Publications

Fracturing to improve fracture conductivity and to control sand production are referred to as “fracpacks, because they combine the effects of fracture stimulation and gravel packing.2 The design is to create a higly conductive path filled with proppants acting like gravels, uniformly from wellbore to fracture tip. Sand production is a problem that often happens in Tanjung field. As the reservoir pressure depletes, it will radically change and will reduce the stress within the formation. When this happens in a weak or unconsolidated formations, sand production occurs.2 Well X-3 was a new well located in Tanjung field. Sand-layer A, which was perforated, is dominated by mixed-layer clays that may lead to swelling and fines migration. Despite these problems, a fracturing job was conducted. The challenges for this treatment were at the design of fracturing fluids and proppants and in executing the job on the field. By selectively analyse the designs of fracturing fluids and proppants, sand control and wells productivity improvement have been achieved without creating any further damage to the formation adjacent to the fracture.