SPE

Society of I'etrOIeun Engineers of AIME

SPE 12062

The Real-Time Calculation of Accurate Bottomhole

Fracturing Pressure From Surface Measurements
Using Measured Pressures as a Base
by R.R. Hannah, L.J. Harrington, and L.C. Lance, The Western Co. of North America
Members SPE-AIME

This paper was presented at the 58th Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition held in San Francisco, CA, October 5-8, 1983. The material is subject
to correction by the author. Permission to copy is restricted to an abstract of not more than 300 words. Write SPE, 6200 North Central Expressway,
Drawer 64706, Dallas, Texas 75206 USA. Telex 730989 SPEDAL.

behavior, that is the sum of the indicated surface

INTROD'OCTION : pressure plus the pressure exerted by the
hydrostatic head in the reference string is an
Several papers written since 1978 have addressed accurate reflection of the true botton hole
the illlportance of an accurate knowled~ of botton hole fracturing presSure. The reference string, while
fracturing pressure. Nolte and Smith in 1979 focused desirable in tenns of pressure rreasurern:mt,
industry attention on the value of this infonnation in presents sore problems fran both an operational
predicting fracturing conditions. By the proper inter- and econanic standpoint. In many cases the
pretation of the slope of log net fracture pressure strength of the tubular goods is insufficient to
versus log tlire, they showed that nonnal extension wit!: allow the well to be fractured at rreaningful rates
confined height, fracture height growth with extension, with a reference string in the well. For higher
loss of fluid loss control due to hairline fracture pressured wells, treat:ment dawn tubing without a
openings, and runaway growth of fracture height could packer is many tlires impossible without casing
be interpreted for fractures confo:rming t0 the fr~~ rupture. In addition, unless the well can be
2 3
gearetry of Perkins and Kern and Nordgren. Nolte, placed in its final production configuration, the
in another paper, derronstrated that post-fracturing expense of tubing trips must also be borne. Where
pressure decline data could be used to predict certain annular treat:ments are perforrred there is concern
other fracturing parameters such as fracture height, that the presence of the tubing may contribute
leak-off coefficient, length, width, and closure tlire. significantly to shear degradation of
Papers dealing wi~ this technique inc~ude those 0f the crosslinked gels and that injection fa-tes
7
Veat9f and Crawe~l , Schlottman, et al , Dobkins, using this configuration may be limited.
Smith and Smith. Nolte, in 1982, wrote an excellent
paper sumnarizing these techniques in SPE paper 10911, In theory, it has always been possible to
"Fracture ~sign Const~rations Based on Pressure predict botton hole pressure fran surface pressure
Analysis." Novotny also proposed a fracture rreasuremmts since:
clo~1 nodel based on fracture gearetry and leak off.
Erdle , et aI, discussed the results of an experi- Pbh = Ps + PHH - Pr·················(l)
rrental program conducted in Peru that addressed the
same topics. Where P is the total pressure due to friction
f
includifig that due to perforations. While this
The authors here will not atterrpt to review or seems essentially a very simple operation, it
expand on the interpretive techniques given in the .inplies an exact knowledge of injection rate, sand
literature cited above. This approach has been concentration, and base gel friction. During an
generally accepted by the industry and dealt with in actual treat:ment these variables change quite
an excellent manner by the authors listed. rapidly with tirre so that, except at selected
points, no coherent picture of botton hole
In the cited literature a reference string, pressure behavior is possible without sore rreans
either the tubing or the tubing casing annulus, was of sensing and averaging this data quite rapidly.
available to act as a rronitor for botton hole pressure
 THE REAL TIME CALCULATION OF ACCURATE BOTTOM HOLE FRACTURING PRESSURE
2 FROM SURFACE MEASUREMENTS USING MEASURED PRESSURES AS A BASE SPE 12062

