Comparison of hydraulic stimulation methods of coals and carbonaceous shales in the Cherokee Basin

Abstract

The Cherokee Basin in southeastern Kansas and northeastern Oklahoma produces gas from Cherokee Formation coals and carbonaceous mudstones. From 1990 to 2009 these coals and carbonaceous mudstones were exploited by several Operators and peaked at over 1,000 wells per year. Activity ceased with the collapse of gas prices in 2008 to 2009. Several different hydraulic stimulation methods were used as well as types of stimulation design to specifically to stimulate individual or multiple seams. The majority of the wells in the basin have over eight years of production history that allows for analysis of the various stimulation methods. Comparison of individual zone completion versus multiple seam completion was done. This study suggests that that cross-link gel was as effective as slick water. Another conclusion is that stimulating individual zones was significantly more effective than stimulating several zones with the same fracture stimulation. Also certain Operators were more effective at maximizing gas production. Several other trends were also identified that will be discussed. While gas prices remain low this analysis allows identification of re-stimulation candidates, behind pipe resources and potential other areas that remain to be exploited.

AAPG Datapages/Search and Discovery Article #90221 © 2015 Mid-Continent Section, Tulsa, Oklahoma, October 4-6, 2015