Recovery and treatment of fracturing flowback fluids in the Sulige Gasfield, Ordos Basin

AbstractCentralized and group well deployment and factory-like fracturing techniques are adopted for low-permeability tight sandstone reservoirs in the Sulige Gasfield, Ordos Basin, so as to realize its efficient and economic development. However, environmental protection is faced with grim situations because fluid delivery rises abruptly on site in a short time due to centralized fracturing of the well group. Based on the characteristics of gas testing after fracturing in this gas field, a fracturing flowback fluid recovery and treatment method suitable for the Sulige Gasfield has been developed with the landform features of this area taken into account. Firstly, a high-efficiency well-to-well fracturing flowback fluid recovery and reutilization technique was developed with multi-effect surfactant polymer recoverable fracturing fluid system as the core, and in virtue of this technique, the treatment efficiency of conventional guar gum fracturing fluid system is increased. Secondly, for recovering and treating the end fluids on the well sites, a fine fracturing flowback fluid recovery and treatment technique has been worked out with “coagulation and precipitation, filtration and disinfection, and sludge dewatering” as the main part. Owing to the application of this method, the on-site water resource utilization ratio has been increased and environmental protection pressure concerned with fracturing operation has been relieved. In 2014, field tests were performed in 62 wells of 10 well groups, with 32980 m3 cumulative treated flowback fluid, 17160 m3 reutilization volume and reutilization ratio over 70%. Obviously, remarkable social and economical benefits are thus realized

A factory fracturing model of multi-well cluster in Sulige gas field, NW China

Sulige gas field is a typical low-permeability reservoir in China. According to desert landform features along with the regional hydrologic feature and the existing fracturing technology and operational conditions, a factory-like fracturing method suitable for Sulige gas field is established to improve techniques and production organization. This method includes five key parts: (1) centralized water supply mode (water source well supply+artificial lake storage); (2) highly efficient fracturing process (two mature multi-stage fracturing technologies, sliding sleeve fracturing for vertical wells and open-hole packer fracturing for horizontal wells); (3) pipeline operation mode with seven procedures, including well drift and flushing perforation etc; (4) high efficiency operation equipment; (5) recovery of fracturing flow-back fluid. This method shortens the preparation and operation period of fracturing treatment and also relieves the pressure on environment. Pilot tests were carried out in 11 well groups in total. Sixty-seven stages of fracturing in 14 wells were successfully completed within 42 days, representing a reduction of fracturing operation cycle of more than 50%, and an encouraging improvement in efficiency. Key words: Sulige gas field, factory fracturing, big well group, water supply, fracturing process, pipeline operation, fluid recovery, high efficiency, environment friendl

Field test of volume fracturing for horizontal wells in Sulige tight sandstone gas reservoirs, NW China

Based on the development degree of natural micro-fractures, rock brittleness and two-direction stress and other geological conditions of the Sulige gas field, the feasibility of using volume fracturing to increase production was analyzed and verified by field test. The Sulige gas field, a typical tight sandstone gas reservoir, has developed natural micro-fractures, with fracture complex index of 0.3−0.5, rock brittleness index distribution in the 36−52 and two-direction stress heterogeneity factor of 0.17. From the development experiences of unconventional gas reservoirs abroad, the geological conditions in the Sulige gas field is suitable for volume fracturing. Through lab experiments and pilot field tests, a volume fracturing technology for horizontal wells has been developed, which features “fracturing with low-viscosity liquid, carrying proppant with high-viscosity liquid, combination of multi-scale proppants, and massive fracturing at a high injection rate”. The technique had been applied in 42 wells of the Sulige tight gas field by the end of 2013. The initial production of wells treated by this approach is 1.2 times that of the adjacent wells treated by conventional fracturing, indicating that the technique can enhance the production of the horizontal wells in the Sulige gas field substantially. Key words: Sulige gas field, tight sandstone, volume fracturing, natural fracture, brittleness, horizontal well, microseismic monitorin