Аннотация
The objective of this study is to analyze pressure increase during Step-Down Test (SDT) in mini-frac operations as a potential indicator of significant near-wellbore pressure losses caused by insufficient conductivity of perforation tunnels in casing-in-casing configurations. The work aims to substantiate that the identified anomalies can be eliminated through reperforation, thereby reducing near-wellbore resistance and preventing screen-out in main hydraulic fracturing job (HF). The study includes an analysis of SDT results from a series of wells equipped with an additional casing string, where a characteristic pressure increase was observed at each rate reduction stage. The analysis demonstrated that proper interpretation of abnormal pressure growth during SDT enables early identification of screen-out risk and its prevention through timely corrective actions. Implementation of the approach in engineering practice would reduce non-productive time, improve operational efficiency, and lower the overall cost of HF treatments.