Here on Darcy Connect, the topic of Completions has seen a lot of coverage over the years. Through general scouting, events, and Innovation Concierge requests; a great deal of content has been created and added to the platform. To ensure that there is a good deal of coverage across the full vertical, the Darcy Team has broken up the topic of completions into three main categories: Execution, Characterization and Analysis/Planning. Most recently, Darcy Partners invited Imperative Chemical Partners to present at the 25% Production Uplift Through Frac Fluid Optimization forum.

Access the full (member only) presentation here: Link

As this topic was centered around enhancing production through material science, it is important to look into the more specific sub topics that lie under execution through material science. Historically Darcy has broken this topic into three sub categories of the completions process: Connect, Place and Produce.

Connect

These are technologies that help connect us to the reservoir, like acid systems that can help remediate the near wellbore damage or even products that can assist in general wellbore cleanout. The purpose here is to make a seamless path for fluid to and from the wellbore and reservoir.

Place

Placement is a high priority when it comes to the completion process and the overall design. Place includes Coated Proppant or Wet/dry Friction reducers, both of which have been priority topics amongst Darcy members. The idea here is to develop a fluid system that has the ability to be pumped all while having the rheological properties to move solids or particles into fractures.

Produce

At the point that the connection to the reservoir is made and the fluids can be placed, only now can production chemicals can reach their potential. These chemicals are introduced to impose reactions to boost overall production. These additives are often thought to alter the fluid interface to allow fluids to flow more freely from the start or even used to reduce future scale and keep the well producing longer without further remediation.

Access the full (member only) Framework here: Link

Historically, the broader topic of material science has included some of the downhole tools that might aide in the three categories of Connect, Place and Produce. The examples above would be perforating technologies that aid in Connect and plugs that aide in Place. Recently, the topic of material science was narrowed once step further as it pertains only to completions fluid and actual frac fluid design. The Completions Fluid: Innovator Landscape (Below) still highlights the innovators that fall into the categories of Connect, Place and Produce, but one additional category is influential in the optimized design.

Access the full (member only) Framework here: Link

At the bottom of this framework we have now introduced the foundation of any fluid design:

Test

Though proper testing and identification, engineers are able to better understand downhole conditions. Through the likes of microfluidics and composite core analysis, insights are available to identify the correct chemical makeup for optimized completions fluid.

In this recent poll regarding completions design, nearly one third of operators indicated that they do not regularly preform testing to aide in the design process. While fracture technology and completions design have come a long way over the last decade or more, testing procedures have also seen similar advancement with time. In addition to this advancement, the providers in this space have made testing more accessible and economical for operators.

When it comes to completions design we are interested to hear your comments on the topic: questions, thoughts, feedback, related technologies, emerging vendors, partnerships, etc. Please comment below!