MATRIX STIMULATION ENGINEERING

Outline

Case Study Well

Matrix Treatment Definition
Stimulation History
Matrix Stimulation Engineering
Matrix vs. Fracture
Sandstones vs. Carbonates
Fluids and Additives
Zone Coverage
Problems
Conclusions
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Objectives
Describe a matrix treatment and how they differ
from fracturing.
Describe Matrix Stimulation Engineering.
List 5 applications of matrix treatments.
Explain the differences between Sandstone and
Carbonate acidizing.
State Hawkins equation and describe its
limitations.
Describe skin and the components of total skin.
List the common matrix fluids and additives
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Questions of the Day:

Is our Case Study well a candidate for

matrix stimulation, and if so what can we
do to enhance production?

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What do we need to know?

Production/workover history
The production of other wells on the platform
Current skin
Damage: matrix and/or mechanical?
Production potential
Is this well a stimulation candidate?
Matrix
Fracturing
Tubing cleanup
Wellbore cleanup
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What do we know?

Production 1200 BOPD @ 1450 psi FWHP

29 API gravity crude with no water production
~11,000 ft deep @ 218oF
Homogeneous sandstone (71 ft net pay)
Gravel packed completion with 40 ft. of perfs

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Matrix Treatment Definition

A chemical treatment injected radially from the
wellbore beyond the critical matrix at a pressure
below the frac pressure to remove or bypass
formation damage

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History of Matrix Stimulation

1895

Ohio Oil Company

HCl. 300% increase in oil. Corrosion.

1896

Standard Oil Company (SOC)

1928

Gypsy Oil Company (Getty/Gulf)

1928

(Herbert) Dow Chemical Co.

HCl patents: Frasch = HCl, Van Dyke =

H2SO4, corrosion
HCl used to remove scale. Rodine #2
inhibitor
Inhibition project

1931

Dow Chemical Co.

1932

Pure Oil Company and Dow

1932

Dow Well Services Group

Arsenic acid; Copper salts; Organic

compounds
500 gal. of HCl. Arsenic inhibitor. 0 to
16 BOPD.
Renamed to Dowell

1933

SOC

HF patent for sandstones

1935

Halliburton Oil Well Cementing Co.

Acidized sandstone using NaF. Poor

results.

1940

Dowell (Schlumberger)

Mud Acid used in GOM (liquid HF).

50-60

Service Companies

HF precipitates, Additives, OSRs

1965

Smith and Hendrickson

70

Service Companies, Shell

80

Chevron, Service Companies

NaF causes precipitation.

Recommended NH4HF2
Retarded Acids: Fluoboric and
Emulsified
Foam, CT, Green chemistry

90

Service Companies

00

Schlumberger

StimCADE, VES: OilSeeker, SelfDiverting Acids, Sandstone Acidizing

VES: VDA

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MATRIX STIMULATION ENGINEERING

The practical application of scientific and

mathematical principles to Matrix Stimulation.
A process with a defined Methodology directed at
improved Matrix success and well performance.

Candidate Selection
Formation Damage Characterization
Fluid and Additive Selection
Treatment Design
Execution
Evaluation
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WHY?
MATRIX STIMULATION ENGINEERING

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Matrix treatment economic success rate < 50%

ROI higher for Matrix Vs Fracturing
Operators report:
25 to 50% of their wells have significant damage
Will not treat due to:
Not aware of the potential benefit
Management wont take risk
Operational mistakes
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Well Stimulation

Chemical or mechanical methods of increasing flow capacity to a well.

Wellbore Clean-up : Fluids not injected into formation

Fracturing: Injection above frac pressure

Wellbore/Perf Wash
Not recommended on sandstones
Acid Frac
Propped Frac

Matrix Stimulation: Injection below frac pressure

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Matrix Acidizing
Chemical Treatment

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Wellbore/Tubing Cleanup
Tubing cleanup (TubeCLEAN) is a MUST before every Matrix
Treatment.

Prevents the injection of iron compounds, rust, and other deposits

into the perforations and formation during the main treatment
All residues must be circulated/flowed out

Carbonates: TubeCLEAN followed by bullhead of fluids to

bottom of perfs and flow back. Can circulate fluids across the
pay zone with CT in carbonates. Must be underbalanced to
avoid losses.
Sandstone: TubeCLEAN only. Pump acid to the bottom of the
tubing and flow back. Must be underbalanced to avoid losses.
Mechanical Techniques:

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Jetting: Horizontal and Vertical wells

Blaster: Scales
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Acid Fracturing of Carbonates

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Propped Fracturing of
Sandstone Reservoir

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Applications for Fracturing Treatments

Wells without mechanical limitations
No concern with water/gas
Sandstone or carbonates
Soft and hard sands
Adequate space available
No environmental issue
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Matrix Stimulation: Damaged Zone Around a Wellbore

Undamaged
Reservoir

k
SPE 73702
s = [k/ki (ln r i/rw)] + [k/ks (ln rs /ri)] - ln rs/rw
rs
rw

ks

Zone with
improved
permeability

ki ri

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Damaged Zone
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(Skin Damage)
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Darcys Equation
Pseudosteady State
Oil Well :
7.08X 10 3 k h (p p wf )
q=
r

o Bo ln e 0.75 + s

rw

17

Gas Well :

