Additive Proportioning in Subterranean Treatment Fluids
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for treating wellbores and subterranean formations with treatment fluids face challenges in maximizing the benefits of friction-reducing additives while minimizing detrimental effects, such as material costs and equipment damage, due to the need for optimal proportioning of these additives during hydraulic fracturing and matrix treatments.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for proportioning additives in treatment fluids using a pumping assembly with multiple injection points, where the additive is injected at different rates into the slurry side and clean side to achieve a desired downhole rate, optimizing erosion reduction and friction reduction while preventing aeration and maintaining minimum operating pressures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the amount of additives in the treatment fluid is increased, then erosion reduction benefits to pumping equipment are enhanced, but material costs increase and detrimental effects from excessive additive occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the additive injection into multiple segments by providing separate injection points for the slurry side and clean side of the pumping assembly. This allows the total additive amount to be divided into portions injected at different locations, enabling optimized distribution that reduces erosion while controlling material usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different additive concentrations to different parts of the system by injecting additives separately into the slurry side and clean side. This local quality approach ensures that erosion-prone areas receive appropriate additive protection while avoiding excessive additive application in areas where it is not needed, thus reducing material costs and detrimental effects.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If friction-reducing agents are added to treatment fluids, then friction and erosion are reduced, but material costs and detrimental effects from excessive additive increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by injecting additives at controlled rates into specific sides of the pumping assembly rather than applying excessive additive throughout the entire system. The additive injection rates are optimized to provide sufficient friction and erosion reduction without exceeding the point where detrimental effects begin to occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters of additive application by controlling injection rates and distribution locations. By adjusting the additive injection rates into the slurry side and clean side separately, the system optimizes friction reduction performance while minimizing material costs and avoiding detrimental effects from excessive additive concentration.
3Reliability
If additive is injected upstream of slurry mixer, then erosion reduction is achieved, but aeration of base fluid may occur causing drop in discharge pump operating pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the additive injection locations into distinct positions: upstream of the slurry mixer, downstream of the slurry mixer, and into the clean side. This segmentation allows selective injection at different locations depending on operational conditions, enabling erosion reduction while avoiding aeration issues that would cause pressure drops in the discharge pump.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by directing additive injections to specific locations within the pumping assembly. Additives can be injected into the slurry side at controlled rates at different locations, or into the clean side, providing localized erosion protection without causing system-wide aeration and pressure problems.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach effectively reduces erosion by at least 35% and promotes laminar flow, minimizing material costs and equipment damage by optimizing additive distribution, thereby enhancing the efficiency of treatment fluids in subterranean formations.
Implementation Method 1
The downhole rate of additive is suitable to reduce friction and promote laminar flow of the treatment fluid in the subterranean formation
Implementation Method 2
promote laminar flow of the treatment fluid in the subterranean formation
Implementation Method 3
at least one of the first slurry side rate or second slurry side rate is suitable to reduce erosion in the slurry side
Data Source
AI summary
A method of delivering a treatment fluid into a subterranean formation and system therefor are provided herein. The treatment fluid is delivered using a pumping assembly, which comprises a clean side and a slurry side. The method includes determining a downhole rate of the additive in the treatment fluid, injecting the additive into the slurry side at a first slurry side location, injecting the additive into at least one of the slurry side at a second slurry side location or the clean side, combining the additive from the first slurry side location with any additive from the second slurry side location or the clean side to form the treatment fluid with the downhole rate of the additive, and delivering the treatment fluid into the subterranean formation.