Only quite recently have proppant densiareters The success of the above techniques requires
reached a degree of reliability where they can be that each variable in the pressure equation be
used on a fairly routine basis. This tool is studied in detail and compared to data obtained
absolutely essential i f rreaningful simulation of where a reference string was aval.lab1e for valid
bottan hole pressure is to take place. Without an comparison.
exact knowledge of slurry density the calculation
for hydrostatic head and allowance for friction The remainder of this paper will be devoted
due to proppant is llrpossib1e. to a discussion of the equiprent used and its
response tine, the oorrelation of the friction and
AIrong the earliest references in the head data, and oamparisons to real rreasured bottan
literature ooncerning tubYfrr friction was the hole pressures.
work of Godbey and Hodges • They reported on a
field test where a rrodified Anerada gauge was run N,JUIPMENT USED:
in tubing and fracturing was oonducted via the
annulus. Surface pressures and bottan hole The heart of this system is a Hewlett-Packard
pressures were then reoorded simultaneously. (HP) 9836 computer with an expanded 1.024 mega-byte
Their study showed that surface pressure alone was RAM rrerrory. This is coupled with an HP 3497A data
a poor indicator of bottan hole pressure behavior. acquisition/oontrol unit. This canbination allows
the IIDnitoring of 20 signal channels at once for
Actual calculation of fricti~~l pressure display and/or reoording. The computer has a twin
drops was presented by Crittendon in 1958. 5 1/4-inch disc drive for pernanent run programs
Beginning with a knowledge of instantaneous in addition to reoording treatnent variables for
shut-down pressure and making allowances for later replay and analysis. In addition, a
tubular friction, hydrostatic head, friction due to high-speed printer, with graphics capability,
sand, and perforation friction, a fairly reliable records treatnent variables real tine for a
estimate of surface pressures, injection pernanent reoord. Also, included in the package
rates, and horsepower requirerrents can be nade. is an eight-pen bed plotter used to nake real tine
plots in addition to the CRl' display on the
Perforation pressure drop and its use in the computer. In the noma1 IIDde, the bed plotter
limited entry iSchnique was presented by Lagrone displays the log net pressure versus log pumping
and Rasmussen. Friction pressures of tine, while the CRl' displays, as a graph, surface
non-Newtonian water-based guar gum gel; was dealt treating pressure, simulated and/or actual bottan
with extensively by Melton and Malone hole fracture pressure, injection rate, and
proppant ooncentration. This infomation can be
The central question that this paper addresses easily reproduced as a graph on either the printer
is can rreaningful bottan hole data be simulated or the bed plotter.
fran surface pressure infomation? Asstmting that
sufficient data concerning injection rate, slurry In addition, a 19-inch oolor IIDnitor displays
density, and friction infomation is available, the any of the above plots for oonvenient viewing.
answer is a qualified "yes." The qualification
arises because of sore uncertainty as to the A rheareter is available that will rreasure
accuracy of established oorre1ations for pipe rheological praperties between a pre-gelled tank
friction both with and without proppants. For and the blender. This is a sinple two-tube
ordinary design purposes, friction data published pressure drop device that operates at a oonstant
by service canpanies provide a rreans for working flow rate. The tubes are in series so that two
engineers to predict a reasonable range of shear rates are available and n' and K numbers can
injection rate, surface pressure and horsepower be calculated in addition to visoosity. This unit
required, for a particular job. has been field tested and the rreasured praperties
agree quite well with The Western Company's
Accurate simulation of bottan hole pressure published rheology data. This data will be shown
data requires a IlIUch IIDre rreticulous approach and for a field case later in the paper.
in particular the ability to handle very rapid
changes of rate, slurry density, and base gel One area that has received little attention
frictions. The IIDSt rreaningfu1 way to account for is the variation in tenperature that exists in a
these changes is by rreans of a computer since its field tank due to uneven heat al';tsorption which
response tine can rapidly reoord and average the results in tenperature stratification.
data. In addition, with praper signal conditioning Terrperature variations of lQ°F or IIDre are quite
equiprent, sensors can feed directly into the ccmron. While this variation will have little
computer for very rapid calculation of bottan effect on base gel friction, it will have a
hole pressure infomation. pronounced effect on the tine required for the gel
to complex (where complex gels are used). This
will have a pronounced effect on friction
SPE 12062 R. R. Hannah, L. J. Harrington, and L. C. Lance 3
no shut down is allowed, standard handbook factors
