This Hydraulic Fracturing course provides a comprehensive and integrated overview of the science, engineering, and operational practices involved in hydraulic fracturing. Spanning 15 detailed chapters, it covers essential topics such as reservoir engineering, fracture mechanics, rock stresses, fracture pressure analysis, pump scheduling, and the selection of fracturing materials. The course emphasizes real-world applications through case histories, practical examples, and the use of Excel spreadsheets for 2-D fracture design modeling. It is designed to equip engineers working in or about to enter field or operational roles with the tools to optimize fracturing performance and improve well productivity economically and efficiently. The curriculum also highlights challenges in unconventional reservoirs and offshore environments, offering a step-by-step approach to design and execution of hydraulic fracturing jobs.Read more...
Who Should Take This Course
• Engineers in field or operations roles
• Professionals preparing for fracturing assignments
• Individuals interested in unconventional reservoirs
• Completion engineers seeking practical design skills
What You Will Learn
• Operational execution and quality control
• Design and analysis of fracture treatments
• Fundamentals of hydraulic fracturing theory
• Integration of reservoir and fracture mechanics
Why This Course Works
• Optimize fracture design and economics
• Maximize well productivity and longevity
• Improve completion efficiency and effectiveness
• Understand multidisciplinary fracturing challenges
Course contents
Chapter 1 - Introduction to the Course and a Brief History of Fracturing
- 01-01 - Hydraulic Fracturing Introduction (18 min.) Sample Lesson
- 01-02 - Course Objectives (12 min.)
- 01-03 - What is Hydraulic Fracturing? (20 min.)
Chapter 2 - Equipment and Operations
- 02-01 - First Experimental and First Commercial Frac Treatments (27 min.)
- 02-02 - Treating Iron and Equipment Rig-Up (21 min.)
- 02-03 - Job Setup & Safety (39 min.) Quiz
Chapter 3 - Stresses and Conductivity
- 03-01 - The Many Stresses/Pressures Experienced in Fracturing (11 min.)
- 03-02 - Stress Magnitude (14 min.)
- 03-03 - Effect of Geologic Structures (8 min.)
- 03-04 - Stress Logs and Borehole Breakouts (17 min.)
- 03-05 - Determination of Stress Differences (13 min.)
- 03-06 - Stress Measurements (8 min.) Quiz
Chapter 4 - Reservoir Response, Post Frac Production, and the Effect of Transient Flow
- 04-01 - Variables Affecting Post -Frac Productivity (26 min.)
- 04-02 - Folds of Increase for Acid Fracturing (15 min.)
- 04-03 - Demonstration of Stress & Proppant Conductivity (Frac School 1 Problem) (9 min.)
- 04-04 - Frac School 1 Problem - Part 2 (3 min.) Quiz
Chapter 5 - Fracture Geometry Basic and the Major Fracture Design Variables
- 05-01 - Fluid Selection - 4 Cases (14 min.)
- 05-02 - Basic Theory - Material Balance Equation (14 min.)
- 05-03 - Fracture Geometry and Net Pressure (6 min.)
- 05-04 - Apparent Toughness (9 min.)
- 05-05 - In-situ Stress variations vs Fracture height (9 min.)
- 05-06 - Lumped Pseudo 3D Model (7 min.)
- 05-07 - Sensitivity Problem Exercise and Results (17 min.)
Chapter 6 - Fracture Design Variables (HECKµQ)
- 06-01 - Fracture Height (29 min.)
- 06-02 - Frac School #1: Frac Geometry (5 min.)
- 06-03 - Modulus (16 min.)
- 06-04 - Fracschool #1 - Modulus Estimation (7 min.)
- 06-05 - Fluid Loss (26 min.)
- 06-06 - Frac School #1 - Fluid Loss Estimation (6 min.)
- 06-07 - KIc (6 min.)
- 06-08 - Fluid Viscosity (20 min.)
- 06-09 - Frac School #1 - Fluid Viscosity (2 min.)
- 06-10 - Pump Rate (10 min.)
- 06-11 - Frac School #1 - Pump Schedule (7 min.) Quiz
Chapter 7 - Treatment Design Options
- 07-01 - Perfect Transport Fluids (19 min.)
- 07-02 - Tip Screen-out (TSO) Designs (12 min.) Quiz
Chapter 8 - Fracture Closure Stress & Pressure Decline Analysis
- 08-01 - Pressure Analysis Workflow (14 min.)
- 08-02 - Micro-Frac Stress Tests (26 min.)
- 08-03 - Step-Rate Tests (27 min.)
- 08-04 - Frac School #1 - DFIT Injection-Decline Stress Test (13 min.) Quiz
Chapter 9 - Minifrac Pressure Decline Analysis
- 09-01 - Bottomhole Treating Pressure (17 min.)
- 09-02 - Nolte-Smith Diagnostic Log-Log Net Pressure Plot (18 min.)
- 09-03 - Nolte-Smith Field Examples (3 min.)
- 09-04 - Interpreting Shut-In Pressure Decline (12 min.)
- 09-05 - Frac School #1 - Pressure Decline Analysis (22 min.)
- 09-06 - Minifrac Pressure Decline Analysis (11 min.) Quiz
Chapter 10 - Proppant Selection
- 10-01 - Importance of Conductivity (25 min.)
- 10-02 - Proppant Types (8 min.)
- 10-03 - Proppant Usage and API Standards (11 min.)
- 10-04 - Natural Frac Sands (25 min.) Quiz
Chapter 11 - Fluid Chemistry and Selection
- 11-01 - Fracturing Fluid Chemistry (16 min.)
- 11-02 - Guar & Guar Based Derivatives (22 min.)
- 11-03 - Other Gellant Chemical Structures (14 min.)
- 11-04 - Breakers (20 min.)
- 11-05 - Clay Control Agents (15 min.) Quiz
Chapter 12 - Fracture Diagnostic Techniques and Tools
- 12-01 - Post-Frac Temperature Surveys (9 min.)
- 12-02 - Post-Frac Radioactive Tracers (19 min.)
- 12-03 - Micro Seismic Monitoring (24 min.)
- 12-04 - Chemical Tracers (6 min.) Quiz
Chapter 13 - Perforating and Perforation Strategies
- 13-01 - Normal Perforating Gun Questions (15 min.)
- 13-02 - Limited Entry and Perforation Erosion (9 min.) Quiz
Chapter 14 - Treatment Execution/Quality Control and Safety
- 14-01 - What Is Quality Control? (14 min.)
- 14-02 - Environmental Stewardship (39 min.)
- 14-03 - Post Frac Quality Control (5 min.)
- 14-04 - Fracturing Safety: There Are No Clowns (6 min.) Quiz
Chapter 15 - Big Problem No. 1
- 15-01 - Estimate Design Variables (17 min.)
- 15-02 - Fracturing Pressure Data & Pressure History Matching (20 min.)