Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Two Dogs, Pirate on August 24, 2011 at 11:07

Never heard of an AC well being fracked.

Permalink Reply by Craig Wascom on August 24, 2011 at 15:32

This is true and if you listen to the geoligist there will be no need. That is great but they have files for a permit to dispose of drilling fluids at Lacour 43. A year ago nobody was fracking any oil wells. Time do change.

Permalink Reply by littleasy on August 27, 2011 at 10:38

The Austin Chalk is a limestone formation and is primarily composed of calcium carbonate.  The White Cliffs of Dover are a limestone formation.

CaCO_3(s) + 2 HCl_(aq) → CaCl_2(aq) + CO_2(g) + H₂O_(l)

 CaCO_3(s) can be acid neutralized (fractured, so to speak) to increase the communication of the naturally occurring fractures in the formation.  The mineralogy of the formation in question and other physical characteristics will dictate the frac protocol.

Permalink Reply by Skip Peel - Mineral Consultant on August 27, 2011 at 10:43

Craig, this is from the Schlumberger Oilfield Glossary, a good webpage to bookmark.

http://www.glossary.oilfield.slb.com/

 

acid frac

1.  n.  [Well Workover and Intervention]	ID: 4513
A hydraulic fracturing treatment performed in carbonate formations to etch the open faces of induced fractures using a hydrochloric acid treatment. When the treatment is complete and the fracture closes, the etched surface provides a high-conductivity path from the reservoir to the wellbore.

Permalink Reply by Craig Wascom on August 27, 2011 at 10:58

Thanks Skip

I have a question. I know the Austin Chalk is naturally fractured and the key to getting at the oils is finding the fracture. What do you do if you drill the well and don't firnd the fracture. Is fracking still an option? Is this what is meant by a well workover and intervention?

Permalink Reply by Skip Peel - Mineral Consultant on August 27, 2011 at 11:16

Above my pay grade, Craig. Suggest you ask Kirk.  I'm a Haynesville/Bossier guy and I'll be learning right along with you and the other group members.

Permalink Reply by Craig Wascom on August 28, 2011 at 13:50

Skip is this going to be a large learning curve for most everyone even Anadarko geologist? It seems to me that we are moving into uncharted territory when it comes to the Chalk in north Pointe Coupee. There has been talk of the oil under our land by family members for 60 years. The problem is nobody has been able to drill a producing well. It seems like everybody has known it is there, it has been under lease many times, they just can't get at it.

Permalink Reply by Skip Peel - Mineral Consultant on August 28, 2011 at 14:09

Craig, unless your family members were petroleum geologists, they have been practicing wishful thinking for several generations.  It's a common story that daddy or granddaddy told everyone there was oil down there.  They rarely said natural gas because this goes back to the days when there was no market for gas and it was flared.  What has changed is the ability of the industry to make profitable wells in formations or areas that were previously considered non-economic.  Also, the price of a barrel of oil versus the price of a mcf of natural gas has much to do with the shift in industry focus to liquids.  Wells drilled with today's technology are quite different than many of those unproductive wells from years gone by.  Mineral owners need to do their homework and not be influenced by what happened to prior generations.  Companies like Anadarko and Clayton Williams Energy have a long history of developing the AC.

Permalink Reply by Craig Wascom on September 8, 2011 at 15:59

From Pryme

A completion rig is planned to be on site later this week to perform the acid stimulation of the Austin Chalk formation and commence the production flow test of the Deshotels 13H No.1

Read more: AvoyellesToday.com - Flow testing within next two days set for seco...

 

Permalink Reply by bulldog on August 26, 2011 at 7:05

The Mad Money episode was great. Hopefully he'll do an episode in LA/MS in the next few years!

Permalink Reply by Craig Wascom on August 26, 2011 at 7:47

I will write Cramer a letter asking him to cover this play as soon as we start getting information out of Anadarko. I don't think we will get much information until they get ready to start talking.

Permalink Reply by littleasy on August 28, 2011 at 3:25

Rock-Mechanics Considerations in Fracturing a Carbonate Formation

 

http://www.spe.org/spe-site/spe/spe/jpt/2007/07/102590Syn.pdf

 

HYDRAULIC AND PNEUMATIC FRACTURING

 

http://www2.bren.ucsb.edu/~keller/courses/esm223/SuthersanCh09Hydra...

 

"Fracing," which dates back decades, uses pressurized fluids and/or gases to stimulate or fracture rock or shale formations to release the hydrocarbons.  Sand pumped in with the fluids helps to keep the fractures open.  The type, composition and volume of fluids used depend largely on regional geologic structure, formation pressure and the specific geologic formation and target for a well.

 

Like most things, there is an art to the science.  Hope this helps.

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