pressures. A temperature monitoring device is are used with adjustments rrade based on tank by
available utilizing an RTD sensor that is accurate tank rreasurerrents of base gel rheology.
to +.PF of full scale. In the normal rrode, this
device is placed in the blender inlet and the clean The use of an in-line clean-side viscometer
side temperature is rreasured. A stellite coated rray provide an additional rreans of verifying the
high pressure probe is available for rreasuring base gel friction c~2rection factor. As pointed
wellhead temperatures for treatments using CO or out by Erdle, et al the n' and K numbers
2
other cryogenic fluids. A plot of tank temperature indicated by the visoorneter cannot be used
versus tine will be shown later in the paper. directly to calculate friction drops. As a
quality control rreasure, hCMever, the information
This equipmeJlt is housed in an 18 ft by 8 ft. will sho.v any obvious anomalies in the viscosities
wide van with a diesel power unit rated at 12 KVA either high or lo.v. Such viscosities may well
for 10 amp service. correlate with some known gel loading and friction
pressure corrections could be rrade based on
BASE GEL FRIcrION: apparent viscosity. Fig. 2 is a plot of viscosity
versus tine rreasured during an actual job in East
In the next paragraphs we will discuss the Texas. While the viscosity variations in this
three variables that affect surface pressure, gel case are SIPall, a-perience has shONn that
friction, hydrostatic head correction, and proppant si~1ificant anorralies do occur occasionally.
friction correction.
The authors have not atteJnPted such
All service carpanies publish friction drop corrections at this tine since the in-line
for all their rrajor fracturing systems. These viscometer is still in the experirrental stage.
curves are generally the results of extensive Such corrections, hCMever, could certainly be rrade
laboratory testing cross checked with field data where gross variations in viscosities were seen.
during the early stages of product introduction.
For sinple linear gels this system works well and Observed base gel friction m~rs have been
is very accurate. For crosslinked gels, hCMever, awazingly close to those published by The
an additional carplicating factor is the Western Company. Other service carpany handbooks,
variability of the conplex tine that depends almost in the author's experience, are also very
solely on water temperature. Except for very warm accurate.
water, the gels complex in the tubular goods and
the interface between base gel and carplex gel will In actual operations signals fran the turbine
change position with changes in water temperature. flowmeter are conditioned and supplied directly to
In some of the early simulations where the true the conputer which [Link] correction of the
pressure was known, the simulated pressure showed a friction with any change in injection rate. An
sine wave pattern over the true pressure. These estirrate of the friction factor fran the handbook
variations were consistent with temperature and/ or pad stage ISIP is used and this factor can
variations experienced during tank switching and be changed during the job as the fluids pumped
fran warm water at the top of a tank to cool water change.
at the bottan. Fig. 1 is an extrerre example of
this effect rreasured on a Rocky Mountain well. The HYDroSTATIC HEAD CORRECTION:
anbient temperature was belo.v freezing and the
water in the tanks had been heated. This chart In terms of gross pressure change the
[Link] temperature readings at the blender inlet hydrostatic head exerts a very large influence in
during the job. While this is an unusual example, most fracturing treatrrents. For example, using a
variations of 20 OF have been observed during warm fresh water system and ordinary fracturing sand, a
weather. [Link] the effect of temperature on difference of 1540 psi will exist between the
carplex tine, [Link] for friction variation can water alone and water containing six lb of sand
be progranmed into the cornputer. In IPany cases per gallon at 10,000 ft. The surface pressure
this correction would be a minor one; hCMever, for then will be 1540 psi 10l<1er with sand than
high rates and SIPall conductors, this factor could without. The usual surface pressure trend then,
seriously affect the simulation. when proppant addition starts, is down with each
concentration change. Unless accounted for, this
Most frac jobs perforrred today have a fairly change will carpletely mask any forrnation pressure
large pad pumped in front of the proppant-laden response. In the present system a signal fran the
fluid. This provides an opportunity to shut down proppant densiorneter is fed to the cornputer and
and rreasure the base gel friction by subtracting the hydrostatic head is recalculated every two
the ISIP fran the pumping pressure. This allONS an seconds fran the top to the bottan of the string.
opportunity to adjust the factor previously chosen The hydrostatic head correction then is updated
fran the friction pressure handbook. Where often enough to be quite accurate.
 THE REAL TIME CALCULATION OF ACCURATE BOTTOM HOLE FRACTURING PRESSURE
4 FROM SURFACE MEASUREMENTS USING MEASURED PRESSURES AS A BASE SPE 12062

