SPE 96818

Comparison of Fracture Geometries Utilizing Ultralightweight Proppants Provide

Evidence That Partial Monolayers Can Be Created: A Case History
R. Chambers, SPE, BJ Services Co., and K. Meise, SPE, Parallel Petroleum

Copyright 2005, Society of Petroleum Engineers

This paper was prepared for presentation at the 2005 SPE Annual Technical Conference and
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Abstract
Recent successes in hydraulic fracturing with ultra-lightweight
proppants have led to much discussion and many debates as to
why they have been so successful. The theoretical partial
mono-layer and the difficulty associated with designing and
defining a partial mono-layer in-situ has led operators to
examine more fundamental explanations for the success of
ultra-lightweight proppants. However, based upon careful
examination, highly conductive fractures associated with very
low concentrations of proppants, can provide ample evidence
that partial mono-layers can be created.
This paper will compare four hydraulic fracture geometries
from two wells located approximately 1,700 feet apart. Two
fracture treatments were performed on each well, in Clearfork
and Glorieta dolomites. The first well was stimulated with
conventional fluids and proppants. The second well was
hydraulically fractured with a 10 lb/gal brine water and an
ultra-lightweight proppant at low concentrations. The
objective of the side-by-side comparison was to determine
optimal treatments for offset production and injection wells
that were to be in-fill drilled.
Fracture geometries for both wells were determined from
fracture mapping using microseismic imaging and pressure
matching utilizing a 3D hydraulic fracture simulator. Total
fracture face surface area, estimated conductivities, and
effective fracture half-lengths were compared. The results of
the comparisons suggest that there is strong evidence that
highly conductive fractures, perhaps even partial mono-layers,
can be created with the use of ultra-lightweight proppants in
fluids of similar specific gravity.

Background
In the Spring of 2003 a number of stimulation treatments were
performed whereby a new class of ultra-lightweight proppants
(ULW -125) with low specific gravity (S.G. ~ 1.25) was
pumped in various fracturing fluids with close to 1 centipoise
viscosity. In most cases, the base fluid was 10 ppg brine, so
the settling rate of the proppant was very low or negligible.
The process has been well documented, and detailed
descriptions are available elsewhere in the literature.1,2,3,4,5
The Diamond M Field, discovered in 1949, is located about 12
miles southwest of Snyder, Texas. The field has 1328
completions with current or former production in the Clearfork
and Glorietta formations, with total production exceeding 220
million barrels of oil. The study area is located almost in the
center of the field. In December 2002, Parallel Petroleum
acquired working interest in 2600 acres of the field containing
102 existing well bores. In May 2003, Parallel began a 3pattern 10-acre in-fill water-flood pilot project. In January
2004, Parallel started a 30-well in-fill drilling program
consisting of 12 producers and 18 injectors. The program is
designed to 1) recover reserves trapped in 10-acre locations
through reservoir re-pressurization and 2) provide secondary
production revenue from the new drilled wells.
All 30 wells have been drilled and placed on pump at an
average initial rate of approximately 30 barrels of oil per day.
The Company anticipated and has seen a production decline
from each producing well's initial rate due to the pressure
depleted nature of the reservoir. The Company expects to see
production increases as pressure support from the injection
wells begins to build. Depending upon the results of this
program, Parallel has approximately 60 additional in-fill
drilling locations that can be developed.
Treatment History
Historically, the wells in this area were fractured with a
conventional cross-linked borate and approximately 168,000
lbs of brown sand in the Clearfork and Glorieta formations.
Transient analysis using the reciprocal of the productivity
index (RPI) was employed to analyze production histories.
Values for permeability, effective fracture half-length, and
drainage area were then inferred from the matched values.
Fracture lengths for wells in this area were typically less than

100' or 1/3 the lengths when compared to the designed lengths.

