The development of an oil or gas reservoir typically follows several stages, including exploration, appraisal, well drilling, completion, stimulation, and production. Hydraulic fracturing is part of the well stimulation stage, which occurs after a well has been drilled and completed, but before production begins.
Once a reservoir has been discovered and evaluated, wells are drilled to access the hydrocarbon-bearing formation. However, drilling a well alone does not always guarantee economically viable production. Many reservoirs, especially those with low permeability, do not allow hydrocarbons to flow easily toward the wellbore. In such cases, additional treatments are needed to improve the connection between the well and the reservoir.
Hydraulic fracturing is utilized during the well completion and stimulation phase to enhance this connection. During a fracturing treatment, fluid is injected into the formation at pressures high enough to create fractures in the rock. These fractures extend away from the wellbore and are typically kept open with solid particles called proppants, which help maintain conductive pathways for fluid flow after the pumping ceases.
Creating artificial flow pathways through hydraulic fracturing expands the effective drainage area and improves production rates. In conventional reservoirs, fracturing helps bypass near-wellbore damage or increases productivity. For unconventional reservoirs like shale formations and tight sandstones, hydraulic fracturing is often crucial because the natural permeability of these rocks is very low.
In modern field development, hydraulic fracturing is typically paired with horizontal drilling, enabling fractures to reach a larger area of the reservoir. Multiple fracture stages are commonly carried out along a horizontal wellbore to enhance reservoir contact and boost hydrocarbon extraction.
