January SPE Denver Section General Meeting January 21, 2026 – Denver

Event Description Abstract

Fracturing fluids play a pivotal role in near-wellbore stimulation, influencing proppant transport and cluster efficiency, while also being critical to minimizing formation damage and maximizing oil recovery. While friction reduction has traditionally guided fluid selection, this study shifts the focus toward subsurface performance metrics that directly impact hydrocarbon recovery.

Ovintiv tested over fifteen friction reducer (FR) products in both fresh and produced water using a comprehensive methodology, including flow loop, regain conductivity, spontaneous imbibition, and emulsion tests, with actual core samples. The primary focus was recovery and fluid compatibility.

The results highlight the importance of selecting fracture fluids based on their overall impact on formation integrity and hydrocarbon mobilization for EOR, rather than solely on surface performance. The findings also underscore that not all HVFR products build viscosity effectively, and that fluid viscosity significantly affects cluster formation and proppant distribution.

A shift in fracture fluid selection criteria is necessary to optimize long-term well productivity by balancing friction reduction with cluster efficiency, proppant transport, formation compatibility, and oil recovery efficiency.

Speaker Bio

Manuel Diaz is a Senior Completions Engineer with over 25 years of experience in the oil and gas industry, including the last 11 years at Ovintiv. Specializing in hydraulic fracturing and well completions, Manuel has led innovative projects across the TMS, Permian, and Anadarko basins, consistently delivering operational excellence and capital efficiency.

He is recognized for his rigorous approach to frac design, advancing cluster efficiency, driving innovations in frac fluid selection, and implementing cutting-edge diagnostics and technologies to enhance well performance and recovery.

Manuel’s leadership in multi-well pad operations, frac monitoring, and collaborative knowledge sharing has set new benchmarks in safety, cycle time, and cost reduction. His technical expertise and commitment to continuous improvement have made him a trusted advisor on cross-disciplinary projects to enhance well productivity and capital efficiency.