Potential of Hydraulic Fracturing in Ecuador: Case Study from Guanta-Dureno Field

Abstract

 Ecuador is an oil country mainly with mature fields that present production challenges such as pressure depletion and clogging of the pores due to the migration of clays and fines. Thus, the need arises for a strategy to reduce or remove the formation damage generated by this plugging. The purpose of the present investigation was to determine the potential of hydraulic fracturing in the country, taking the Guanta-Dureno Field as a case study. The methodology examined all the wells in the field and incorporated the selection and economic evaluation of the best candidate wells considering scenaries of WTI prices. The process phases consisted of information reviews such as: current status of wells, mechanical conditions, petrophysics, geology, pressures, production, reservoir potential and economic analysis. As a result, the, selection and hierarchy of 7 candidate wells for hydraulic fracturing was obtanied, whose possible application in a given period was estimated at an increase of 33.8% of the total production of the field, reaching 4.720 bppd and formation damage conditions after fractures within a range of -3 and -5. This evidence of improved production indicates a reliable and economical reconditioning alternative. In conclusion, hydraulic fracturing shows great potential to improve the production of declining oil fields in Ecuador, whose good results will depend on the wide and comprehensive study of the wells.