A typical Glorieta fracture treatment is depicted in Figure 1
showing an effective fracture half-length of only 52'.
After a strong sales effort showing success of over 300 wells
fractured with ULW proppants and the fact that the majority of
the wells fractured had less than 100' effective fracture halflengths, Parallel agreed to try ULW proppants on one of the
new wells, the Jack #26. This well was chosen because it was
located 1726 feet from another new drilled well, the
McLaughlin #136. Parallel planned to do fracture mapping on
the McLaughlin #136 to determine fracture lengths and
orientations. With an observation well located half-way
between, fracture lengths and orientations of both the Jack #26
and McLaughlin #136 could be mapped and results compared
(Figure 10).
The Clearfork is predominately a dolomite, with the 150 pay
interval containing about 15% sand and 8 to 10% porosity.
The Glorietta is also a dolomite, with the 130' pay interval
containing as much as 25% sand with ~15% porosity.
Pressure Matching
All four fracture treatments were pressure matched using real
time data. The treatments were pumped down 2-7/8" openended tubing with the annulus pressure monitored to provide
real-time BHTP. Mini-fracs were also performed ahead of the
main treatments with a pump-in/step-down stage to determine
fluid efficiencies and any near well bore restrictions. Pressure
matching was done utilizing the standard fracturing simulator
manufactured by Bruce Meyer and Associates.
The two Jack #26 fracture treatments were pumped using 10#
brine and ULW-125. Results of the Clearfork match (Figures
2 & 3) show a fracture geometry with 598' of propped halflength and 324' of height. For this treatment, 71,000 gals 10#
Brine carrying 15,500 lbs of 14/30 ULW-125 was pumped.
The results of the Glorieta match (Figures 4 & 5) show a
fracture geometry with 556' of propped half-length and 385' of
frac height. For this treatment, 68,000 gals 10# Brine carrying
17,000 lbs of 14/30 ULW-125 was pumped.
The two McLaughlin fracture treatments were pumped using
the conventional 25 lb cross-linked borate and brown sand.
On the Clearfork interval (Figures 6 & 7) a good match was
obtained with both the mini-frac and main fracture treatments.
The match result indicates a fracture geometry with 296' of
propped half-length and 354' of height. This treatment used
21,000 gals of gel carrying 88,500 lbs of brown sand. For the
Glorieta interval (Figures 8 & 9), pressure matching revealed a
fracture geometry with 366' of propped half-length and 149' of
height. For this treatment, 17,500 gals of borate carrying
69,000 lbs of brown sand was pumped.
Fracture Mapping
Pinnacle Technologies, Inc. provided microseismic mapping
services to Parallel Petroleum during Lower Clearfork and
Glorieta stimulations. The objectives of the mapping services

SPE 96818

were to determine fracture azimuth, measure created fracture

half-length, measure created fracture height and evaluate pay
zone coverage. The microseismic tool string was positioned at
an optimal depth for mapping purposes in the Jack #29
observation well.
Fracture mapping results were as follows:
1. As is typical in West Texas, the predominate fracture
orientation is N60OE in both the Glorieta and Clearfork.
2. Fracture half-lengths ranged from 200 to 800 feet. The
measured fracture half-lengths were just over 350 feet for
the McLaughlin #136. The measured half-lengths were
found to be significantly longer for the Jack #26 at over
500 feet.
3. Fracture asymmetry was measured on 3 of the 4 mapped
fractures. In the Jack #26, as much as 78% of the total
fracture length extended in one direction.
Fracture Geometry Comparisons
The mapping results in Tables 1 & 2, reveal that total fracture
lengths (from tip to tip) in the Jack #26 were 1050 in the
Clearfork and 950 in the Glorieta. On the McLaughlin #136,
in which the borate fluid and brown sand were pumped, the
total fracture length for the Clearfork interval was 650'. The
Glorieta showed 600 of total frac length with 66% extending
in the SW direction. This frac was well contained within the
perforated interval with only 200' of frac height.
Looking at a comparison between the 3D hydraulic fracture
simulator pressure matches and Pinnacle Technologies
measurements, only a slight variance in the geometries exists
between the two methods. Using the average values as the
norm, the variance between pressure matched results and
mapping for the Jack #26 is less than 5%. On the McLaughlin
#136, there is also a fairly good match in geometries. Again,
using the average values as the norm the variance comparing
both methods is about 7.5%.
With confidence from the close variance in geometries, it was
decided to determine how much volume increase (borate and
brown sand) would be necessary to obtain similar fracture
geometries (~1000 propped length) to the Jack #26. Using
results from the 3D pressure match on the McLaughlin #136,
all that was needed was to increase the volumes until the
desired propped frac lengths were obtain. It would require 4
times the fluid and proppant volumes for the Clearfork
treatment and 2 times the volumes in the Glorieta treatment to
obtain equivalent geometries. However, this would result in
over 50% increases in costs compared to pumping the ULW
treatments.
Conductivity Determination
Using the lengths and heights from the microseismic mapping
results, and assuming the height is constant from tip to tip,
total fracture face surface area was calculated for the 2 wells.
(Total surface area would be length x height x 2, to account
for both faces of the fracture.) Total calculated surface area
from the ULW-125 treatments is 1,390,000 square feet. Total