7 .03 X 10 4 k h p 2 p 2wf
q=
r

g T z ln e 0 .75 + s
rw

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Hawkins Equation
k
rs
S =
1 ln
d
ks
rw
90% Damage
6 inches Radially

99% Damage
0.3 inches Radially

Damaged
Zone: 6

Damaged
Zone: 0.3

9 = rs

rw

18

kS

3.3 = rs

kS

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Effect of Shifting an 80% Damage Collar

100
3-in collar
6-in collar

80
Percent of original productivity

12-in collar

rc-rx = collar thickness

80% Damage collar

60

rc

rx

40

20

Wellbore

re

0
0
19

1
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Inner radius of damage (ft)

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The Critical Matrix

% of Total Pressure Drop

100.0

90.0

80.0
Q = 10,000 BWPD
k = 100 md
h = 200 ft
P inj = 4000 psi
Viscosity = 0.8 cp
r w = 3 1/16 inches

70.0

3 ft
60.0

Critical
Matrix
50.0
0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Radial Distance (ft)

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Applications for Matrix Treatments

Sandstone or carbonate reservoirs
Reservoirs with formation damage: skin
OH or cased hole completions
Horizontal or vertical
Gravel packed or Frac-Packed wells
Mechanical treating limitations
Water/Gas contact nearby
Remove damage in a conventional propped fracture
Economics: Propped fracture treatments are 5 to 6
times more expensive than matrix treatments
Operationally less intensive than fracturing
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Treatment Selection
Gas Production vs. Skin

Gas Production (MMscf/D)

140

100
100 md-ft
md-ft
500
md-ft
500 md-ft
100
md-ft

120
100
80
60
40
20
0

-5
22

Skin

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Sandstones: Clastic

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Matrix Stimulation: Sandstone

Sandstone Stages
1. Pre-acid Preflush
Fluids @ End 2. Acid Preflush
of Treatment??
3. Main Treating Fluid
4
3 2 1
4. Overflush
5. Diverter Stage

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Carbonates: Non-Clastic

Limestone

Dolomite

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Matrix Stimulation: Carbonate

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Matrix Fluids
Acid

HCl, HF, Formic, Acetic, Citric

Solvents

Xylene, Toluene, Terpenes

Emulsions
Brine
Alcoholic based systems
Foam
Viscoelastic surfactant systems

Diversion
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Acidizing Additives
Inhibitors
Surfactants
Mutual Solvents
Iron Control
Friction Reducers
Clay Control
Specialty Additives
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Problems
Proper diagnosis of the problem
Treatment design
Quality Control
Tubing contamination
Zone coverage
Precipitation of reaction products
Damage removal
Fines migration

Harry McLeod JPT (Dec. 1984)

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Pumping Time
In general, 2-4 hours pumping time in a vertical well.
Horizontal = 6+ hours.
Depends on
treatment volume (formation size)
pumping rate (equipment limitations, frac gradient)
well temperature (corrosion effectiveness)
fluids rheology/friction pressure

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Equipment Layout
water
acid

main
CPT

CT

solvent

C
P
T
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w
a
t
e
r

g
n
i
or ent
t
i
n m
o
M uip
Eq

wind

Safety Area
Eye Wash

exit

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Execution/Evaluation
Health, Safety and Environment
Quality Control
Step Rate Test
Real Time Evaluation

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Nodal Analysis
6000

A1
1

Pressure, psig

5000

4000

3000

2000

1000

4
0

1000

Inflow @ Sandface (1)

Inflow (1)
Case 2 ( 2)
Case 3 ( 3)
Case 4 ( 4)
Not Used
Not Used
Not Used

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2000

3000

Not Used
Outflow (A)
Case 2 (B)
Case 3 (C)
Case 4 (D)
Not Used
Not Used

4000

5000

6000

Oil Rate, Bbl/D

Inflow
Reservoir Skin

7000

8000

9000

10000

Inflow
(1) 0.000
(2) 20.000
(3) 100.000
(4) 200.000

Reg: Authorized User - Schlumberger Inc.

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Successful Matrix Stimulation

Definition:

A successful stimulation treatment is one that

yields the predicted production and ROI/Pay Out.

Requirements:

Candidate Selection
Formation Damage Characterization
Fluid and Additive Selection
Laboratory Testing
Treatment Design
Execution
Evaluation
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Conclusions:
Matrix stimulation is a tool used for production
enhancement
Applicable in a wide variety of wells
Incorporates a variety of fluids and techniques
Should yield excellent ROI

Sandstone are very different from carbonates

The treatment must be properly:
Engineered
Executed
And evaluated
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P.E.
The Value
Value of
of Repeated
Repeated Acid
Acid Treatments.
Treatments, Illinois
Illinois State
State Geological
Geological Survey
Survey (1934).
(1934).
P.E. Fitzerald:
Fitzerald, The
The whole proposition looks very simple but when studied thoroughly, presents many points to be
analyzed. Field work should always be checked by laboratory experiments and tests.
tests.

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