OREANDA-NEWS. May 13, 2010. TNK-BP subsidiary Varyeganneftegaz successfully completed testing nitrogen foam hydraulic fracturing at the Verkhnekolik-Egansk field. The first “foam” hydraulic fracturing was conducted at well 3120 pad #132 within the framework of a pilot program for innovative frac projects at Varyeganneftegaz. The well is currently being developed, reported the press-centre of TNK-BP.

The reservoirs at which the technology was tested are characterized by their difficult geologic aspects, including low permeability, high heterogeneity and permeable intervals in their section. The “nitrogen” and “foam” of the hydraulic fracturing is a technology to pump inert gas (in this case nitrogen) together with standard frac liquid during both the late stages and throughout the course of treatment.

This method increases fracture conductivity and allows for quickly and more effectively cleaning the fracture. An advantage of using this technology is that it quickly treats the well using energy from the injected nitrogen. It also limits the growth of fractures because the nitrogen injected into the reservoir has high compressibility, lowering the risk of getting inflow from flooded production and reducing the time it takes to for the well to begin production.