In Development

Low Volume Hydraulic Fracturing for Shales

Low Volume Fracturing for Shales

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Cost:$80k (USD) per Sponsor
Duration: 24 months

Principal Investigator(s): 
Dr. Ian Walton
(801) 581-8497 
iwalton@egi.utah.edu

Dr. John McLennan
(801) 587-7925 
jmclennan@egi.utah.edu

Over the past two decades commercial exploitation of low mobility gas reservoirs has been improved with multi-stage hydraulic fracturing of long horizontal wells. Favorable exploitation has often been associated with large fracture surface area in contact with the shale matrix – this surface area being created by high rate and high volume injection of low viscosity water-based fluids. The environmental and economic implications of using large volumes of water (millions of gallons per well) containing chemical additives are attracting considerable stakeholder and regulatory attention. Beyond this, ROI is usually unacceptable with the current pricing for natural gas.

 
Last Updated: 4/29/13