[CCoE Notice] MS Thesis Defense: Completion System Enabling Simultaneous Injection and Production from Alternating Transverse Fractures in a Horizontal Well

[Grayson, Audrey A]

MS Thesis Defense
Petroleum Engineering Department, University of Houston



Completion System Enabling Simultaneous Injection and Production from Alternating Transverse Fractures in a Horizontal Well



Franklin Buchanan



Date: Tuesday, Dec 4, 2018



Location: ERP Conference Room 125

Time: 8:30 am – 10:30 am



Committee Chair: Dr. Christine Ehlig-Economides



Committee Members:

Dr. Guan Qin

Dr. George Wong





Multiple transverse fracture horizontal wells (MTFHWs) are considered the industry standard in many areas around the United States.  Despite the initial production rates far surpassing conventional wells, they decline quickly and additional measures are taken to counteract production decreases.  Gas injection is a popular method for enhanced oil production; usually employing a huff and puff approach. Attempts to displace oil by injecting in one well and producing in another have not shown much success, probably because propped and/or secondary fractures connect the wells. Simulations of an idea to inject and produce alternating propped fractures in a single well showed promise, but this approach has not been implemented operationally.

This research will investigate existing options for zonal isolation, intelligent production systems, and conveyance and setting procedures for the system. Further, we will investigate maintenance, monitoring and control options. The goal will be to identify cost effective solutions consistent with the production enhancement achieved by the system.

This thesis will describe a completion system that would enable alternating injection and production fractures in a horizontal well. To achieve the desired injection and production points, a configuration of downhole tools will be used to isolate every other fracture and partition the horizontal well segment into two separate flow systems at two separate pressures.  In order to achieve this, the system will require a number of packers equal to the number of propped hydraulic fractures each equipped with more than one bore. Each packer will be set at a specified distance from a fracture and will allow flow in opposite directions to or from alternating fractures.  Oil will flow from the formation through the production tubing while injected gas will flow in the opposite direction in the injection tubing. Research is currently being done to discover products that will make this system intelligent; from tracking fluid flow to actuating downhole sliding sleeves from surface.  Conveyance of the system in the well and potential benefits or drawbacks associated with running it will be described in detail.

This system has the potential to increase the oil recovery factor by 100% or more. We anticipate that the cost of the system will be much less than the cost of the well. As such, the incremental production will easily justify the additional completion costs.








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