Application of artificial barrier technology to fracture height control in fracturing wells

In the process of fracturing, fractures can run through barriers whose their barrier capacity is poorer. And if the aquifer is closer to the producing zone, water cut will rise sharply and fracturing effect will be impacted and even fail. To increase the success ratio of fracturing operation, the fracture height control technology was studied deeply in this paper. The floating diversion agent and settling diversion agent of artificial barrier were experimentally analyzed in terms of floating rate, settling rate, relative floating speed, relative settling speed and barrier stress improvement rate. And accordingly, floating diversion agent KR2 (floating rate 97%, relative floating speed 1.78 and breakthrough pressure increase 7.23 MPa) and settling diversion agent KR4 (settling rate 98%, relative settling speed 1.83 and breakthrough pressure increase 6.29 MPa) were adopted. In the field test, the adding of floating diversion agent implements the best control on fracture height extension, presenting remarkable fracture height control effect. It can be used as the reference for the construction of fracturing wells with fracture height control.