Hydraulic Fracturing Fundamentals
FAQs
- Is hydraulic fracturing safe? Hydraulic fracturing can be conducted safely when proper regulations and safety measures are followed. However, it is crucial to address environmental concerns and mitigate potential risks.
- Does hydraulic fracturing cause earthquakes? Hydraulic fracturing can induce low-magnitude seismic activity, but significant earthquakes are rare. Proper monitoring and adherence to regulations help minimize the risks.
- What is the impact of hydraulic fracturing on water sources? The potential for water contamination exists if hydraulic fracturing operations are not properly managed. Regulations and best practices aim to protect water sources from contamination.
- Can hydraulic fracturing contribute to lower energy costs? Yes, increased natural gas production through hydraulic fracturing has led to lower energy costs for consumers. This benefits households and businesses reliant on affordable energy.
- What is the future of hydraulic fracturing? The future of hydraulic fracturing is uncertain, as there is increasing focus on transitioning to cleaner and more sustainable energy sources. However, it is expected to continue playing a role in the near term as a bridge to cleaner energy alternatives.
Assessment Hydraulic Fracturing
1. Which of these formation properties can be measured in the laboratory when determining the fracture initiation pressure?
A .Pore pressure
B .Minimum horizontal stress
C .Rock tensile strength
D .Maximum horizontal stress
2. The __________ a formation’s matrix permeability, the less driving force is available for propagating a hydraulic fracture.
3. Which of these diagnostic methods relies on the use of a downhole receiver array of accelerometers or geophones to map fractures?
A .Production logging
B .Microseismic fracture mapping
C .Well testing
D .Surface tiltmeter fracture mapping
E .Downhole tiltmeter fracture mapping
4. The post-treatment performance of a hydraulically fractured well is related to which of these quantities? (Select all that apply.)
A .Wellbore radius
B .Average fracture width
C .Formation matrix permeability
D .Proppant-pack permeability within fracture
E .Original (pre-treatment) skin factor
F .Fracture half-length
5. Which of these assumptions are incorporated into simple qualitative descriptions of fracture growth? (Select all that apply.)
A .One wing of the fracture is identical to the other wing of the fracture.
B .After a fracture is initiated it grows with two opposing wings that grow in opposite directions.
C .Fracture width is uniform.
D .Fluid does not leak off into the formation during fracture growth.
E .After a fracture is initiated it grows with two wings growing at 90-degree angles to each other.
F .Fracture height is constant.
6. What assumptions enable two-dimensional mathematical fracture models to account for the fact that there are three factors competing for the fluid volume remaining in a fracture after leakoff? (Select all that apply.)
A .Fracture height is a constant value.
B .Fracture width is greatest at the tip of the fracture.
C .Fracture width is negligible.
D .Fracture extends vertically and horizontally with the same radial dimension.
7. A horizontal well is hydraulically fractured across a perforated interval having a True Vertical Depth of 7,500 ft (2286 m). The far-field orientation of the fractures is likely to be __________.
A .aligned with the phasing of the perforations
B .vertical
C .at 60-degree conjugate angles from the well
D .horizontal
8. Which of these rock mechanical properties are dimensionless? (Select all that apply.)
A .Young’s modulus
B .Fracture toughness
C .Poisson’s ratio
D .Shear modulus
E .Plane strain modulus
F .Poroelastic constant
9. At smaller fracture lengths, the PKN model predicts _________ fracture width compared with the KGD model.
10. Horizontal well trajectories are typically oriented to maximize the likelihood of the fractures being __.
A .transverse with respect to the wellbore
B .of maximum near-wellbore tortuousity
C .horizontal
D .longitudinal with respect to the wellbore
11. Which of these diagnostic methods are applied during fracturing? (Select all that apply.)
A .Well testing
B .Production logging
C .Net pressure fracture analysis
D .Downhole tiltmeter fracture mapping
E .Surface tiltmeter fracture mapping
F .Downhole video
G .Microseismic fracture mapping
12. What are the main causes of near-wellbore pressure drop during a mini-frac treatment? (Select all that apply.)
A .Perforation friction
B .Potential energy changes
C .Kinetic energy changes
D .Tortuosity
13. What is the main objective of any hydraulic fracturing treatment?
A .To improve the well’s productivity index
B .To reduce the pressure drawdown between the reservoir and the wellbore
C .To propagate the fractures as far as possible from the wellbore
D .To remove near-wellbore formation damage
E .To change the reservoir flow geometry
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