[Link] FRICTION FACTOR and 40 lb/lOOO gal loadings.

This is an area that has received relatively Fig. 5 shows a treatment via a 5 1/2 in.
little attention in the literature. Until the past casing, 2 3/8 in. tubing annulus at 26 BPM with a
few years, average sand concentrations were low 30 lb and 40 lb/lOOO gal crosslinked HPG gel.
(usually between 1 and 2 lb/gal) so that correction
for this factor was in many cases ignored. In Fig. 6 shows a treatment with 5 percent
these low concentrations, using the published gelled acid using 40 lb/lOOO gal of hydroxyethyl
correlations, corrections of between 10 and 20 cellulose down 3 1/2 in. tubing at 24 BPM. This
percent were called for so that no gross errors is the only sirrple linear gel studied.
were made considering other uncertainties in the
calculations. While sare data scatter is evident, the
correlation seems excellent using data from the
Quite early in this study when our simulations field. More :irrportantly, this correlation brings
were compared with pressure measured with a the simulated data to very close agreement with
reference string, it became apparent that the data measured with a reference string. This
considerable deviation from true pressure was being will be shown in the field case section.
caused by the presence of the proppant.
FIEID CASES:
The rrostll'idely used correlation is that shown
by Crittendon • He presented a chart of We have chosen to present two field cases
friction correction versus proppant concentration where reference string measurements were
for various API gravity crudes. He does not available. We will present simulated versus
discuss the origin of these calculations, but notes measured pressures for these cases and show the
that they correct for both density and viscosity. :irrportance of corrections for each factor.
This same chart still appears in many service
carpany handbooks. Several correction scherres were The first well discussed is a Wyoming well
tried to bring simulated pressures in line with carpleted in the Mesa Verde formation, perforated
measured pressures, since it appeared that the at 11,320 ft. The well was treated via 7 in.
corrections discussed above were too high. Finding casing, 2 3/8 in. tubing annulus with the 2 3/8
a workable correlation for this factor proved to be in. tubing acting as the reference string. The
the rrost troublesare part of the entire study. well was treated with a 40 lb/lOOO gal HPG
crosslinked gel. A 47,000 gal pad stage was
The closest correlation that could be followed by 63,000 gal containing 285,000 lb of
established showed a dependence on relative 20-40 frac sand. Sand concentration ranged from 1
viscosity and relative density. The equation for to 7 lb/gal.
this dependence is:
On this treatment a pump-in/flowback test was
.2 .8 used to detennine closure stress. Fig. 7 shows a
CF = llr P
r
•••••••••••••••••••••• (2)
linear plot of job variables, surface pressure,
injection rate, and surface pressure. The top
Where II i§calculated with the equation shown three curves show the actual measured pressures,
by Th~s. This equation and the calculation the simulated pressure without a sand friction
of P will be shown in Appendix 1. Surprisingly, correction factor, and the simulated curve with
thisrcorrelation is only sare four percent lower the correction factor applied. Note that at the
than the correlation presented by Crittendon. maximum sand concentration, a deviation of 1,000
psi exists between the true pressure and the
Figs. 3 through 6 show the plot of this pressure applied without a correction factor.
equation with field data from treatments using a Fig. 8 is a logllog plot of net fracture pressure
reference string plotted for a variety of tubular (true bottom hole pressure - closure stress). The
configurations. interpretive value of this curve has been
discussed extensively in the literature.
Fig. 3 shows a plot of a treatment down a 5
1/2 in. casing, 1. 9 in. tubing annulus using a The second well presented was carpleted in
crosslinked HPG water-based gel at polymer loadings the Green River formation in Utah. This well was
from 30 to 60 lb/lOOO gal. pumped down a 5 1/2 in. casing, 2 3/8 in. tubing
annulus to perforations at 4,200 ft. The
Fig. 4 shows a treatment via 3 1/2 in. tubing treatment consisted of 17,000 gal of 40 lb/lOOO
(the annulus was used for the reference string) at gal HPG crosslinked gel followed by 12,000 gal
20 BPM also using a crosslinked HPG polymer in 30 containing 26,000 lb of 20-40 sand. Fig. 9 shows
a linear plot of the treatment variables. Again,
note the deviation from true pressure for the
SPE 12062 R. R. Hannah, L. J. Harrington, and L. C. Lance 5

