Implementation of Neutral Wet Proppant Technology in Hydraulic Fracturing for Long Lasting Condensate Banking Solution in Deep Gas Wells

Abstract Hydraulic fracturing is one of the solutions for the most gas production challenges from tight gas reservoirs which is condensate banking. Such a phenomenon usually results in sharp declines of gas and condensate production post fracturing and after reaching the dew point. This issue is more dominant in the depleted wet/condensate-gas fields, which making the post-fracturing cleanout complex and expensive due to the high capillary pressures slowing the completion brine cleanout. This paper summarizes the successful field application developed using neutral wet proppant in the hydraulic fracturing operation for deep tight sandstone gas wells to minimize the impact of condensate banking on hydrocarbon production in the Sultanate of Oman. Thorough lab testing and screening processes to optimize the proppant selection and maximize the chances of success were conducted prior to taking the application to field implementation. In particular, the surface modifier material, proppant type and size were carefully selected to enhance the treatment. Also, to avoid any emulsion or incompatibility issue between the Neutral wet proppant and the formation fluid/rocks including condensate and highly saline formation water, a series of compatibility tests were conducted. In addition, careful quality and HSE planning was required before the field deployment due to cost associated with such proppant type. A trial hydraulic fracturing campaign in 2 wells were conducted on one of the well-known fields that is impacted by condensate banking. The initial results of these trials show that, the implementation of the Neutral wet proppant technology managed to restore the gas production from closed-in well while increasing the condensate rate by more than 400% and gas rate by more than 410% from a new well compared to the expectations from the dynamic reservoir model of fractured well utilizing the offset wells frac model. These promising results have resulted in the planning of a wider deployment scope to further implement the Neutral wet proppant technology to optimize the production from several fields that are impacted by condensate-blockage impairment. Using this Neutral wet proppant technology in the hydraulic fracturing operations as a long-term solution has showed improved efficiencies in time, production, and materials compared to the alternative periodical remedial interventions. The application provides a more economical means to enhance production in tight gas fields of the Sultanate of Oman.