Hydraulic Fracturing

Day 1

Foundations, Evolution & Modern Understanding of Fracturing

• Introduction to Hydraulic Fracturing: Principles & Applications
• Historical development: 70+ years of fracturing technology
• Impact of the shale revolution on design practices
• Evolution of fracturing from service to science Field learnings: what fractures really look like - insights from proximity wells, coring, and microseismic
• Fracture types: planar, complex, multistranded
• Stimulated Reservoir Volume (SRV) and effective drainage
• Fracturing applications beyond shale: geothermal, injectivity, damage mitigation

Case studies comparing model-predicted vs. actual fracture geometries

Day 2

Geomechanics, Stress Profiling & Fracture Geometry Control

• In-situ stress concepts: vertical, maximum, and minimum horizontal stresses
• Estimating rock mechanical properties: UCS, Young’s modulus, Poisson's ratio
• Building a simple mechanical earth model (MEM)
• Fracture containment: height growth vs. barriers Stress contrast and interlayer friction
• Fracture propagation modeling: 2D, P3D, PL3D, Q3D
• Asymmetry, tortuosity, and natural fractures interaction
• Perforation strategy and cluster spacing

Build a MEM using synthetic logs and evaluate height growth potential

Day 3

Fluids, Proppants & Transport Mechanics

• Fracturing fluids: types, rheology, and selection (gel, hybrid, slickwater, foams)
• Additives: friction reducers, breakers, surfactants, diverters
• Fluid loss mechanisms and leak-off control
• Proppant types, selection, strength, transport behavior
• Settling and embedment issues in proppant packs
• Fracture conductivity: lab vs field behavior
• Proppant loading, staging, and packing strategies
• Environmental concerns and sustainability considerations

Fluid system design and proppant selection under different formation conditions

Day 4

Fracture Design, DFIT/Minifrac Analysis & Execution

• Fracture design workflow: from data acquisition to job planning
• Introduction to fracture modeling software: GOHFER, FracPro, MFrac
• Using Prats, Holditch, and spreadsheet methods as validation tools
• Minifrac / DFIT Testing:
  • Test objectives and procedure
  • ISIP, closure pressure, fracture gradient
  • G-function and √(t) plots for closure interpretation
  • Common pitfalls in tight formations

• Execution best practices: pump schedule QA/QC, screenout prevention
  Real-time analysis: treating pressure, net pressure, tiltmeters, microseismic

Interpret DFIT data to estimate closure pressure and reservoir pressure

Paper Fracture Design: from fluid volumes to stage sequencing

Day 5

Post-Fracture Analysis, Flowback, Optimization & Economics

• Post-frac evaluation: production diagnostics and pressure trends
• Decline curve analysis and flow regime identification
• Flowback analysis:
  • Interpreting fluid recovery and composition
  • Detecting screenout, residual gel, conductivity damage
• Choke Management & Flowback Optimization:
  • Controlled closure strategies
  • Minimizing proppant returns
  • Balancing cleanup with formation protection
• Refracturing: candidate selection, spacing, and economic triggers
• Economic evaluation: NPV, ROI, payout
• Full-cycle design optimization for development strategy

NPV analysis for fracture designs with different cost/recovery assumptions

Case study on flowback optimization and production outcome

• Critically evaluate, design, and supervise hydraulic fracture treatments for a variety of reservoir types.
• Master quick, spreadsheet-based fracture designs using classical references alongside modern software tools such as GOHFER. A coparative benefits and limitations of different software will enable participants to chose the right software for their application. 
• Understand the geomechanical principles that control fracture propagation, height growth, and asymmetry.
• Apply stimulation concepts to low- and high-permeability reservoirs, sandstones, and carbonates alike.
• Use insights from fracture diagnostics—including pressure analysis, microseismic, fiber optics, and fracture coring—to validate and calibrate designs.
• Perform economic evaluations of different fracturing scenarios, optimizing for maximum NPV.
• Understand environmental and regulatory considerations in fracturing projects.
• Participate confidently in planning and execution teams, making informed decisions about design choices, fluids, proppants, and well spacing.