American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 25

TECHCONNECTIONS
Can Refracturing
Provide An Avenue For
Raising Production?
Refracturing is an extremely hot topic right now. The process
involves returning to previously fractured wells and conducting
the process again, after a period of production, to restimulate and
improve overall well performance. According to Schlumberger,
refracturing attempts to bypass near-wellbore damage and re-establish good connectivity with the reservoir. Additionally, refracturing attempts to tap portions of the reservoir that have higher pore pressures. It is widely thought a successful refracture can
restore well productivity to rates close to, or even higher than, initial production.
Considering today's economics and the costs associated with
drilling and completing new wells, refracturing is pretty appealing
for many operators. Once an operator decides refracturing is the
right fit to improve production, the question becomes where to
start.
Michael B. Smith from NSI Technologies taught a training
course titled "Refracturing Candidate Selection & Design" at the
2016 Society of Petroleum Engineers Hydraulic Fracturing
Technology Conference. Smith is known for his contributions to
fracturing technology over the past 30 years and has published
a book on the subject. He presented an interesting perspective on
refracturing well selection and design. The course began with the
question: Why refrac in the first place?
The simple answer is underperformance, and wells underperform for a variety of reasons. Smith asserts that underperformance
may be related to the completion, the rock, or production. An operator may have missed pay with his initial completion, had an inadequate fracture length or poor conductivity, or fluid may have
caused formation damage. At the same time, the rock may have
poor permeability, low pressure, or multiphase flow. During production, proppant crushing, natural fractures, and fines/scale buildup
all can be issues related to poor well performance.
After sharing multiple examples of these situations, Smith asserted that the only reason one would want to refracture a well
was if the original hydraulic fracture was done incorrectly. He encouraged participants to ask what went wrong the first time. Was
there excessive overflush? Was the proppant not strong enough?
Are the productive fractures too far apart? Was there insufficient
fracture length? Smith advises that if an operator cannot determine what went wrong the first time, he shouldn't refracture that
well.
Smith also states that refracturing is not a new process. In the
1970s, around one-third of all fracs done by industry were refracs.
During the 1980s and '90s, interest in the process wasn't as high.
However, refracturing now has come to the forefront of industry
discussions, conferences, and even technology columnists.
Smith discussed three types of refracturing candidates. First,
the operator may have a poorly producing well in a good area.
This may be an older well or a well that is producing poorly compared with offset and newer wells in the same field. He says to
be cautious of candidates that are newer wells in a good area. These
wells may have fracture interference, or depletion is occurring from
offset wells. Smith suggests operators ask what makes the well

"Careful consideration of candidate wells
and individual tailoring the refrac design are

"

paramount.

"poor" when determining whether it is a candidate for restimulation.
A well that has had good productivity, but is in decline may
be another good candidate for refracturing.
Once a candidate well has been selected, perforations are key
in designing the refracture treatment. It's important to establish
whether new perfs can be added and whether untreated original
perf clusters exist. Once this is established, Smith says it is important to consider the goals of restimulation when designing the
treatment. A few examples of questions Smith suggests one should
ask are: Is the process designed to repair overflush? Is it intended to improve frac length? Do natural fractures need to be re-energized?
If one is repairing overflush, Smith advises using a ball sealer or particle diversion to isolate perforations between fracture
stages, and then pumping a small slickwater or slickwater/linear
gel hybrid frac. To improve frac length, a ball sealer or particle
diversion with a slickwater frac should be considered. If the goal
is to re-energize natural fractures, Smith encourages operators to
consider a ball sealer or particle diversion and pumping slickwater
using 100-mesh proppant.
Smith says that when selecting and designing a refracture treatment, it is important to recognize that each well is different and
that the "cookie cutter" approach to refrac design ultimately won't
work. Factors that have been key in successful refracs include enlarged frac geometry, improved pay coverage, increased conductivity, and re-energizing natural fissures and fractures. Factors in failed fracs include low pressure or depleted wells, questionable mechanical integrity, or inability to access better parts
of the formation.
A refracture treatment absolutely can improve productivity in
individual wells suffering from low production. However, careful consideration of individual candidate wells and tailoring the
refrac design to suit the needs of each candidate are paramount.❒

JEREMY VISCOMI is the di-

rector of technology transfer
for the University of Kansas
Tertiary Oil Recovery Program and the PTTC Midcontinent Region office. He has
more than a decade of experience in developing and organizing technical conferences
and special events.
MARCH 2016 25



American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016

Contents
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - Cover1
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - Cover2
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 3
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - Contents
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 5
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 6
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 7
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 8
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 9
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 10
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 11
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 12
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 13
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 14
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 15
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 16
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 17
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 18
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 19
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 20
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 21
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 22
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 23
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 24
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 25
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 26
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 27
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 28
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 29
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 30
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 31
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 32
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 33
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 34
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 35
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 36
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 37
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 38
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 39
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 40
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 41
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 42
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 43
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 44
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 45
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 46
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 47
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 48
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 49
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 50
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 51
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 52
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 53
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 54
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 55
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 56
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 57
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 58
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 59
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 60
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 61
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 62
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 63
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 64
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 65
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 66
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 67
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 68
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 69
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 70
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 71
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 72
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 73
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 74
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 75
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 76
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 77
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 78
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 79
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 80
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 81
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 82
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 83
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 84
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 85
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 86
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 87
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 88
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 89
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 90
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 91
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 92
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 93
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 94
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 95
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 96
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 97
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 98
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 99
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 100
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 101
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 102
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 103
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 104
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 105
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 106
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 107
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 108
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 109
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 110
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 111
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 112
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 113
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 114
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 115
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 116
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 117
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 118
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 119
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 120
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 121
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 122
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 123
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 124
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 125
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 126
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 127
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 128
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 129
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - 130
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - Cover3
American Oil and Gas Reporter - March 2016 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/202403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/202402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/202401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/202312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/202311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/pbios_202310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/202309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/202308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/202307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/202306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/202305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/202304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/202303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/202302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/202301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/202212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/202211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/202210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/202209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/202208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/202207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/202206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/202205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/202204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/202203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/202202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/202201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/202112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/202111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/pbios_202110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/202109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/202108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/202107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/202106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/202105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/202104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/202103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/202102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/202101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/202012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/202011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/202010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/202007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/202006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/202005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/202002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/pbios_201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201706
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/pbios2016_programguide
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201505
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/pbios2014_programguide
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/2012_pbios
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/demo/aogr_clone
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aogr/201112
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com