During the heady “drill, baby, drill” days hydraulic fracturing was often just a brute-force technique to introduce enough permeability into shale plays to release the hydrocarbons. But operators quickly discovered that what worked well in one play didn’t necessarily translate to another, and they continue to experiment with lateral lengths and proppant loads to optimize their completions.
This month E&P takes a look at a company that has done just that in the Utica. Using its “Generation 3” completion scheme, Eclipse Resources is enjoying phenomenal success after first testing the strategy on its record-setting Purple Hayes well.
Logging-while-tripping technology aids operators who want to do engineered fractures by gathering log data while the pipe is being pulled out of the hole. This saves time and money and provides immediate formation evaluation information.
Other articles look at a new biosurfactant technology as well as the importance of proppant sand quality.
In this lower-for-longer environment, it’s likely that continued advances in hydraulic fracturing will lead to greater efficiencies and—the holy grail—increased production.
Read each cover story:
Engineering better completions with LWT
Recommended Reading
SLB OneSubsea JV to Kickstart North Sea Development
2024-05-07 - SLB OneSubsea, a joint venture including SLB and Subsea7, have been awarded a contract by OKEA that will develop the Bestla Project offshore Norway.
Chevron, Total’s Anchor Up and (Almost) Running
2024-05-07 - During the Offshore Technology Conference 2024, project managers for Chevron’s Anchor Deepwater Project discussed the progress the project has made on its journey to reach first oil by mid-2024.
Electric Hype vs. Hydraulic Reality: Advantages of Traditional Systems
2024-05-07 - Castrol's new fluid prevents gas hydrates in deepwater control systems.
EOG: Utica Oil Can ‘Compete with the Best Plays in America’
2024-05-06 - Oil per lateral foot in the Utica is as good as top Permian wells, EOG Resources told analysts May 3 as the company is taking the play to three-mile laterals and longer.
BP: Gimi FLNG Vessel Arrival Marks GTA Project Milestone
2024-02-15 - The BP-operated Greater Tortue Ahmeyim project on the Mauritania and Senegal maritime border is expected to produce 2.3 million tonnes per annum during it’s initial phase.