Fracture Stimulation Experiment in Baca 20

Abstract

The Geothermal Reservoir Well Stimulation Program group performed a large hydraulic fracture treatment in the well Baca 20, located in Union's Redondo Creek Project Area in north central New Mexico. A nonproductive 240 foot open hole interval, with a formation temperature of 520°F, was selected and isolated for the job. The treatment utilized a larger cooling water prepad followed by a high viscosity frac fluid carrying sintered bauxite as the proppant. Post stimulation tests and analyses indicated a fracture was created with a vertical height of about 100 feet at the wellbore. This is the highest temperature well in the world to be successfully prop fractured to date. A number of fracture evaluation techniques were used to analyze the job, including some that are quite unique. Among these techniques were fracture mapping by monitoring the microseismic events caused by the fracture job, downhole pressure data analyses, temperature profiles, electric log surveys, production tests, and chemical tracer monitoring. The post stimulation fluid productivity of the well is subcommerical, probably because of low formation permeability surrounding the artificially created fracture.