J COMPLETION
w
The gelled-water fracturing treat- ~IOO
ment at Robin 2-20 was completely <t
unsatisfactory, as productivity of CD 90 NOTCHED AND PARTIAL
the well was slightly impaired I MONOLAYER FRACTURE
rather than improved (Table IV). ~ 80 TREATMENT
This can be attributed to clays with- I-
in the Cardium reservoir swelling U 70
::::>
upon contact with the fresh water o
thus blocking the fracture. Only ~ 60
a..
....
/
2,000 gals. of the 32,000 gals. of

f>
gelled water injected, has been pro- :::! 50
duced back from the well.
o ~ :~ . :.
~ 40 \ : e. -0.: "
Results from the Wren 10-29 <i
030
RAS 4-16-47-8 W5M .....1 . . ............: . .
CONVENTIONAL
gelled-crude fracturing treatment w SANDFRACTURED THREE - STAGE
were also unsatisfactory. Produc- ~ 20 COMPLETION
REFRACTURING
tivity increased from 40 bbl./day to a:::
w TREATMENT
90 bbl./day immediately after the ~ 10
treatment, but 5 months later had
declined to the prefracturing rate.
The rapid decline can be attributed
o
1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961
to mechanical difficulties encounter- Figure 8.-Comparison of production from refractured Pembina wells
shows improved results obtained by single-plane-entry technique com-
ed while injecting the treatment. pared to conventional three-stage fracturing treatment.

160 Journol of Canadian Petroleum

 Table TV.-Comparison of Single-Plane-~ntry Refracturing Treatment Versus Conventional Refracturing Treat-
ments in Pembina Field.
Gallons Pounds Injection Production
Well-Bore Fracturing Carrying Propping Rate
Well Name PreDaration Fluid Fluid Agent _. bbl/min Before Present:

1, Robin 2~20-48-9-W5M Mech-notch Gelled water 20,000 2,800 35 35 BOPD 35 BOPD

2. Robin 10-20-48-9-W5M Mech-notch Gelled crude 16,000 3,04 0 30 50 BOPD 100 BOPD
3. Wren 10-29-48-9-W5M Mech-notch Gelled crude 16,000 3,040 25 40 BOPD 40 BOPD

4. Ras 2-16-47-8-W5M Perforated Gelled crude 18,000 36,000 15 30 BOPD 80 BOPD

5. Ras 4-16-47-8-W5M Perforated Gelled crude 21,200 46,000 20 30 BOPD 45 BOPD

- 2,000 lbs of 10-20 mesh sand was pumped as an abrasive ahead of the 3,000 lbs walnut shells at No.1, No.2, and
No.3.
- Propping agent was 8-12 mesh rounded walnut shells at No.1, No.2 and No.3 and 20-40 mesh sand at No.4 and
No.5.
- No.4 and No.5 were three-stage treatments using ball sealers.
- Good results at No.4 Were primarily attributable to treating a newly perforated section with one of the stages.

Pembina Summary
Well performance at Robin 10-20
indicated that the single, large-
areal-extent horizontal fracture
propped by a partial monolayer can
be successfully accomplished in the
Pembina Cardium sand reservoir.
The fact that this was possible at
a well which had previously been
conventionally fractured on two oc-
casions, made fracturing with the
single-point entry technique look
very promising. Better results
would be expected at new comple-
tions as the flow capacity of the
fracture would not be restricted by
propping agent from previous
treatments.
The sustained high productivity
of Robin 10-20 illustrated the super-
ior propping ability of walnut shells
compared to silica sand. Crushing
of silica sand under the overbur-
den pressure is believed partially
responsible for rapid productivity
decline after conventional fractur-
ing treatments. Comparison of re-
sults at Robin 2-20 and Robin 10-20
showed that gelled crude was a
more suitable fracturing fluid than
gelled water for the high-clay-con-
tent Cardium sand reservoir. Re-
sults at Wren 10-29 showed that the
single entry alone was of little
benefit without the properly-sup-
ported, large-areal extent fracture.
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
The experimental program con-
ducted at Pincher Creek, Steelman
and Pembina showed that the
single-plane-entry fracturing techni-
que should not be indiscriminately
applied to every field. In most
reservoirs the single entry will
probably provide adequate reservoir
drainage and productivity equal to
the conventional completion. But
for outstanding success the notched
well-bore entry must be utilized to
achieve a large-areal-extent frac-
ture. The presence of natural frac-
tures in the reservoir can radical-
ly alter the concept of an induced,
high-flow-capacity fracture. Differ-
ent rock types make precise place-
ment of the entry point very im-
portant when fracturing a hetero-
geneous reservoir. Selection of a
viscous fracturing fluid, the correct
propping agent and a high injection
rate are other significant factors in
accomplishing the partial mono-
layer in a large-area-extent frac-
ture. Results indicated that multi-
layer gelled-acid fracturing treat-
ments were normally more suitable
than attempting to accomplish a
partial monolayer in the vertically-
fractured Steelman Midale Beds
reservoir. Performance data from
one Pembina well indicated that
more effective well stimulation was
obtained with the single-plane entry
technique of fracturing than with
conventional fracturing. This me-
thod is believed to have good poten-
tial for future well treatments,
particularly at new well comple-
tions in the Cardium sand forma-
tion.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The author wishes to express ap-
preciation to the management of
The British American Oil Company
Limited for permission to publish
this paper. Apreciation is also ex-
tended to Gulf Research and Devel-
oment Company for their labora-
tory testing work, fracturing de-
sign recommendations and for the
use in Steelman of their mechan-
ical reamer. The assistance of L.
D. Driscoll, who provided the Pem-
bina field fracturing data, and of
R. F. Gilmour, who offered helpful
suggestions regarding interpreta-
tion of the Steelman field fractur-
ing results, is gratefully acknowl-
edged.
REFERENCES
(1) Howard, G. C. and Fast, C. F.,
"Optimum Fluid Characteristics
for Fracture Extension,' API
Drill. &; Prod. Prac., 1957.
(2) Dowell Division of The Dow
Chemical Company, Frac.
Guide, 1958.
(3) Darin, S. R. and Huitt, J. L.,
"Effect of a partial Monolayer
of Propping Agent on Fracture
Flow Capacity," AIME/SPE
Journ. Petro Tech., March, 1960.
(4) Swift, V. N., Bauman, W. E.,
Jennings, J. W. and Huitt, J. L.,
"Some Results of Fracturing
with the Single-Point-Entry
Technique," Paper Number
1570-G, 35th Annual Fall Meet-
ing, SPE/AIME.
(5) Brown, R. W. and Loper, J. L.,
"Theory of Formation Cutting
Using the Sand Erosion Pro-
cess," Paper Number 1572-G,
35th Annual Fall Meeting,
SPE/AIME, Denver, Colorado,
October 2-5, 1960.
(6) The British American Oil Com-
pany Limited, "Steelman Main
Midale Beds Unit," Submission
to the Saskatchewan Oil and
Gas Conservation Board, Octo-
ber, 1960.

Technology, Winter, 1962, Calgary 161