Stimulating a well means to open up pathways around the wellbore to increase hydrocarbon fluid flow. The process of drilling through rock can damage the walls of the bore hole and seal them with mud cake. The tall column of drilling mud pushing against the walls of the hole can invade into the formation, reducing permeability to a degree that requires some kind of intervention to make the well economically viable. This lesson will walk through the process of hydraulic fracturing and take a look at acidizing, two methods of stimulating a well.