curve where the sand friction correction factor was P Surfaoe treating pressure (psi)
s
not used. The corrected curve, hCMeVer, follows
the true pressure quite well. Fig. 10 is the log R Reynold's number
e
net pressure versus log tiIre curve. Note the
screen-out signal at slightly past 20 minutes (45 0 V Bulk velocity (ft/sec)
slope) and the subsequent screen-out. This
occurred with a few barrels of slurry left in the y Base fluid specific gravity
pipe.
P Density (lb/gal)
mNCLUSIONS:
Pp Absolute density of proppant
As discussed in the paper, an accurate picture (lb/gal)
of bottan hole pressure can be gained fran surface
pressure information where careful attention is P Relative density
r
paid to all variables. A large elerrent in such
simulations is the development of computer software ).la Apparent viscosity (cp)
that can read and average the data rapidly 610ugh
to keep up with the variables. ).lr Relative viscosity

In addition: ACKNCWLEDGEMEN':

1. Published friction data fran service The authors would like to thank the
crnpany handbooks is accurate enough to m:magerrent of The Western Company of North America
use in conjunction with purrping test. for their permission and encouragerrent to publish
this paper. We would also like to thank Mike
2. A knowledge of crosslink tiIres dependence Hoffman and John Eikerts for their efforts in
on tenperature and tank tenperature software development.
inproves the accuracy of the simulation.
REFERENCES:
3. The hydrostatic head correction must be
dealt with carefully sinoe it exerts a 1. Nolte, K. G. and Smith, M. B.:
large influence on wellhead pressure. "Interpretation of Fracturing Pressures," J.
Pet. Tech. (Sept. 1981) 1767-1775.
4. A reasonable correlation for the
correction of proppant friction has been 2. Perkins, T. K. and Kern, L. R.: "Widths of
established and is necessary for Hydraulic Fractures," J. Pet. Tech. (Sept.
accuracy. 1961) 937-949; Trans., AIME, 222.

OUr future plans include a friction drop 3. Nordgren, R. P.: "Propagation of a Vertical
section pltm1bed into the treating line to further Hydraulic Fracture," Soc. Pet. Eng. J. (Aug.
inprove accuracy. 1972) 306-314; Trans., AIME, 253.

NCMENCIATURE : 4. Nolte, K. G.: "Determination of Fracture

Pararreters fran Fracturing Pressure Decline,"
CF Proppant friction correction factor paper SPE 8341 presented at 54th Annual
Technical Conferenoe, Las Vegas, Sept. 1979.
c ProppantConcentration Added (lb/ga1)
P 5. Veatch, R. W. and Crowell, R. F.: "Joint
D Diarreter or equivalent diarreter (in.) Research Operations Programs Acoelerate
Massive Hydraulic Fracturing Technology,"
f Fanning friction factor paper SPE 9337 presented at 55th Annual
Technical Conferenoe, Dallas, Sept. 1980.
Defined in Fq. 6a
6. Schlottman, B. W., Miller, W. K., and
Bottan hole treatiJlg pressure (psi) Lueders, R. K.: "Massive Hydraulic Fracture
Design for the East Texas Cotton Valley
Treating pressure due to friction Sands," paper SPE 10133 presented at 56th
(including perforations) (psi) Annual Technical Conference, San Antonio,
Oct. 1981.
P Pressure due to hydrostatic head
HH (psi)
 THE REAL TIME CALCULATION OF ACCURATE BOTTOM HOLE FRACTURING PRESSURE
6 FROM SURFACE MEASUREMENTS USING MEASURED PRESSURES AS A BASE SPE 12062

