This is where the correct size and shape proppant will come in as per the annmnts stating the selection was in the process of being assessed.
The other variable factors being they can vary the frack pressure depending upon the micro-seismic feedback and what fractures they are achieving. It may well be that they need to frack more often but with less pressure and at narrower spacing so any excess pressure doesn't start to destroy the pore/permeability matrix.
There is huge felexibility in this technology these days and probably a lot we don't know about.
One that is likely to become prevalent in the neat term IF the technology is successful, is RE-FRACKING.
This may well just be perfect at Icewine.
If they need to do much smaller intervals with higher density fracks so that the matrix doesn't collapse with INITIAL high production, which then moves on to the next well to maintain the initial high rates and therefore increase initial payability, and then simply move back to the original hole and refrack with a different completion technology that allows higher recovery, then all the better.
I suppose it could be called a STAGED fracking as per this item. This is a bit of a research splurge but it does give insight into the potential new efficiencies that may arise from simply altering the way they frack.
One of the first companies to test re-fractures is Marathon Oil Corp. (MRO) in its core Bakken acreage in Mountrail and Dunn Counties.
So, we called the company up and starting asking questions. They really didn’t like the fact we came knocking and didn’t want to give out much information, as this is cutting-edge stuff, and the company has a leg up on its competition.
But anyone who knows me knows I don’t give up easily, so I got the story… and it gets very good.
The re-fractured wells significantly outperformed expected results.
In the third quarter of 2014, Marathon Oil completed 13 re-fractured wells, all with very positive results. So I kept the search on for other management teams that have the know-how to deploy re-fracks.
I called Pioneer Natural Resources (PXD), one of the true pioneers in the early days of the Eagle Ford shale in Texas. PXD is seeing major success using re-fracking the Eagle Ford.
I didn’t stop there. I have the whole list of who’s re-fracking and who isn’t. But that information is for my paying subscribers.
That said, I’d be remiss if I left out my fellow Canadians and failed to mention that the Canadian companies such as Crescent Point Energy (CPG.TO) are not too far behind this new re-fracking trend. CPG will begin re-fracturing its Alberta Bakken wells in 2015.
Who will really benefit from the re-fracking boom? I think I nailed this one… and it will be the basis of my March Casey Energy Report newsletter.
I spoke to one of the world’s leading minds in well re-fracking recently, to pick his mind on where the industry is currently and where it will be going in a few years. His insights and experience are incredible.
This executive was one of the final candidates to be the president of one of the world’s largest service companies; and after not getting the nod, he left the company (into which he’d put over 30 years of service) and formed a multibillion-dollar fund which is now capitalizing on the new enhanced oil recoveries.
However with the advances in frack technology and the potentially excellent HRZ recovery rates, IF it is proven up at Ice 2, there may well be no need to visit such technology unless the lower pressure fracking is needed with a weak matrix and then come back and utilize these new completion technologies, such as different proppant in conjunction with faster fluid flow ect etc, to allow further extraction of Hydrocarbons.
(20min delay)