BJ Services Company has placed the 300th LitePlug™ sand plug isolation system in Canada. The system is a composite sand plug consisting of common fracturing proppant and BJ’s patented LiteProp™ ultra-lightweight proppant or FlexSand™ proppant flowback additive. The consolidated material provides a stable sand plug in horizontal cased-hole completions and has been successful in providing isolation at differential pressures exceeding 6,000 psi (41 MPa). This low-risk isolation system offers the industry a quicker, more efficient isolation technique compared to conventional mechanical isolation technologies.

“The 300th field application of LitePlug technology illustrates an industry shift toward more efficient horizontal multizone fracturing practices,” said Brad Rieb, region technical manager, BJ Services, Canada. “The LitePlug isolation technique has gained immense popularity based on its speed, flexibility and low risk when compared to mechanical isolation techniques.”

BJ Services’ LitePlug system is a critical, time-saving component of sequential multifracture completion techniques, in particular, by providing a robust alternative to current bridge plug technology. The process begins with sand jet perforating and annular fracturing. Then, through simple placement techniques, the composite LitePlug sand plugs are used to provide effective isolation of each newly stimulated interval for up to several days. When the well is flowed back on cleanup, all LitePlug system material is easily flowed out of the wellbore. This provides greater operational flexibility and cost savings to operators.

Of the 300 LitePlug systems placed throughout Canada more than 85% have been completed in shale reservoirs; the remainder in conventional gas and oil reservoirs where horizontal drilling is the preferred exploitation technique.

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