7. Dobkins, T. A.: "Procedures, Results and APPENDIX:

Benefits of Detailed Fracture Treat:rcent
Analysis," paper SPE 10130 presented at 56th Equations Used in the Developm:mt of the Proppant
Armual Technical Conference, San Antonio, Correction Factor
Oct. 1981.
The proppant correction factor presented in this
paper was determined by accounting for difference
8. Smith, M. B.: "Stimulation Design for Short, in viscosity and density between the proppant
Precise Hydraulic Fractures - MHF," paper SPE slurry and the base fluid.
10313 presented at 56th Annual Technical
18
Conference, San Antonio, Oct. 1981. Thcmas presented an excellent correlation
of slurry viscosity as a function of volurre
9. Smith, M. B., Rosenberg, R. J., and Bowen, J. fraction of solids in 1965. This correlation is
for Newtonian fluids; however, i f the base fluid
F.: "Fracture Width - Design vs.
and the slurry are evaluated at the sane velocity,
Measurerrent," paper SPE 10965 presented at the authors feel the relationship will reasonably
57th Armual Teclmical Conference, New Orleans, approxliPate the non-Newtonian, power law case. The
Sept. 1982. correlation is as follows:

10. Nolte. K. G.: "Fracture Design Considerations ~ .C = 1 + 2.5$ + 10.05$2 +

Based on Pressure Analysis," paper SPE 10911 16.6$
presented at Cotton Valley [Link], Tyler, 0.00273e ••••••••••••••••••••••• (la)
TX, May 1982.
Where: $ = Volurre fraction solids
11. Novotny, E. J.: "Proppant Transport," paper "f' can be converted to oil field units as follows:
SPE 6813 presented at 52nd Annual Technical
Conference, Denver, Oct. 1977.
$ = p + C • •••••••••••••••• (2a)
12. Erdle, J. C., Bell, J., and Bezier, C.: P P
"Results of Hydraulic Fracturing Treat:rcent BHP
The relationship between the slurry density
Analysis in Peru," paper 10310 presented at
and the base fluid density is quite straight
56th Annual Technical Conference, San Antonio, forward and can be written as:
Oct. 1981.

13. Godbey, J. K. and Hodges, H. D.: "Pressure

1 +
Measurerrents During Fonnation Fracturing p = •..•••.••..• (3a)
Operations, " Trans, AIME, 65. r
1 +
Pp
14. Crittendon, B. C.: "The Mechanics of Design
and Interpretation of Hydraulic Fracture Having the relationship for p and ~ , their
Treat:rcents," J. Pet. Tech., Oct. 1959, 21. effect on relative pressure dfop is ~aluated as
follows:
15. laGrone, K. W. and Rasmussen, J. W.: "A New
The general equation for pressure drop of a fluid
Developrent in Ccrrpletion Methods - The or fluid system through a conduit is:
Limited Entry Technique," J. Pet. Tech., July
1963, 695.
2
LlP pv
16. !vlelton, L. L. and Malone, W. T.: "Fluid
LlL = f 25.8d ••••••••••••••••.•.••• (4a)
Mechanics Research and Engineering Application
in Non-Newtonian Fluid Systems," SPE Reprint The friction factor "f" in Eq. 4a is expressed as a
Series, Well Carpletions, Vol. 5, 291. function of Reynold's nunber. The ~9ion used by
the authors is due to Knudsen and Katz and
holds for Reynold's nurrbers fran 3,000 to
17. St:iroulation Fluia Friction Pressure Handbook, 3,000,000. This equation- states:
A Western Conpany Publication.
-0 2
f = 0.046 Re . . •.••.•••..•••.....••. (5a)
18. Thcmas, D. G.: "Transport Characteristics of
Suspension: VIII. A Note on the Viscosity of
Newtonian Suspensions of Uniform Spherical
Particles," J. Colloid Sci., Vol. 20, 1965,
257.

