Victoria Beth Jackson's report
by
Victoria Beth Jackson, MSE
University of Texas at Austin, 1997
Supervisor: Dr. Ken E. Gray
Fracture azimuth, directional permeability trends, overpressured water
zones, poor cement quality, and depleted production intervals are all major
concerns when hydraulically fracturing in mature waterfloods. Mature waterfloods,
such as those found in the Permian Basin of West Texas, present reservoir
and production considerations not normally associated with primary recovery.
After 30 or more years of waterflooding, pressure characteristics, fracture
tendencies and reservoir fluid properties can be altered. Fracture orientations,
vertical and areal sweep efficiencies, altered stress conditions, poor
cement an d casing quality, and larger perforation intervals all affect
hydraulic fracturing in mature waterfloods. This report will address current
hydraulic fracturing terminology, design considerations of all hydraulic
fracture treatments, and discuss those issues unique to secondary recovery.
Back to theses index
