Frac Hits
You’ve most likely heard about fracing or hydraulic fracturing before but have you ever heard of a “frac hit?” In our latest video, we explore what a frac hit is, as well as its significance, some potential mitigation methods, and the reason that operators allow frac hits to continue. Be sure to check out the full video above, but in case you’re pressed for time, below is the summary.
A frac hit is essentially when a well being fraced communicates with one or more nearby wells. This is problematic for the wells that get “hit” as they can often take on a bunch of water (and sometimes sand) which can load the offset well up. Wether or not offset wells get hit from the hydraulic fracturing treatment on a new well (typically) depends on many things such as formation permeability, reservoir pressure depletion, well spacing, and more. Again, if you’d like to hear these things explained, be sure to watch the video.
A frac hit to an offset well (especially a well that is over a year old) can be quite detrimental. Thus, the industry has paid a lot of attention to mitigate the effects or risks of a frac hit. Some of these methods include shutting in the well at risk to build up pressure, pulling downhole equipment, running plugs or packers, and much more.
Once a well gets frac hit, depending on the severity, it might have to be swabbed, cleaned out with a workover rig, have new artificial lift installed, the list goes on and on. Operators will try their best to get the well to recover from a frac hit, however, if it is hit severely and is an older well, it might not be economical to “revive” it. Thus, some frac hit wells will end up being permanently plugged and abandoned.
Be sure to check out our courses designed to help you learn the basics of our industry. In our courses, we cover the steps to hydraulic fracturing, design principles, equipment, the clean out process, and so much more. We’ve even got videos! Be sure to check them out at www.OilfieldBasics.com/learn and see what you can discover next.