19. Knudsen, J. G. and Katz, D. L.: Fluid

Dynamics and Heat Transfer, McGraw-Hill, New
York 1958.
SPE 12062 R. R. Hannah, L. J. Harrington, and L. C. Lance 7

Canbining Fqs. 4a and Sa and noting that:

Kl p® •••••••••••••••••••• ( 6a )
]..Ia
Yields:

-0.2 2
/<,P = pV ••• (7a)
ilL 2s.8d

or:

.046 ]..1.2 V 1.8 p .8

liP a
ilL = -K-....,·2---;;'-1....,.2---2-5-.8 - - - •••••••••• (8a)
D
l
Solving Fq. 8a using slurry properties and base
fluid properties for equal velocity and pipe
diarreter and defining:

IlP /IlL
sl
CF = liP / ilL •••••••••••••••••••••• (9a)
b
We have:

CF = ]..I~2 p~8 •••••••••••••••••••••• (lOa)

 90

80 '- -------
,....... .. __._- -

70 '-----
V --

I
"",
.....
60
r
r
"- -....J
rn
"
-0
r~
50 \
w
~
::J
'v ~~
f--
IT: 40 '---- ~- ---
~
W
Q
L
W 30 - ---- - - - -- - ---------'
f--

20 -- ------- - - -

10

o
o 20 40 60 80 100 120
ELRPSED TIME (minutes)

Fig. 1-Temperature at the blender inlet vs. time.

50
Tank ~xstem
I 50 Ibm HPG
45 ---- --- 2 40 Ibm HPG
3 40 Ibm HPG
4 40 Ibm HPG
5 40 Ibm HPG
40 --- ---~----
6 40 Ibm HPG
7 40 Ibm HPG
8 40 Ibm HPG
9 30 Ibm HPG
35 8- 10 30 Ibm HPG

Q
u

>-
30 ------I~
1--
H
25
lf1
0 10
U
lf1 20
H
>

15

10

0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160

ELRPSED TIME (minutes)

Fig. 2-Plot of clean-side viscosity vs. time for 10 tanks.

 1.7
0 60 Ibm Cross-Linked HPG
<> 50 Ibm Cross-Linked HPG
0 40 Ibm Cross-Linked HPG
1.6
l:l 30 Ibm Cross-Linked HPG

DC
W
H
1.5 - ._----
...J
0..
H
f-
...J
:::J
L: 1. 4
Z
o
H
f-
U
H
DC 1. 3 I-----+--.-I---c ~__,d_--,...9f~ ---+----+----+-
1....
f- o
Z
a:
0..
~ 1. 2 +-;,....-+-- .---- - - - ._--+---+
DC
0..

1.1 -------~---~

1
o 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
PROPPRNT CONCENTRRTION (Ibm/gal)

Fig. 3-Correlation for proppant friction correction factor-5 1/2·in. csg, 1.9-in. tubing annulus.

1.7
Cr~SS-Linked
I

V
0 40 Ibm HPG
l:l 30 Ibm Cross-Linked HPG

1.6 /

lY II
DC
w
H
...J 1.5 f---. --- --- /
0.. V

~
H
f-
...J
:::J
L: n 0 __ - -
1.4

/'
Z
0
H
f·
II
U

;0
H
DC 1.3 ~- r----- .---
u..
f-
Z
a:
0..
0.. 1.2 --
0/ -._- r---
0
DC
0..
V
/
v --
1.1 --

1
o 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
PROPPRNT CONCENTRRTION (Ibm/gal)

Fig. 4-Correlation for proppant friction correction factor-31f2-in. tubing.

 1.7
Cr~ss-L ; nk'.d
<> HPG

V
50' Ibm
0 40 Ibm Cross-Linked HPG

1.6 f--- /
/
ct:
w
H
--.J
n.
1.5 r-------.- --------- r--- --
/
/
~
H
f-
--.J
:J
L
1.4
z
0
H
f-
U
H
ct: 1.3 --- /
Vo
LL
f-
Z
VOP
~
([
n.
n. 1.2 ----- ---.--
0
ct: V
n.

