C&P: Thirty Years of Shale Gas Fracturing: What Have We Learned?

Although high gas flow rates from shales are a relatively recent phenomenon, the knowledge bases of shale-specific well completions, fracturing and shale well operations have actually been growing for more than three decades.   During the last decade of gas shale development, projected recovery of shale gas-in-place has increased from about 2% to estimates of about 50%; mainly through the development and adaptation of technologies to fit shale gas developments. Adapting technologies, including multi-stage fracturing of horizontal wells, slickwater fluids with minimum viscosity and simultaneous fracturing, have evolved to increase formation-face contact of the fracture system into the range of 9.2 million m2 (100 million ft2) in a very localized area of the reservoir by opening natural fractures.  These technologies have made possible development of enormous gas reserves that were completely unavailable only a few years ago.  Current and next generation technologies promise even more energy availability with advances in hybrid fracs, fracture complexity, fracture flow stability and methods of re-using water used in fracturing.  This presentation centers on these developments and the technology gaps needed to go further.

Location: Greenspoint Club
16925 Northcase Drive
Houston , Texas 77060

Date: Nov. 18, 2010, 11:30 a.m. - Nov. 18, 2010, 1 p.m.