Method for Increasing Productivity of Hydraulically Fractured Wells

Abstract

Method is provided for increase production rate and improving economics of hydraulic fracturing of a well where a fracture can be formed extending a greater distance than the thickness of the pay zone in the well. A settling fluid containing proppant is injected to form a bank or pile of proppant that extends beyond the pay zone.

1 . A method for hydraulic fracturing of a well penetrating a pay zone, the pay zone having a thickness, comprising:
 injecting a fluid to create a vertical fracture extending a vertical distance equal to or greater than twice the thickness of the pay zone; and   injecting a settling fluid containing a proppant to form a settled bank of proppant that extends in the vertical fracture over a vertical distance that is greater than about one and one-half (1½) times the thickness of the pay zone.   
     
     
         2 . A method for hydraulic fracturing of a well using a Fracture Flow Enhancement treatment, the well penetrating a pay zone having a thickness, comprising:
 using measured or estimated properties of rock around the well, predicting the vertical extent of a hydraulic fracture using selected properties of fracturing fluids and fracturing pumping conditions;   injecting a fluid under selected conditions to create a vertical fracture extending a vertical distance greater than twice the thickness of the pay zone; and   injecting a settling fluid containing a proppant to form a settled bank of proppant that extends in the vertical fracture over a vertical distance greater than one and one-half (1½) times the thickness of the pay zone.