2026-02-02 – Weekly Fracking News : Trusting DAS/DTS during frac stages

Last week in the fracking community, discussions centered around operational efficiency and cost management. Members shared insights on leveraging technology like DAS/DTS during frac stages to enhance precision. There was also a focus on optimizing safety without compromising speed, particularly in the context of faster frac stages. Cost-cutting measures, such as shorter frack stages, were explored as viable strategies in current market conditions.


This Week’s Hot Topics

Trusting DAS/DTS during frac stages
This thread delves into the reliability of DAS/DTS technologies in real-time monitoring of frac stages, which is crucial for ensuring precise operations.
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Wireless pressure transducers that stay connected
A practical discussion on maintaining connectivity with wireless pressure transducers, a key factor for seamless data transmission in remote operations.
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Faster stages, same safety bar
Exploring how companies maintain high safety standards while accelerating frac stages, a balancing act many are keen to master.
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One log for LDAR and water reuse
This conversation covers the integration of emissions and water management data into a single log, simplifying compliance and reporting.
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Stop-and-verify on zipper swaps
A practical discussion on the importance of stop-and-verify procedures during zipper frac swaps to prevent costly errors.
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Cutting costs with shorter frack stages
Members share strategies on reducing operational costs by implementing shorter frack stages without sacrificing output.
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Narrow stability window in depleted sand-shale
A technical discussion on managing the narrow stability window in depleted sand-shale formations to enhance well longevity.
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Carter leakoff vs PDL and EUR swings
An analysis of how Carter leakoff models impact production decline rates and estimated ultimate recovery, crucial for forecasting.
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Tying brittleness to stage spacing
Insights into how formation brittleness affects stage spacing decisions, influencing overall well performance.
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When SRV outgrows geology in my sim
A thought-provoking thread on the challenges of stimulated reservoir volume exceeding geological expectations in simulations.
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Looking forward to another week of engaging discussions. Feel free to jump into any topic that piques your interest.

On our last pad, we “trust but verify” the fiber by doing a 30‑sec rate dither before each stage to light up clusters in DAS and cross‑checking the response against the pressure derivative; it flagged a heel‑biased takeoff we would’ve missed. Small caveat: DTS lags about 10–30 s, so during faster stages we watch deltas, not absolute temps — like a rearview mirror in fog.

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I totally get the focus on precision with DAS/DTS, @taylor_jensen47! Last time, we found that running a quick fiber test before stages really saves us from surprises. It’s kind of like checking your oil before a road trip — you want to know your ride’s smooth before hitting the gas, right?

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Trusting the DAS/DTS during frac stages is so crucial, but I’ve learned the hard way that not all fiber is created equal. Last month, we had a surprise with a bad link that slowed us down during a critical stage. We now run quick validation checks ahead of time to avoid those headaches.

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