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Technical Paper: Use of Resin-Coated Proppant to Control Shallow, Low-Temperature Unconsolidated Sands
Paper 54631
Abstract
The paper describes two applications of different resin-coated proppants to obtain a consolidated proppant pack to reduce proppant flowback and formation sand production.
The zones of interest are part of the Schrader Bluff development project. Three zones were treated; one was in the deeper, more consolidated O sand formation, and two were in the less consolidated N sand. The problem of sand production was further complicated by the viscous nature of the oil in place, which was in the range of 17 to 21 API.
The reservoir temperatures ranged from 80° to 110° F. In the higher temperature zones, the catalyst required to initiate the resin set was more benign and thus allowed the use of a cross-linked borate as the base fracturing fluid. In the cooler formation, the complexity of the operation was increased by the need for a catalyst based on a mixture of acid and alcohol. This was required to ensure the resin-coated proppant pack obtained sufficient compressive strength to withstand the viscous drag of the heavy oil. The need for the more aggressive catalyst in the lower temperature zones necessitated the use of HEC as the base fluid for fracturing because the catalyst was incompatible with borate-based fluids. The composition of the catalyst was modified to meet the safety standards for pumping as demanded by the operating procedures from the service company.
The paper also describes the fracture geometry determined from analysis of the treating data and the production results from the treated zones.
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