Problematic Shale Zones: Lower Pressure, Faster Completion, Higher Production

MicroHOLD addresses fundamental fracking and production challenges in hard rock formations.

Hydraulic fracturing in hard rock formations presents operators with persistent challenges that impact both efficiency and production. TenEx Technologies' MicroHOLD® solution addresses these fundamental issues by providing a novel approach to handling difficult geological conditions.

The Costly Reality of Hard Formation Fracking

Screen-Outs

The hydraulic fracturing industry faces a $2.7 billion annual problem in lost frac services due to an industry average 5% screen-out rate. Screen-outs force immediate pumping shutdowns and affect up to 25% of well completions in hard and difficult rock formations. Operators need to perform expensive interventions at each screen out, costing upwards of $150,000 when accounting for lost production time and cleanout operations.

Inefficient Operations

Inefficient fracking operations create additional costs beyond screen-outs. With frac spreads often costing upwards of $100,000 per day, every additional hour of operational time represents material expenses. During fracs, higher treatment pressures and sand flowback lead to increased equipment wear and maintenance, with each high-pressure pump replacement costing upwards of $750,000. Additionally, slower pump rates and extended stage completion times multiply these costs across multi-well pad operations, potentially adding millions to development expenses.

Lost Production

Beyond operational costs, these challenges can result in unsuccessful stages on the lateral, leading to less stimulated areas which causes lost production and reserves.

The MicroHOLD® Difference: Engineering at the Micro Level

TenEx Technologies has created MicroHOLD®, an advanced aqueous slurry featuring glass-quality micro-silica particles averaging 20-25 microns (550-625 mesh). These particles are 10 times smaller and settle 55 times slower than standard 100 mesh proppant. MicroHOLD® tackles fracturing challenges at their core by fundamentally changing the rock-fracking interaction.

The microparticles in MicroHOLD® work in multiple ways to improve fracking efficiency:

Decreasing “Perf” friction - Allowing for higher pump rates with less pressure
Reducing near-wellbore fracture tortuosity - Creating smoother pathways for proppant placement
Controlling fluid leak-off - Maintaining optimal fluid efficiency

Operational Efficiency: Field Data

MicroHOLD® has been field-proven across multiple challenging basins in the United States and Canada, including the DJ, Powder River, Delaware, Midland, Haynesville, Eagle Ford and Anadarko basins. As of January, MicroHOLD® has been pumped in more than 45,000 stages, with great results that increase efficiency and directly translate to the bottom line:

Screen-out reduction: Failure rates decreased from 2.86% to just 0.66% in comparative testing

Lower treatment pressures: Average decrease of 317 psi/stage (5% decrease) which can extend pump life by up to 15-20%

Reduced pump times: Average decrease of 7 minutes/stage (12% shorter operations)

Higher pump rates: In problematic zones, rates increased from 80-100 bpm to 120-130 bpm

Case Studies

MicroHOLD® has demonstrated exceptional performance across various challenging formations with more case studies in additional formations in the works:

Wolfcamp C Formation (Delaware Basin) Hard Wolfcamp formations present some of the most difficult fracking challenges in the Permian Basin. MicroHOLD® treatment in these formations enabled consistent proppant placement with higher pump rates and less risk of screen-outs and has shown 17-20% increases in production over 7 months.

Codell Formation (DJ Basin) In the notoriously challenging Codell Formation in Colorado, operators using MicroHOLD® reduced pump time by up to 12% while maintaining full proppant loading. This allowed completion of problematic zones that previously experienced screen-outs, saving significant operational costs.

Niobrara Formation (DJ Basin) Operations in the Niobrara B Formation demonstrated MicroHOLD®'s ability to decrease treatment pressures consistently across multiple wells, with an average reduction of 317 psi per stage. Lower pressures mean less wear on equipment and reduced risk of operational failures.

Mowry Formation (Powder River Basin) In the hard rock conditions of the Mowry Formation in Wyoming, MicroHOLD® treatment delivered both operational improvements and increased production, with 8-22% higher cumulative production compared to control wells.

Implementation: Seamless Integration into Existing Operations

One of MicroHOLD®'s key advantages is how easily it integrates into existing fracking operations:

Delivered to wells in standard totes or fluid/ISO tankers
Can be injected into the wellbore during the pump-down process or as part of the pre-pad during hydraulic fracturing
Typically used at 300-500 gallons per stage
Can be applied as an additive to the pad or as a concentrated pill

The treatment requires no specialized equipment or significant operational changes, making it a straightforward addition to completion programs in challenging formations.

Beyond Operational Efficiency: The Production Bonus

While fracking service companies are primarily incentivized by operational efficiency rather than long-term production, operators benefit from both. MicroHOLD® not only improves fracking operations but also delivers meaningful production enhancements:

DJ Basin Codell Formation: 17% increase in production over 19 months

MicroHOLD increased production in the DJ Basin Codell Formation by 17%

DJ Basin Niobrara B Formation: 5% increase in production over 36 months

MicroHOLD increased production in the DJ Basin Niobrara Formation by 5%

Powder River Basin Mowry Formation: 8-22% increase in production over 10 months

MicroHOLD increased production in the Powder River Basin Mowry Formation by 8-22%

Delaware Basin Wolfcamp C: 17-20% increase in production over 7 months

MicroHOLD increased production in the Delaware Basin Wolfcamp C by 17-20%

Tracer testing in the San Andres Formation confirmed that MicroHOLD® enhances the connected fracture network, with 48% higher oil tracer concentration and 33% higher water tracer concentration in MicroHOLD®-treated stages.

MicroHOLD significantly enhanced the connected fracture network in the San Andres Formation

Conclusion: A New Standard for Hard Formation Completions

By reducing friction and tortuosity in the near wellbore, minimizing screen-out probability, and lowering pump times and pressures, MicroHOLD® delivers measurable operational efficiencies for completion engineers and fracking service companies while increasing long-term production for operators.

With more than 45,000 stages successfully completed across multiple challenging basins, MicroHOLD® is setting a new standard for efficient completions in unconventional, hard formations. As the industry continues to seek solutions that improve operational efficiency while enhancing ultimate recovery, TenEx Technologies' innovative approach is transforming operational challenges into demonstrated success in even the most difficult formations.