HYDRAULIC FRACTURING TREATMENT DESIGN

Hydraulic fracturing treatments are designed based upon the knowledge obtained from pretreatment formation evaluation to maximize net present values (NPVs) of the fractured wells. Specifications of fracturing fluid and proppant, fluid volume, proppant weight requirements, fluid injection schedule, proppant mixing schedule and predicted injection pressure profile should be planned properly before going to the field operation. A hydraulic fracturing design should follow the following procedure: 1. Selection of a fracturing fluid, 2. Selection of a proppant, 3. Determination of the maximum allowable treatment pressure. 4. Selection of a fracture propagation model, 5. Determination of treatment size (fracture length and proppant concentration), 6. Production forecast and NPV analysis.