Hiway Flex™ customizable flow-channel fracturing technology enabled better production compared with the traditional treatment while reducing up to 40% proppant, 30% water, and 25% carbon emissions. Operators minimized screenout risks as well as achieved higher cost efficiency per barrel of hydrocarbons produced.
Traditional hydraulic fracturing operations involve continuously pumping large volumes of proppant or sand pack, which are transported using engineered rheology fluids. As operators aim for higher drainage and cost efficiency, they are shifting toward longer lateral wells and increasing the number of stages per well. This results in larger-scale operations that demand more proppant, water, and other services and equipment, as well as increased logistical and transportation needs. In some cases, products must be transported by truck over distances exceeding 500 km, which presents challenges for the operator in geographically remote locations. In addition, the possibility of a screenout can become cost prohibitive if coiled tubing must be mobilized to a remote location for a cleanout job. Furthermore, as stimulation jobs have grown in size, the emissions footprint has also increased. Therefore, it is crucial to reduce proppant, chemicals, water, and equipment requirements while promoting more sustainable production.
The Hiway Flex technology decouples fracture productivity from proppant permeability and creates flow channels. Instead of flowing through proppant in the pack, hydrocarbons flow through channels, while the proppant acts as pillars within the fracture. This enables better production compared with the traditional treatment while reducing up to 40% proppant, 30% water, and 25% carbon emissions. Operators minimize screenout risks as well as achieve higher cost efficiency per barrel of hydrocarbons produced. This is achieved by reducing the material required and subsequent time associated with handling, transportation, and pumping—simplifying logistics.
