Geological and engineering appraisal of hydraulic frac sand in some Egyptian localities as a proppant of oil well drilling
Sand that comprises high purity silica grains, in large percent, is of the best naturally occurring grains that can be used as proppants during hydraulic fracturing processes. Proppants are used to increase formations' permeability; to increase reservoirs' productivity, or to reopen plays...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2022-08-01
|
| Series: | Heliyon |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844022015213 |
| _version_ | 1811188176154263552 |
|---|---|
| author | Gaber M.A. Wahab Gamal El-Din A. Ibrahim Amna A.M. Abdel Wahab |
| author_facet | Gaber M.A. Wahab Gamal El-Din A. Ibrahim Amna A.M. Abdel Wahab |
| author_sort | Gaber M.A. Wahab |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Sand that comprises high purity silica grains, in large percent, is of the best naturally occurring grains that can be used as proppants during hydraulic fracturing processes. Proppants are used to increase formations' permeability; to increase reservoirs' productivity, or to reopen plays and utilize unconventional reservoirs. The potentiality of these grains to be used as frac proppants is determined according to certain physical, mechanical, petrographical and chemical evaluations that include particle size analysis, acid solubility, turbidity, bulk density, crush resistance and hardness, sphericity and roundness, mineral and chemical composition. This study shows the evaluation of the silica sand samples collected from Malha Formation in Wadi El Dakhal, Eastern Desert; Naqus Formation in Wadi Qena, Eastern Desert; and Bahariya Formation at Gabal El-Dist area in Bahariya Oasis, Western Desert, Egypt. The samples were examined according to frac sand international standards. The results showed the potentiality of the tested samples to be utilized as frac sand proppants. Wadi El-Dakhal and Wadi Qena studied areas possess very promising samples for frac sand production. But, the quality of Wadi El-Dakhal samples is somewhat better than that of Wadi Qena samples. The samples of Gabal El-Dist in Bahariya Oasis are relatively less to achieve the requirements; however, they can be utilized in shallow depths.The assessment testing of the studied samples revealed a good results and verifying the standard requirements, where SiO2 content is 89.1% in Wadi Qena, 99.3 % in Wadi Dakhal and 78.1% in Gebel El Dist, crush resistance at 5000 psi gives fine percent 4.71 W.Q, 6.78 W.D, and 14.11 B.O, turbidity readings raining from 100.5 to 133.25 NTU, the grain roundness are rounded to sub rounded, and grain size distribution range is 30/50 to 40/70 grading (710 um to 210 um). |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T14:15:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e07eefd884214c769e630a200cce26c8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2405-8440 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T14:15:08Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Heliyon |
| spelling | doaj.art-e07eefd884214c769e630a200cce26c82022-12-22T04:19:33ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402022-08-0188e10233Geological and engineering appraisal of hydraulic frac sand in some Egyptian localities as a proppant of oil well drillingGaber M.A. Wahab0Gamal El-Din A. Ibrahim1Amna A.M. Abdel Wahab2Corresponding author.; Egyptian Petroleum Research Institute, Exploration Department, Nasr City, Cairo, EgyptEgyptian Petroleum Research Institute, Exploration Department, Nasr City, Cairo, EgyptEgyptian Petroleum Research Institute, Exploration Department, Nasr City, Cairo, EgyptSand that comprises high purity silica grains, in large percent, is of the best naturally occurring grains that can be used as proppants during hydraulic fracturing processes. Proppants are used to increase formations' permeability; to increase reservoirs' productivity, or to reopen plays and utilize unconventional reservoirs. The potentiality of these grains to be used as frac proppants is determined according to certain physical, mechanical, petrographical and chemical evaluations that include particle size analysis, acid solubility, turbidity, bulk density, crush resistance and hardness, sphericity and roundness, mineral and chemical composition. This study shows the evaluation of the silica sand samples collected from Malha Formation in Wadi El Dakhal, Eastern Desert; Naqus Formation in Wadi Qena, Eastern Desert; and Bahariya Formation at Gabal El-Dist area in Bahariya Oasis, Western Desert, Egypt. The samples were examined according to frac sand international standards. The results showed the potentiality of the tested samples to be utilized as frac sand proppants. Wadi El-Dakhal and Wadi Qena studied areas possess very promising samples for frac sand production. But, the quality of Wadi El-Dakhal samples is somewhat better than that of Wadi Qena samples. The samples of Gabal El-Dist in Bahariya Oasis are relatively less to achieve the requirements; however, they can be utilized in shallow depths.The assessment testing of the studied samples revealed a good results and verifying the standard requirements, where SiO2 content is 89.1% in Wadi Qena, 99.3 % in Wadi Dakhal and 78.1% in Gebel El Dist, crush resistance at 5000 psi gives fine percent 4.71 W.Q, 6.78 W.D, and 14.11 B.O, turbidity readings raining from 100.5 to 133.25 NTU, the grain roundness are rounded to sub rounded, and grain size distribution range is 30/50 to 40/70 grading (710 um to 210 um).http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844022015213Frac sandHydraulic fracturingSilica sandUnconventional reservoirsHorizontal drilling Western desertEastern desert |
| spellingShingle | Gaber M.A. Wahab Gamal El-Din A. Ibrahim Amna A.M. Abdel Wahab Geological and engineering appraisal of hydraulic frac sand in some Egyptian localities as a proppant of oil well drilling Heliyon Frac sand Hydraulic fracturing Silica sand Unconventional reservoirs Horizontal drilling Western desert Eastern desert |
| title | Geological and engineering appraisal of hydraulic frac sand in some Egyptian localities as a proppant of oil well drilling |
| title_full | Geological and engineering appraisal of hydraulic frac sand in some Egyptian localities as a proppant of oil well drilling |
| title_fullStr | Geological and engineering appraisal of hydraulic frac sand in some Egyptian localities as a proppant of oil well drilling |
| title_full_unstemmed | Geological and engineering appraisal of hydraulic frac sand in some Egyptian localities as a proppant of oil well drilling |
| title_short | Geological and engineering appraisal of hydraulic frac sand in some Egyptian localities as a proppant of oil well drilling |
| title_sort | geological and engineering appraisal of hydraulic frac sand in some egyptian localities as a proppant of oil well drilling |
| topic | Frac sand Hydraulic fracturing Silica sand Unconventional reservoirs Horizontal drilling Western desert Eastern desert |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844022015213 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT gabermawahab geologicalandengineeringappraisalofhydraulicfracsandinsomeegyptianlocalitiesasaproppantofoilwelldrilling AT gamaleldinaibrahim geologicalandengineeringappraisalofhydraulicfracsandinsomeegyptianlocalitiesasaproppantofoilwelldrilling AT amnaamabdelwahab geologicalandengineeringappraisalofhydraulicfracsandinsomeegyptianlocalitiesasaproppantofoilwelldrilling |