Innovative Multi Technologies Collaboration for Ultra-HP/HT Offshore Fracturing Stimulation

Abstract The ultra-high pressure and temperature (HPHT) lower Cretaceous sand-shale layer in Krishna-Godavari basin (KG basin), in eastern India offshore shallow water, in the Godavari River interdeltaic region, is currently the world's highest-temperature petroleum reservoir being explored in the marine environment. It is a part of the fluvial sedimentary KG basin, which is recognized as holding India's largest gas reserves. Its area is approximately 50,000 km2 and it extends from land to the shelf-slope and adjacent deep-sea area along the eastern passive continental margin of India. The bottomhole static temperature of the reservoir ranges from 350 to 450°F at 16,000 to 18,000 ft true vertical depth (TVD), with pore pressure gradient up to 0.85 psi/ft. The hydraulic propped fracturing technique is integral to the completion and well testing program in this typical tight reservoir Krishna-Godavari basin, seismological cross section, source from Sorkhabi et al, Geotimes, and Sahu et al. The design and delivery of hydraulic propped fracturing in such a complex reservoir and operational environment requires advanced technologies and meticulous planning and execution, including reservoir and geomechanical characterization derived from latest HPHT formation evaluation logging tools, implementation of integrated production simulation and fracturing modeling software, and application of ultra-HT completion and fracturing products. In addition to technical complexity, the limited drilling unit capability also required equipment planning that involved an integrated fracturing and testing wellhead-string-packer system, a project-specific modular HPHT stimulation boat and post-fracture flowback testing plan and equipment that included surface well testing and a coiled tubing nitrogen fleet. Several successful hydraulic fracturing operations were performed in this tight ultra-HPHT reservoir for multiple operators. This paper will describe the case history of the hydraulic fracturing completion campaign for one operator in the basin, in particular describing ultra-HPHT techniques and products that were key to the project delivery: Basin modeling, reservoir, and geomechanical characterization workflow as an integral part of hydraulic fracturing design in complex frontier reservoir Installation and preparation of modular HP/HT stimulation vessel custom built for this project Implementation of synthetic fracturing fluids developed specifically for ultra-HT application up to 450°F in a high-pressure and high-shear environment. This fracturing project has been compared to previous similar treatment in the same basin, and lessons learnt from this campaign has been summarized for similar future ultra HPHT projects globally.