Thermally Induced Fracturing of Ula Water Injectors

Abstract

This paper describes the impact that thermally induced fracturing (TIF) has had on the North Sea Ula field injection wells, allowing higher than anticipated water injection rates to be achieved. This work also discusses how thermal stress reduced fracture propagation pressures by 2,000 psi and how a 3D simulation code developed to model TIF was used. Injection-water-quality specifications and techniques to optimize TIF are presented.