Restimulating a late-life Bakken well without a re-frac
An operator wanted more oil and gas from a well late in its life, at a lower cost than a re-frac. OneCor designed an acid and chemical treatment and ran the whole job with our own product, trucks, storage, and pumps.
The challenge
The well was spud in 2005 with a one-mile lateral. Before it went down, it averaged 3.6 barrels of oil a day over the trailing six months. Previous pump report showed acid-soluble material.
The operator's goals:
- Increase oil and gas production.
- Keep the job cost well below a re-frac.
- Reduce HCl acid handling and HSE exposure by using OneCor's synthetic acid instead.
Why this well
It fit the profile our engineers look for: an older well with depleting production, a high scaling tendency, a history of paraffin, and re-frac economics that didn't pencil out. That made it a good candidate for a lower-capital chemical treatment.
What we did
Qualified the well
Reviewed the well history, production, and the pump report pointing to acid-soluble material.
Designed the job
An acid squeeze treatment with stages of acid and water pumped down the casing at 6 bbl/min followed by an overflush. The goal was to spot the acid in the near wellbore, not sweep the lateral.
Supplied and staged it
OneCor products, OneCor drivers and transports, a OneCor acid storage tank, and our winch truck to set it and take it out.
Pumped it
OneCor pumps, run by operators who understand the chemistry. Pressure test, injection, three acid stages, overflush. The well was shut in for 24 to 48 hours.
Measured it
Daily production was tracked against baseline for the next 365 days.
The acid
OneCor's synthetic acid reacts at a rate similar to 15% HCl, with slight retardation so it doesn't spend instantly. It cleans up acid-soluble material with far less corrosion on standard metals, and it's vapor-free and safer to handle.
The results
OneCor's chemical intervention exceeded the job target and brought a depleted well back to life. Production averaged 52 barrels a day over the first 60 days and 35 barrels a day over 255 days, against 3.6 barrels a day before the well went down. The job paid for itself in 16 days.
Results are from one trial well. Results vary by well, which is why our engineers review your well file before recommending a job.
What OneCor provided
Job design
Candidate review and a written procedure
Chemistry
Acid and supplemental chemical blended by OneCor
Logistics & storage
Transports, drivers, storage tank, winch truck
Pumping
OneCor pumps and operators on location
Have a well or system like this?
Send us what it's doing
Send the well history, current production, and what's already been tried. Our engineers will tell you whether a job pays back before you commit to it.