SBIR-STTR Award

Cost Effective Stimulation of Shallow Gas Wells Using High Energy Gas Fracturing Fielded Without a Wireline or Workover Rig
Award last edited on: 4/10/02

Sponsored Program
SBIR
Awarding Agency
DOE
Total Award Amount
$823,809
Award Phase
2
Solicitation Topic Code
-----

Principal Investigator
Richard A Schmidt

Company Information

J Integral Engineering

165 Southwest Tualatin Loop
West Linn, OR 97068
   (503) 557-1370
   JIntegral@TheGasGun.com
   www.thegasgun.com
Location: Single
Congr. District: 05
County: Clackamas

Phase I

Contract Number: ----------
Start Date: 00/00/00    Completed: 00/00/00
Phase I year
1994
Phase I Amount
$74,832
Current models and data show that High Energy Gas Fracturing (HEGF) has great potential as a stimulation tool in shallow gas storage wells. In these wells the in situ stresses are sufficiently low for the process to generate adequate gas volumes and to create an effective multiple fracture network. To address this opportunity, HEGF fielding techniques must be simplified and costs reduced to provide a relatively low cost alternative treatment method that can restore deliverability without resorting to chemical treatment, hydraulic fracturing, or the drilling of new wells. The HEGF tool will be redesigned using a proprietary concept that will eliminate the need for wireline, slick line, tubing, or any other support equipment. It will also eliminate the problem of wireline damage so often experienced in HEGF treatments. Stimulation needs of shallow gas wells will be reviewed on technical and economic grounds to determine the degree of fracturing required in these wells. Existing HEGF models and data will be used to design a prototype treatment that meets these fracturing requirements. A single prototype treatment will be conducted with the new device in Phase I, and sufficient pre-test and posttest diagnostics and analyses will be conducted to provide inputs to the work plan for Phase II.Anticipated Results /Potential Commercial Applications as described by the awardee:Successful design and testing of the improved HEGF device should lead to additional field tests in Phase II. Improved HEGF models, tested against a controlled data base, should optimize the process for shallow gas storage wells and improve the design of multiple fracture treatments in general. Phase III should commercialize the device and could provide the oil and gas industry with a new, cost effective stimulation technique.

Phase II

Contract Number: ----------
Start Date: 00/00/00    Completed: 00/00/00
Phase II year
1995
Phase II Amount
$748,977
Current models and data show that high energy gas fracturing (HEGF) has great potential as a stimulation tool in shallow oil and gas wells. In these wells, the in-situ stresses are sufficiently low for the process to generate adequate gas volumes and to create an effective multiple fracture network. To address this opportunity, HEGF techniques must be simplified and costs reduced to allow oil and gas production without resorting to chemical treatment, hydraulic fracturing, or the drilling of new wells. In Phase I, the new HEGF tool was designed using a concept that eliminates the need for wireline, slick line, tubing, or any other support equipment. It also eliminates the problem of wireline damage so often experienced in HEGF treatments. In Phase II, well tests will be conducted before and after each treatment to evaluate changes in each well's ability to transmit fluids to and from the wellbore. Three different propellant formulations will be evaluated in each formation in order to correlate gas burning characteristics with stimulation performance as a function of rock type and well depth. The result will be a data base that can be used to validate analytical and empirical models and to optimize HEGF treatments for maximum effectiveness.Anticipated Results/Potential Commercial Applications as described by the awardee: Successful field trials of the new HEGF technique will provide the oil and gas industry with an advanced, cost-effective method of stimulating the production of many thousands of wells that would not previously have been considered candidates for economic reasons. Wells that will benefit include: low production stripper wells, wells in naturally fractured reservoirs, gas storage wells, and injection wells used in waterfloods and other enhanced recovery processes.