Slavneft-Megionneftegaz: Successfully Tests Continuum Frac Technology
Slavneft-Megionneftegaz has successfully tested the Continuum Frac technology, which significantly reduces the cost of operating wells after multi-stage hydraulic fracturing (MSHF) *. Under the round-the-clock supervision of the company’s specialists and service companies, 8 stages of hydraulic fracturing were performed using the new method.
The advantage of the technology is that not balls are used to activate fracturing couplings **, but special soluble darts, each of which has a unique profile. Thanks to this, there is no need to narrow the inner diameter of the shank – after operations, it remains equal throughout the entire length. Subsequently, various studies or repairs can be carried out in such a well without costly drilling and wellbore preparation. Due to this, an ecological effect is also achieved, since the formation of additional drilling waste that requires disposal is excluded.
Another advantage of the method is the ability to perform a large number (up to 250) of hydraulic fracturing stages *, while in other well completion methods this number is limited to several tens.
“The company’s development strategy provides for the active introduction of innovative technologies aimed not only at optimizing costs, but also at improving the safety of production processes. Using the latest industry developments, we ensure the profitable development of hard-to-recover reserves and are confidently moving along the path of technological leadership, “said Mikhail Cherevko, General Director of Slavneft-Megionneftegaz .
* Hydraulic fracturing (hydraulic fracturing) – a way to stimulate oil production. It consists in the fact that a mixture of liquid and a special proppant (proppant) is injected into the formation under high pressure. In the process of feeding the mixture, highly conductive channels (hydraulic fractures) are formed, connecting the wellbore and the formation. These fractures provide an inflow of oil, which otherwise would not have entered the well. In multi-stage hydraulic fracturing (MSHF), several hydraulic fracturing operations are performed in one horizontal wellbore. Thus, a multiple increase in the coverage area of the formation with one well is provided.
** The hydraulic fracturing collar (s) are part of the string of suspended equipment (liner) and can be used in the construction of wells for oil production. The coupling is designed for hydraulic fracturing of an oil-bearing formation to increase inflow and oil recovery and must provide communication between the casing and annular space when creating the required pressure in the inner cavity.
