Welcome to Petroleum Geology Forums

The method includes firing a string shot UNDER PRESSURE in the vicinity of the desired fractures.
This will initiate fractures in every direction (see attachment) which must then be extended and
Propped by conventional methods.



Kettleman N Dome Field
11-22S-17E
Kings County, California
March 1, 2001

Packer 8,790 Ft.
Perfs from 8825 to 8850—4 per ft total 120
Charge centered at 8854 ft.

Charge—4 strands 80 grain/ft HMX Primacord 20 ft long.
Fired at surface pressure of about 2,000 lbs per ft.

Post frac model matches frac data by assuming 4 parallel fracs, indicating possible
Branches to natural fracs or sand stringers some distance from the wellbore.

After cleanup, well flowed about 100 B per day.


James Johnson JamJohns214@cs.com
Los Alamos, New Mexico

Dear Jim,

Is the Kettleman N Dome still producing, or was this technique one of the last methods to extend it's lifetime? And, was this in the Kreyenhagen Formation? This is one of the most interesting fields for US oil history and I believe it was also featured in a film... can't remember the name though.
Have you been active in the area for a long time?

your attachment didn't upload succesfully by the way...

I am on an old computer here because my other one crashed. Don't know if the Kettleman field is still active. When we stimulated the well in question there were lots of pumps going, but none were making more that 10 barrels per day. Why don't you write me at jamjohns214@cs.com, and I can send you more attachments?
Stumbled on the fracturing technique while handling the explosives for the Los Alamos Hot Dry Rock geothermal energy project.
Jim.