Ash Beds are a potential problem..... As far as I understand ash...

Ash Beds are a potential problem.....

As far as I understand ash gets into the fractures blocking them. It seems you can reduce the negative impact by flushing the well and by fracking the well using more Proppant. Ash Beds can reduce flow rates.

Paul Basinski on Ash Beds:

"On our core we have these ash beds we’ve done a lot of research on those - because it’s something we have to contemplate in our completion plan."


“When the fractures grow upwards and intersect with these ash beds, they just stop growing and this may be leading the fractures to be much shorter than we thought,” he said, adding that a better understanding of the issue may lead to improved decision making on which fracturing fluids are needed for an optimal stimulation."
Source: https://www.spe.org/en/jpt/jpt-article-detail/?art=2597

In certain parts of the Eagle Ford, ash beds and calcite layers, which are not visible on openhole logs, impact the effectiveness of fracture designs and lateral placement. But high-resolution logs and cores are shedding light on the issue, and the insight on rock could lead to better designs, greater stimulation and ultimately, more production, as operators continue seeking efficiency gains.
Source: http://www.epmag.com/high-resolution-models-shed-light-rock-fracture-design-1363831#p=1


I'm not sure if Calcite is a potential issue as well for 88E. I have not heard it mentioned.


Fracking has plenty of room for improvement, and will only get better.

“Our biggest low-hanging fruit is the stimulated rock volume. That’s where our inefficiencies are,” Von Gonten said Sept. 13 (2016) during Hart Energy’s DUG Eagle Ford conference. “If I can make the stimulated rock volume just 10% better, it’s linear; I’ve increased the productivity of the well 10%.”
Source: http://www.epmag.com/high-resolution-models-shed-light-rock-fracture-design-1363831