Raft River Well Stimulation Experiments

Abstract

The Geothermal Reservoir Well Stimulation Program performed two field experiments at the Raft River KGRA in 1979. The first well stimulation experiment, performed on Well RRGP-4, used the "Kiel" dendritic fracturing process. A 200 foot vertical fracture was created at the wellbore. Post-stimulation production data indicate that the Well RRGP-4 productivity was improved, but not to the hoped for level of other wells in the field. The second well stimulation experiment, performed on Well RRGP-5, was a conventional massive hydraulic fracture treatment. A new vertical fracture of 140+ feet was created. Production tests suggested that the hydraulically created fracture intersected natural fractures very near the wellbore or intersected leg A. Although the final well production rates were not as high as desired, the field experiments were technically successful in creating the artificial hydraulic fractures planned and have contributed significantly to the development of geothermal well stimulation technology.