Case Study
Trican Completion Solutions
3 Stage (12 Sleeve) i-Frac
Cemented Completion
Business Needs
Trican was approached by our customer for a multistage fracturing installation. We presented
a comprehensive service package with completion tools, cementing, fracture stimulation
and coiled tubing. The job included a hybrid completion strategy, using Trican’s i-Frac sleeve
(ball drop) technology for part of the job, and conventional plug-and-perf for the remainder,
allowing for a comparison of the techniques.
Trican Solution
Trican’s i-Frac is a cost-effective, cemented in, ball drop activated, multistage frac sleeve
solution. i-Frac’s unique design allows the operator to install multiple frac sleeves per stage for
optimal stimulation, simulating a plug-and-perf operation.
The i-Frac sleeves were used in the first three stages of the multistage frac, installed in a seven
stage hybrid completion design. The job required 12 i-Frac sleeves run in hole, positioned in
the target area of the formation, and cemented in.
Trican’s i-Frac technology
allows the operator to install
multiple frac valves per stage
for optimal stimulation,
simulating a plug-and-perf
operation, but with greater
efficiency.
During the fracture treatment, pressure was applied to activate the rupture disk sleeve installed
at the toe of the wellbore, thereby establishing injection into the formation. For each sliding
sleeve stage, a single activation (frac) ball was dropped to shift the i-Frac sleeve. Each i-Frac
sleeve had the ports/nozzles sized to provide the desired limited entry effect for that particular
stage. Pressure signatures on surface during the i-Frac stages indicated the frac balls had
landed successfully, and the sleeves were activated to open, allowing stimulation fluid to enter
the formation and initiate a fracture. The frac ball seating rate was approximately
2.4 m3/min, with acid pumped into the wellbore to significantly reduce the initiation pressure.
Each stage had an average proppant pump rate of 12 m3/min (75 bpm), with a maximum rate
of 13.2 m3/min (83 bpm) for the stages using i-Frac technology. A total of 130 tonnes
(286,000 lb) of proppant were pumped for each stage, with no indication of erosion on the
seats above. Once one stage was completed, the process was repeated with a larger frac ball
for each subsequent stage.
The use of the hybrid completion method provided a comparison of Trican’s i-Frac technology
relative to the plug-and-perf method, and demonstrated the advantages offered by i-Frac. The
stages completed with the i-Frac sleeves were pumped in nine hours, allowing for increased
efficiency in comparison to the plug-and-perf method, which took a total of four days (one
day for each stage). In addition to the increased efficiency, i-Frac’s reduced need for dedicated
wireline and coiled tubing personnel, combined with a decrease in water required for the
pump down of plugs, provided the customer with significant cost savings.
Montney Limited Entry Ball Shifts
Stage 1
70000
14
Slurry Rate (m3/min)
4 sleeves shifted open with 1 ball
60000
3
Pressure (kPa)
12
4
10
50000
40000
8
30000
6
20000
4
10000
2
0
55 56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
Slurry Rate
Pressure (kPa)
2
1
0
65
Time (min)
Case Study Snapshot
Date: February/March 2013
Project Area: Montney Formation, B.C. Canada
Challenges:
ƒƒ Multistage fracturing installation
Trican Solution:
ƒƒ Hybrid completion method using Trican’s i-Frac technology and plug-and-perf methods
Results:
ƒƒ Increased efficiency with more stages completed in less time using i-Frac technology
ƒƒ Less water required for the pump down of plugs using the i-Frac technology, providing a cost saving to the customer
ƒƒ Decreased need for dedicated wireline and coiled tubing personnel (normally associated with plug-and-perf operations),
providing a cost saving to the customer
Corporate Head Office
Suite 2900, 645-7th Ave SW
Calgary, AB, Canada T2P 4G8
P+1.403.266.0202
WTricanWellService.com
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7614 Bluff Point Drive
Houston, TX, U.S. 77086
P+1.281.716.9194
WTricanWellService.com
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Fabrikkveien 28
4033 Stavanger, Norway
P +47 908 66 888
WTricanWellService.com
522/012015