Top 3 Well Stimulation Methods
Well stimulation is done through 3 primary methods: hydraulic fracturing, acid injection, and explosives. Furthermore, Hydraulic fracturing is the most popular process because it proved it is useful, efficient, and safer than other older methods. However, all three methods are often used.
Method One: Explosive Fracturing
Explosive fracturing, which is known as well shooting, uses controlled chemical explosions to stimulate wells. It is the most aggressive method of chemical infiltration and injection. Explosion techniques are some of the oldest used in Well Stimulation. Supersonic waves are used in this method with high-pressure gases to create a blast at the mouth of the well opening, forcing fluids into the formation.
Method Two: Acid Injection
Acid injections process uses the solution of water and HCL (hydrochloric acid), which is pumped into the well to dissolve minerals and composites blocking the channels such as calcium carbonate. The acid solution is helpful for the dissolution of this calcareous mixture & also helps open the well’s channels and restoring the flow of oil. The central element of this Acid injection process posses less of an impact on the environment than other manual methods of stimulation. However, this method must always do in carefully monitored conditions to avoid gas leaks and other related problems.
Method Three: Hydraulic Fracturing
From the decades, hydraulic fracturing provides a safer and more controlled well stimulation. Hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking, is a process in which specially blended liquid is pumped into the well under high pressure. The mixture fractures out the tank walls under the quick pressure, leaving channels for oil to flow into the well. This highly efficient technique lower risks related to fracking. U.S chemical plants use fracking for about half of all its onshore wells. Fracking is vital to the formation and stimulation of new wells, but hydraulic fracturing also allows renewed production from well sites previously shut down.
THINK ABOUT HOW WATER USE IS GROWING ALMOST 10X FASTER THAN OIL PRODUCTION
“The math on this question is very easy”
“That’s an opportunity if the Permian goes up by one million barrels per day in oil production, it’s going up six million barrels in water.” – Infinitysol.com
There are other water problems & companies try to excuse them.
Naturally produced water comes up at the same time with the oil. But eight times more than oil. Moreover, flow backwater, the water infused into a frac, makes a return too. All that water needs to go out somewhere.
Well stimulation is a highly appropriate and proven technical method. This is a necessary process to increase the flow of oil and gas when an accumulation of particles and fluids stifles reservoir flow. Enhanced permeability and removal of undesirable trapped fluids make well stimulation important to the industry.