Cracking Open Re-fracking: A Flush Rush or Idle Probing?
Expensive Science Project?
Several questions present themselves on the economic side, too, well beyond the technology, he said.
“There’s not one straight answer that it’s smarter to drill or it’s smarter to re-frack,” Clarke said. “It could be different in three years. It could be different in five years. But for now, I would still put re-fracking in the science experiment phase.”
Retired leader of Texas A&M University’s petroleum engineer department and Energy Department, a Schlumberger fellow and former president of the international branch of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, Stephen Holditch told Rigzone he doesn’t believe re-fracking is the “new fracking.”
“It has an application and in specific cases, it might be the thing to do, but it’s not the next big thing because there are a lot of issues with trying too many wells,” he said.
However, Holditch added, “It’s more than a science experiment. Re-fracturing works if you can find the right candidate wells and you can pump the new fracture treatments into areas that weren’t properly stimulated in the first place.”
The key to making re-fracking work is significant. Companies will have to figure out how to divert the fluid and the proppant. That’s a challenge when you’ve got a 5,000-foot well with perforations every 50 feet, Holditch said. And, that’s likely a big part of what’s getting studied in the multi-million-dollar labs at companies ahead of the curve.
“I’m sure you’ll make some money doing it, and the companies will. The service companies like it because it will keep their equipment and their people busy,” he said. “It’s a valid procedure, and if it’s done correctly, and the right wells are picked, you can make a profit. But it’s not something you’re going to do on every well.”
123
View Full Article
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Generated by readers, the comments included herein do not reflect the views and opinions of Rigzone. All comments are subject to editorial review. Off-topic, inappropriate or insulting comments will be removed.
- The Rigzone Interview: Private Equity Cash Focuses on Oil, Gas Development
- Could Argentinian Politics Beat the Vaca Muerta?
- The Rigzone Interview: Oil, Gas Goes Digital for Safety, Speed
- Deal Of The Month: EQT, Rice Energy Merge in Mega Marcellus $6.7B Gas Deal
- OpEd: OPEC Production Cuts Fail, Markets Pay for Underestimating US Shale
- Blockchain Demands Attention in Oil and Gas
- Macquarie Sees USA Oil Production Exiting 2024 at 14MM Barrels Per Day
- CNPC Opens Sea-Land Oil Storage and Transport Facility in Bangladesh
- Oman Sees Increasing Ship-to-Ship Transfers of Russian Oil Bound for India
- US Govt Makes Record Investment of $6B for Industrial Decarbonization
- Perenco Still Searching for Missing Person After Platform Incident
- Eni, Fincantieri, RINA Ink Deal on Maritime Decarbonization
- Oil Falls as US Inventories Increase
- Czech Utility CEZ Bucks Weaker Prices, Demand to Log Record Annual Profit
- Ithaca Energy Studies Deal for Eni's UK Upstream Assets
- Equinor Makes Discovery in North Sea
- Standard Chartered Reiterates $94 Brent Call
- India Halts Russia Oil Supplies From Sanctioned Tanker Giant
- DOI Announces Proposal for Second GOM Offshore Wind Auction
- Centcom, Dryad Outline Recent Moves Around Red Sea Region
- PetroChina Set to Receive Venezuelan Oil
- Czech Conglomerate to Buy Major Stake in Gasnet for $917MM
- US DOE Offers $44MM in Funding to Boost Clean Power Distribution
- Oil Settles Lower as Stronger Dollar Offsets Tighter Market
- UK Grid Operator Receives Aid to Advance Rural Decarbonization
- Chinese Mega Company Makes Major Oilfield Discovery
- VIDEO: Missile Attack Kills Crew Transiting Gulf of Aden
- Norway Regulator Blasts Proposal to Halt New Oil and Gas Permits
- Chinese Mega Company Makes Another Major Oilfield Discovery
- What Is the Biggest Risk to Offshore Oil and Gas Personnel in 2024?
- Vessel Sinks in Red Sea After Missile Strike
- Exxon Rights in Stabroek Do Not Apply to Hess Merger with Chevron: Hess
- Analysts Reveal Latest Oil Price Outlook Following OPEC+ Cut Extension
- Equinor Makes Discovery in North Sea
- Standard Chartered Reiterates $94 Brent Call