Rock Heterogeneity Effects on Fluid Diversion During Stimulation Treatment

Rock heterogeneities, such as variations in pore distribution, pore throat diameter, and initial permeability, significantly affect the outcome of carbonate matrix stimulation treatments. A better understanding of the influence of these parameters on stimulation and diversion, especially for the performance of self-diverting acids, is needed for efficient stimulation designs. Carbonate rock samples from six outcrop formations, with permeability ranging from 2 to 150 md, were used in the study. Large blocks were acquired for each outcrop, and several 1.5×6-in. core plugs were drilled from these blocks. Pore structure in each outcrop was characterized by high-pressure mercury injection (HPMI) porosimetry and flowing fraction measured with nondestructive tracer tests. Pore volume to breakthrough (PVbt) for a viscoelastic self-diverting (VES) acid was determined at 150°F for injection rates ranging from 1 to 10 cm3/min. The diversion ability for the VES acid was evaluated by (1) the increase in pressure during VES acid injection and (2) the pore volumes this higher pressure was maintained. The results show that flowing fractions measured by injection of either KCl (potassium chloride) tracer in deionized water or a dilute polymer solution is an effective means for characterizing the pore structure and for predicting the pore volume to breakthrough and diversion performance of VES acids. High-permeability grainstones such as Indiana Limestone, where most of the rock porosity is accessible to aqueous fluids (high flowing fraction), have the largest pore volume to breakthrough and the largest relative pressure buildup during injection of VES acids. Low-permeability rocks with heterogeneous porosity (low flowing fraction) have lower pore volume to breakthrough and had a relatively low-pressure build-up. The results are summarized in a master-curve, which facilitates prediction of pore volume to breakthrough of VES acids from rock properties that can be measured by non-destructive techniques. Correlations for PVbt and the diversion ability of the VES acid are presented, so that the performance of these acid systems can be estimated for formation rocks where direct measuremets of PVbt or diversion are not be practical.