TNK-BP extends use of enhanced frac method

Aug. 16, 2012
TNK-BP is expanding the use of an enhanced multistage hydraulic fracturing to boost oil production from mature fields in West Siberia.

TNK-BP is expanding the use of an enhanced multistage hydraulic fracturing to boost oil production from mature fields in West Siberia.

It reports good results in a pilot project run by TNK-BP unit Samotlorneftegaz and Trican Well Service of Houston testing the six-stage hydraulic fracturing method in 15 wells in supergiant Samotlor oil field.

TNK-BP said that in comparison with other multistage fracturing techniques the method reduced completion time by a factor of three and improved reservoir productivity.

“The key element of the new technology is the use of special equipment to clean the wellbore after each fracing stage and proceed to commercial production immediately after completion of the sixth stage,” it said.

TNK-BP plans to apply the technique in a further 25 wells in Samotlor field by the end of 2012 and, beginning next year, to use it to frac about 50 horizontal wells/year across West Siberia.

A TNK-BP study in 2009 found that Samotlor, discovered in 1965, held recoverable volumes of 7 billion bbl of crude oil and 3.53 tcf of natural gas. Since the start of in 1969, it had produced 19.2 billion bbl (OGJ Online, Apr. 3, 2009).

Samotlorneftegaz is developing the central and southwestern sectors of the field, covering 1,750 sq km.