Maurer Engineering Inc. (MEI) said Aug. 27 it's seeking investors, service companies, licensees, and operators interested in utilizing the company's patent pending new stimulation system technology in shale wells.
Maurer said it's developing a shale stimulation technique that consists of drilling drainholes across hydraulic fractures to improve production in depleted shale wells. The Austin, Texas-based company estimates that its cost will be 70% less than refracking.
The new stimulation system consists of drilling three inch to four and three-quarter inch diameter drainholes from the horizontal well to bypass the constriction zones and provide large passageways from the fracks to the horizontal wells.
The drainholes are relatively inexpensive since they are drilled with small rigs and they are completed openhole or with slotted liners, the company said.
If necessary the drainholes can be fracked using conventional straddle packers and the drain holes can be sidetracked to cross the fracks in different places, providing a lot of flexibility to the system.
The oil and gas production from fracked shale wells deplete by up to 70% in the first two years, requiring refracking every two or three years at a cost of $2 million or more. This high cost significantly decreases the economics of shale wells and causes some of these wells to be abandoned after only 20-30% of the oil in place has been produced.
A lower cost stimulation system is needed that eliminates the need to refrack the wells so often, according to Maurer.
The rapid depletion occurs primarily due to a 10 to 15 foot constriction zone produced at the frack/horizontal well interface during the fracking process. As the wells are produced, small solid particles produced from crushed proppants and crushed formations propagate down the frack and into the constriction zone further plugging the fracks.
Recommended Reading
Biden Administration Hits the Brake on New LNG Export Projects
2024-01-26 - As climate activists declare a win, the Department of Energy secretary says the pause is needed to update current policy.
Political, Legal Fight Over Biden’s LNG Pause Intensifies
2024-04-10 - In 2021, states and the White House had a similar conflict over offshore oil and gas leasing rights.
White House Open to Ending LNG Export Pause in Push for Ukraine Aid, Sources Say
2024-04-02 - Reversing the pause could be tolerable to the White House in order to advance Ukraine aid, in part because the pause has no bearing on near-term LNG exports, the White House sources said.
CERAWeek: Sens. Manchin, Sullivan Say LNG Pause Needs to be Paused
2024-03-20 - U.S. Sens. Joe Manchin and Daniel Sullivan argued against the recent LNG pause announced by U.S. President Joe Biden, saying it creates doubts among allies and creates an opening for competitors as well as U.S. rival Russia.
Tellurian Head Counters Rumors, Says Company is Focused on ‘Commercial Matters’
2024-01-29 - LNG development firm Tellurian is disputing rumors that the company is looking to sell following its hire of financial advisory firm Lazard.