1.1
/
1
;/
o 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
PROPPRNT CONCENTRRTION Clbm/gal)

Fig. 5-Correlation for proppant friction correction factor-5V2-in. ·csg, 23Ja-in. tubing annulus.

1.7
I I
0 40 Ibm HEC

V
De:
w
H
--.J
n.
1.6

1.5
l
... _--
_.- ----". --~-.-

/
/
/
-- /

/
H
f-
--.J
:J

/v
L
1.4
z
0
H
f--
U
H
De: 1.3 --
VI
LL
f-
Z
([
n.
n. 1.2
0
J / J
ct: V
n.

1.1
1)1g
I
I I

1
V
o 2 3 4 5 6
I
7 8 9
PROPPRNT CONCENTRRTION Clbm/gal)

Fig. 6-Correlation for proppant friction correction factor-31J2-in. tubing.

 II 45 9

w
u
([
l~
10 40 8
DC
::J
Ul
Corrected Pressure
Q
z
([
9
_._ ..
---_.
--------
Non-Corrected Pressure
Rctu a 1 Pressure
35 7 Ul
:0
-_. __ ._-
Surface Pressure Z
Rate t::l
_J Sand
([ M 8 30 6 n
0
::J < Al Z
f-- lS)
l) :0 n
([ --l rl
rl Z
7 25 5 --l
Vl
Q Q~
Al
W
a- :0
[-
a- --l
H
U W
W 00: 6 20 3"- 4 0
Z
00: ::J
DC Ul
0
l)
Ul
W " a-
[ DC
Z 0... 5 15 3 3
0 "-
Z
'"'"
Q 4 10 2
w
f--
l)
W
DC
DC 3 5
0
u

2 0 0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
ELAPSED TIME (minutes)

Fig. 7-Field case-linear plot of treatment variables VS. time.

10000
Corrected Net Pressure
Non-Corrected Net Pressure
Actua 1 Net Pressure

__I
([
::J
f--
l)
([

Q
Z
([ 1000
.J
"- ]::I
W
1--
W l)
00: W
::J DC
Ul DC
Ul 0
W l)
00: [
0...Z
0
1-- Z
w
z 100
]::I
W
f--
l)
W
DC
DC
0
l)

10
10 100 1000
ELAPSED TIME (minutes)

Fig. 8-Plot of log net pressure vs. log time for data shown in Fig. 7.
 8 40 8

w Non-Corrected Pressure
U
IT: Actua 1 Pressure
LL
D::
::J
?
--0--0--
-------- Surface Pressure
Rate
Sand
"
35 ?

II"
[J)

t=l
Z
IT:
6 ," 30 6 ~
Z
'V t::I
I '
r[
.-J
IT: n
(TJ

Lo_o_o__ o_o_ol'o_o_o_o--,.-c.
o /

:.J < o
I-
U
!SJ 5 25 ~ 5 fi
~ 11_ /' o~_
-j fTl
IT: fTl Z

;-----~-- -~--
0 _

t=l
w
- '<>-"
4
1 ') 20 g: 4 ~
-j
AI

/~
I- H
U W
W D:: 3" 0Z
D:: :J .
D:: Ul
(3 ~ 3 15 3
Z
I ~
Q_
,.1"'----------------- ,/ 1\
o
Z
2
, ------ 1\
I\
10 2
t=l
GJ
I-
U
W
D::
D::
o I 5

0~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
o
I o o
5 10 15 20 25 30 35
lLRPSED TIME (minutes)

Fig. 9-Field case-linear plot of treatment variable vs. time.

Corrected Net Pressure

Non-Corrected Net Pressure
Actual Net Pressure
.-J
IT:
:J
I-
U
IT:
t=l
Z
IT:

'<>-t=l
" W
I-
W U
D:: W
:J D:: 1000
Ul D::
Ul 0
W U
D:: I
D- Z
0
I- Z
W
Z
t=l
W
I-
U
W
D::
D::
0
U

100 L-____ ~ ____ L--L~~-L~-L ______ ~ __ ~~~~~~~

10 100 1000
ELRPSED TIME (minutes)

Fig. 10-Plot of log net pressure vs. log time for data shown in Fig. 9.