SPE 96818

calculated surface area for the borate treatments is 695,000

square feet. On a percentage basis, the ULW-125 fractures
exposes 100% as much surface area than the conventional
fractures.
A simple approach was used to determine conductivities.
Calculated surface areas for one face of the fractures (length x
height) divided by the pounds of proppant placed in each well,
gives an average pounds per square foot of proppant
concentration. In the Jack #26, 32,500 lbs of ULW-125
divided by 695,000 square feet (half of the 1,390,000 square
feet) yields 0.047 lbs/ft2. In the McLaughlin #136, 158,000
lbs of brown sand was pumped and dividing by 347,500
square feet of surface area (half of the 695,000 square feet)
yields 0.45 lbs/ft2. Previous test results show that the optimum
concentration for a partial monolayer for ULW-125 is 0.06
pounds per square foot1. With 2000 psi closure stress, the
conductivity of ULW-125 at this concentration approaches
10,000 md-ft. At 0.047 lbs/ft2 and 2000 psi closure,
conductivity is approximately 6,500 md-ft. At the same
closure stress, the conductivity of the 0.45 lbs/ft2 brown sand
is slightly over 1,000 md-ft.
Conclusions

Comparing pressure matched geometries with seismic

mapped geometries, the data indicates that the ULW-125
fractured well has 100% more surface area exposed and
over 6 times the conductivity compared to the
conventional cross-linked borate and brown sand
treatment.
To obtain equivalent geometries with that observed in the
Jack #26, four times the volumes (fluid and proppant) in
the Clearfork and two times the volumes in the Glorieta
would have to be pumped. This would result in over 50%
increase in costs compared to pumping the ULW
treatments.
As a result of the good production response observed on
the Jack #26, an additional 16 wells have been fractured
stimulated with ULW-125 proppants.
Placement of partial monolayers of proppants using UltraLightweight proppants in real world fractures can be
achieved.

References
1.

2.

Brannon, H.D., Malone, M.R., Richards, A.R., Wood,

W.D., Edgeman, R.: Maximizing Fracture Conductivity
with Proppant Partial Monolayers: Theoretical Curiosity
or Highly Productive Reality?, paper SPE 90698 2004
Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Houston,
September 26-29.
Richards, A.R., Brannon, H.D., Wood, W.D., and
Stephenson, C.J.:High Strength, Ultra-Lightweight
Proppant Lends New Dimensions to Hydraulic Fracturing
Applications Paper SPE 84308 2003 SPE Annual
Technical Conference and Exhibition, Denver, October 58.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Wood, W.D., Brannon, H.D., Richards, A.R., and

Stephenson, C.J.:
Ultra-Lightweight Proppant
Development Yields Exciting New Opportunities in
Hydraulic Fracturing Design paper SPE 84309 2003 SPE
Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Denver,
October 5-8.
Edgeman, R., Gertsner, M., Nelson, S., and Malone,
M.R.: Lightweight Proppant. A New Innovation in
Hydraulic Fracturing paper presented at the 51st Annual
Southwest Petroleum Short Course, Lubbock, April 2122, 2004
Schein, G.W., Carr, P.D., Canan, P.A., Richey, R.::UltraLightweight Proppants: Their Use and Application in the
Barnett Shale paper SPE 90838 2004 Annual Technical
Conference and Exhibition, Houston, September 26-29.
Meyer, B., et al: MFRAC 3D fracture simulation
software, Version 5.20.1209

SPE 96818

Figure 4.
Figure 1. Typical Miller-Dyes Hutchinson Plot showing
effective fracture length of 52.

Figure 2.

Figure 5

Figure 3.

Figure 6.

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Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

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800

700

600

McL 136

500

400

300

200

100

Jack 29
Observation
Well

South-North

-100

-200

-300

-400

-500

-600

-700
Jack 26
-800

-900

-1000

West-East (ft)

Figure 10 Arial view showing both wells

1000

900

800

700

600

500

400

300

200

100

-100

-200

-300

-400

-500

-600

-700

-800

-900

-1100

SPE 96818

2200
2300
2400
2500
2600

Depth (ft)

2700
2800
2900
3000
3100
3200
3300
3400
SW

NE

Distance Along Fracture

Figure 11 McLaughlin 136

500

400

300

200

100

-100

-200

-300

-400

-500

-600

-700

3500

SPE 96818

2200
2300
2400
2500
2600
2700

Depth (ft)

2800
2900
3000
3100
3200
3300
3400
3500
SW

NE

Distance Along Fracture

Figure 12 Jack #26

900

800

700

600

500

400

300

200

100

-100

-200

-300

-400

-500

-600

-700

-800

-900

3600

SPE 96818

McL #136 (Brown sand)

Mfrac
Pinnacle
Average

Jack #26 (ULW-125)

Mfrac
Pinnacle Average
Clearfork

Clearfork
Length
Height

1,196'
324'

1,050'
300'

1,123'
312'

Glorietta

Length
Height

592'
354'

650'
350'

621'
352'

Glorietta
Length
Height

1,112'
950'
1,031'
385'
400'
393'
(Variance < 5%)
Table 1 Total Propped Fracture Length Comparison

Length
Height

732'
600'
666'
149'
200'
175'
(Variance ~7.5%)
Table 2 Total Propped Fracture Length Comparison