Topic: SPE Paper 152596: Hydraulic Fracturing 101: What Every Representative, Environmentalist, Regulator, Reporter, Investor, University Researcher, Neighbor and Engineer Should Know About Estimating Frac Risk and Improving Frac Performance in Unconventional Gas and Oil Wells.
Who: George E. King, Apache’s Distinguished Engineering Advisor
When: Thursday, May 16, 2013, 11:30 am - 1:00 pm
Location:
Halliburton Energy Services – Main Conference Room
CHASE
Building
1125, 17th Street, Suite 1900
Denver, CO 80202
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of CHASE Building,1125, 17th Street, Denver, Co 80202
RSVP: Amit Sharma 303-899-4762 Amit.Sharma@Halliburton.com
Abstract:
Identification of risk, the potential for occurrence of an event and impact of that event, is the first step in improving a process by ranking risk elements and controlling potential harm from occurrence of a detrimental event. Hydraulic Fracturing has become a hot environmental discussion topic and a target of media articles and University studies during development of gas shales near populated areas. The furor over fracturing and frac waste disposal was largely driven by lack of chemical disclosure and pre-2008 laws of some states.
The spectacular increase in North American natural gas reserves created by shale gas development makes shale gas a disruptive technology, threatening profitability and continued development of other energy sources. Introduction of such a disruptive force as shale gas will invariably draw resistance, both monetary and political, to attach the disruptive source, or its enabler; hydraulic fracturing.
Some “anti-frack” charges in media articles and university studies are based in fact and require a state-by-state focused improvement of well design specific for geology of the area and oversight of overall well development. Other articles have demonstrated either a severe misunderstanding or an intentional misstatement of well development processes, apparently to attack the disruptive source.
Transparency requires cooperation from all sides in the debate. To enable more transparency on the oil and gas side, both to assist in the understanding of oil and gas activities and to set a foundation for rational discussion of fracturing risks, a detailed explanation of well development activities is offered in this paper, from well construction to production, written at a level of general public understanding, along with an initial estimation of frac risk and alternatives to reduce the risk, documented by literature and case histories. This discussion is a starting point for the well development descriptions and risk evaluation discussions, not an ending point.
Biography:
George E. King is a registered professional engineer with 42 years industry experience with most aspects of completion, well construction and well failure analysis. He is Apache’s Distinguished Engineering Advisor. His work has focused on unconventional formations, sand control, perforating, fracturing and well construction risk analysis. Degrees include a BS in Chemistry (Okla. State), BS in Chemical Engineering and Masters in Petroleum Engineering from University of Tulsa where he was also an Adjunct professor in completions engineering at night for eleven years.