Water Tracers Evaluate Frac Fluid Profiles and Hydraulic Communication for the Oil and Gas Industry
The SPECTRACHEM® service involves injecting oil and gas water tracers at low concentrations into different frac stages or segments of laterals. Subsequent flowback samples from treatment and offset wells are analyzed providing precise flowback profiles and offset communication.
Common Applications of Water Tracers:
Frac Fluid Cleanup Efficiency
Water tracers measure frac fluid recovery, helping operators determine how much fluid remains in the formation versus what’s recovered. This improves cleanup strategies, reduces formation damage, and boosts well productivity.
Flow Assurance Across Horizonal Laterals
Water tracers monitor water movement to detect and prevent issues like hydrate formation, scaling, and blockages, ensuring smooth production and reducing downtime.
Completion Optimization Strategy
By monitoring water flowback and distribution across multiple zones, operators can adjust completion designs, ensuring that each zone is producing as intended. This feedback allows for more informed decision-making, enhancing well performance, and overall recovery rates.
Hydraulic Communication
Water tracers assess hydraulic communication between different zones or wells. By introducing tracers into specific areas, operators can track how water flows between zones, identifying any unintended communication that could affect well integrity or production efficiency. This information is critical for optimizing well spacing and ensuring proper reservoir management.
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Flow Assurance
SPECTRACHEM® water tracer data identifying a wellbore obstruction between stages 10 and 11. This confirmed the decision to perform a cleanout run and return flow from the full length of the lateral.
Cloud Based Data Delivery
Accessible via interactive dashboard to benchmark against basin metrics such as Known Lateral Contribution and Communication Intensity.
Sample analysis begins at first flowback through 6+ months and includes:
- Dedicated sample coordinator
- Highest QC standards through adoption of
EPA quality control management practices - Parts Per Trillion (PPT) reporting limit
- Formation ion analysis (Na, Ca, K, Mg, Cl)
- Standard analysis completed in <5 days
- Express analysis results within 24 hrs
Compatibility of Water Tracers
SPECTRACHEM® water tracers are compatible with commonly used stimulation fluids and are non-radioactive, HSE friendly, and non-naturally occurring.
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