Acid fracturing treatment performance is largely determined by the achieved effective etched fracture length. Evolution of fracture length during such treatments leads to progressively increasing the acid leakoff rate up to a point when the fracture stops extending. Zonal coverage and fluid loss control in naturally fractured carbonate reservoirs with high permeability contrast are the key challenges during acid fracture treatment.

Nonreactive and reactive polymer based fracturing fluids and diverters were historically accepted as systems that could efficiently control fluid leakoff. The performance of such fluids relies on wall building fluid loss additives, such as polymers. Their deposition on the fracture face forms filter cake that decreases fluid leakoff into the formation. Filter cake on the etched fracture wall could cause skin. Nondegradable particulate fluid loss additives used in naturally fractured reservoirs can be a good leakoff control tool; however, particulates could permanently shut natural fractures off and obliterate their production contributions. Finding the right balance between induced fracture damage and conductivity is a challenge, and avoiding this damage by using nondamaging fluid with major fluid leakoff control properties is the logical problem solution.

A novel fiber laden polymer-free self-diverting acid system was introduced in Saudi Aramco as an acid fracturing diverter to control fluid leakoff, and enhance the diversion process by combining the aspects of both particulate and viscosity based diversion techniques. The fluid system has a distinct advantage in that it does not contribute to formation damage because the viscoelastic surfactant will breakdown upon contact with hydrocarbons, and the fiber will degrade with time and temperature.

More than 25 acid fracture treatments using the novel acid system have been successfully implemented in gas bearing carbonate reservoirs in Saudi Arabia. Unlike the approach used in acid fracture treatments using conventional fluid systems, the degree of diversion was dynamically adjusted to maintain the treating pressure above the fracturing pressure throughout the entire period in these treatments. The bottom-hole pressure (BHP) measurement confirmed superior fluid leakoff control leading to an outstanding diversion performance with excellent gas production increments.

This paper provides details about treatment design, field implementation, and post-stimulation performance for two out of the more than 25 wells treated using this novel acid system.