The First Oil Well to Witness Successful Fracture in Pakistan
High Yield Fulfilled through Kumbh-3 Fracture of UEG Pakistan Project to Guarantee Productivity Sustaining
On October 2nd, 2017, a new breakthrough was made on UEG’s fracture project in Pakistan, where the main fracture in Kumbh-3 was successful against treatment pressure of 69MPa with adding into formation 36m3 of proppant and a max sand proportion of 8ppg (50%).
After the fracture execution, nitrogen kick off was performed and oil was observed when the flow back rate reached 45%. Subsequently, jet pumps were installed. The rate on October 12 was reached to 810 BOPD, including 750 barrels oil and 3500 cubic feet gas, being 81 times higher than the rate (equivalent to 10 barrels oil) prior to the fracture, gaining significant post fracture increase.
The well is the first oil well to witness successful fracture in the history of Pakistan, it was being focused in Pakistan and writes a new chapter in efficient use of oil and gas resources in a similar tight reservoir.
The tight oil & gas reservoir in Pakistan was not effectively recovered for several decades. After it was handed over to UEG, the reservoir was assessed and proposed fracture technology. Both Beijing and Karachi team worked closely in key technical through meticulous design and QC, organized in the site. In 2014, two gas wells fracturing was successful, exhibiting a breakthrough made by Pakistan in fracturing technology for such gas reservoirs with low permeability and providing a new technical approach for UEG’s development of tight oil & gas fields.
However, due to factors including complicated geological conditions, fracture technology adaptability and high fracturing costs, Both of Beijing and Karachi have been striving to explore, as guided by the leaders, through fracturing well selection, technology adaptability and reasonable cooperation modes. To tackle the key issues relating to fracture management and technology, introduce an internationally competitive company, UEG technical team and procurement team made an investigation at the site for fracturing in China in 2015. They finally selected Anton Petroleum as contractor in cooperative mode for the venture, thus setting the stage for introducing a Chinese fracture fleet, and reducing the cost for fracturing.
In 2017, Both of Beijing and Karachi team finally selected three from 45 wells through well selection and assessment and worked closely with the contractor in conducting stringent design and program review. Three DFIT (diagnosis fracture injection test) were performed to obtain important parameters on the well’s permeability and fracturing pressure etc. Discussions were held among the three parties to optimize the primary fracturing procedure and further assessment of reserve and economic aspects conducted.
Given the high fracturing pressure and difficult execution job, it was finally decided the existing string should be replaced by that for fracturing with high strength and large diameters to ensure success of the main fracture. organization and preparation for main fracture pump job, the personnel on site, despite the hot weather and sandy and windy conditions, spared no efforts in pushing forward execution progress to ensure the smoothly operation.
The success of Kumbh-3 well fracturing made both parties more confident for similar reservoir fracture and treatment in the block. With increased exploration and development for tight oil & gas reservoir and shale gas in Pakistan oil fields, the workload for fracturing will be further increased. Undoubtedly, the fracturing technology will become key technology in the coming.
UEG cooperated closely with the contractors in tackling key technical issues to improve the fracturing technology for tight reservoir, which provide a positive technical approach for stabilizing the group’s productivity and reserve replacement ratio and a wide vista in enhancing UEG’s reserves and production in the future.