Transverse hydraulic fractures from horizontal wellbores

A significant portion of worldwide recoverable hydrocarbon resources is in reservoirs with permeabilities of less than 1 md. Some form of permeability enhancement or stimulation is required to extract hydrocarbons economically from these low-permeability reservoirs. Matrix acidization and hydraulic fracturing are the principal reservoir-stimulation techniques. In an increasing number of fields throughtout the world, production of hydrocarbons is through horizontal wells. While still a relatively rare form of completion, fractured horizontal wells are becoming more common in low-permeability formations.