Improved Understanding of Fracturing Tight-Shale Gas Formations

Abstract Because of the special characteristics of the tight-shale gas formations, the conventional concepts of hydraulic fracturing may become irrelevant, and the new concepts must be consequently developed to optimize the stimulation process for the tight formations. This paper focuses on improving the understanding of fracturing tight-shale gas formations through parametric sensitivity analysis of a case study. The concepts of stimulating tight formations were better understood by examining the end impacts of some critical factors, such as: a) leak-off percentage in relation to the tight-shale gas formations, b) screenout in relation to the net pressure signatures, and c) injection rate and proppant concentration in relation to the fracturing efficiency, etc. With reference to these observations, applying the proposed alternative approaches appears to be imperative to enhance the current stimulation technologies for tight-shale gas formations.