Blender Apparatus for Dynamic Proppant Transport Fluid Testing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current fracturing fluid technologies, such as slick water fluids, face limitations in proppant transport and placement, leading to reduced fracture area and efficiency, and high costs associated with high viscosity conventional cross-linked fluids.

Innovation Solution

A blender apparatus equipped with an rpm sensor and control unit that simulates downhole fracturing fluid properties and proppant transport conditions, allowing for the measurement and optimization of fracturing fluid composition in real-time to enhance proppant transport and fracture geometry.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If slick water fluids are used to reduce completion costs and control fracture geometry, then cost is reduced and fracture length is improved, but proppant transport capability deteriorates and proppant concentration is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompletion costVSAvoidproppant transport capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by modifying fluid viscosity dynamically through shear-thinning behavior. The fracturing fluid is designed to have high viscosity at low shear rates (for proppant suspension) and low viscosity at high shear rates (for fracture propagation), allowing optimization of both proppant transport and fracture geometry without increasing cost

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses dynamic viscosity adjustment through shear rate variations. The fluid transitions from a more viscous state during proppant transport to a less viscous state during fracture extension, enabling the fluid to adapt its properties to different operational requirements within the same treatment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Length of moving object

If high pump rates are used with slick water fluids to increase propped fracture length, then fracture length is improved, but equipment wear increases and treatment control deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepropped fracture lengthVSAvoidequipment wear

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the viscosity parameter of the fracturing fluid to reduce pump rates. By using a viscosified fluid that maintains high viscosity during proppant transport, the system achieves effective proppant suspension and placement at lower pump rates, thereby reducing equipment wear while still achieving the desired fracture length

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If high viscosity conventional cross-linked fluids are used to improve proppant transport, then proppant transport capability is improved, but treatment cost increases and fracture geometry deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproppant transport capabilityVSAvoidtreatment cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs dynamic viscosity adjustment where the fluid exhibits high viscosity during proppant transport phases and low viscosity during fracture propagation phases. This eliminates the need for permanently high-viscosity cross-linked fluids, reducing treatment cost while maintaining proppant transport capability when needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the viscosity parameter dynamically through shear rate dependence rather than using chemical cross-linking to achieve high viscosity. This allows the fluid to provide proppant transport support only when necessary (at low shear rates) while maintaining low viscosity for cost-effective fracture propagation (at high shear rates)

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Area of stationary object

If slick water fluids are used to achieve desired fracture geometry, then fracture area is improved, but proppant concentration is limited and propped fracture area deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefracture areaVSAvoidpropped fracture area

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by using shear-thinning viscosity to maintain high proppant concentration throughout the fracture. The fluid's high viscosity at low shear rates ensures effective proppant suspension and uniform distribution, maximizing propped fracture area while still achieving the desired overall fracture geometry

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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

The solution enables improved proppant transport and fracture efficiency by accurately modeling and optimizing fracturing fluid behavior, reducing the need for high viscosity fluids and minimizing equipment wear, while maintaining effective well productivity.

Implementation Method 1

an rpm sensor, an rpm control unit, and a rpm display unit

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRPM sensing:

Data Source

PatentUS11236609B2Apparatuses, systems, and methods for dynamic proppant transport fluid testing

Publication Date: 2022.02.01 PFP IND LLC

AI summary

Apparatuses and systems and methods implementing the apparatuses and systems include a blender base unit having an rpm sensor and the methods determines a minimum rpm value that is converted to a shear rate, a fluid velocity rate, and an estimated maximum fracture width.