Contemporary Developments in Hydraulic Fracturing

Contemporary Developments in Hydraulic Fracturing focuses on some of the key aspects of hydraulic fracturing operations, which are fundamental to the extraction of geothermal energy as well as the production of unconventional hydrocarbon reservoirs. With regard to geothermal energy production, this book presents an economic-based modeling of geothermal systems augmented by hydraulic fracturing, which invariably results in the creation of optimal designs of enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) that boost economic performance. Some innovations in core operations of hydraulic fracturing are also covered. These include novel technologies for proppant placement technologies, screenout detection and avoidance, and the efficacy of carbon dioxide (CO2) based fracturing in shale reservoirs. Because the sulfur content of crude oil is critical to its quality and market value, a special chapter describing a process simulation analysis used to determine the composition of crude oils from selected regions in the world is included. This book is suitable for practitioners and researchers in the field of oil and gas engineering but can also serve as a veritable resource for students undertaking the same or related areas of study.