Calcium Peroxide Polymer Breakers for Well Treatment Fluids
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current breaker systems in the oil and gas industry face challenges with premature or delayed breakdown of viscosified fluids, affecting hydrocarbon production and proppant distribution, with existing breakers like ammonium persulfate having temperature-dependent issues and other options being costly or unstable.
Innovation Solution
The use of calcium peroxide particles classified as non-oxidizers under standard testing methods, which retain oxidizing properties and are used as polymer breakers in well treatment fluids to control viscosity reduction, reducing packaging, handling, and transportation constraints while maintaining effective hydrocarbon recovery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If ammonium persulfate (APS) is used as a breaker, then the polymer network breaks effectively at high temperatures, but the break time becomes unacceptably fast at temperatures above 49°C (120°F)
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical composition parameter from organic peroxide (APS) to inorganic peroxide (calcium peroxide), which fundamentally alters the decomposition kinetics and temperature dependence of the breaking action, enabling stable performance across a broader temperature range
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite treatment fluids containing both the viscosifying polymer and inorganic peroxide breaker, where the interaction between these components creates a system with improved temporal control over viscosity reduction that neither component could achieve alone
2Productivity
If peroxide breaker systems are used, then cost efficiency and effectiveness improve, but classification as oxidizers increases transportation and storage costs
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs calcium peroxide particles that can be manufactured and stored more economically than organic peroxide systems, accepting that the breaker activates and decomposes during the treatment process rather than requiring long-term stability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the chemical classification parameter from organic peroxide (classified as oxidizer) to inorganic peroxide (not classified as oxidizer under standard testing), which removes transportation and storage restrictions while maintaining the necessary oxidizing functionality for polymer breakdown
3Productivity
If breaker reactivity is increased to reduce viscosity faster, then hydrocarbon production accelerates, but proppant may settle out before reaching sufficient distance into the fracture
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates a dynamic breaking system where viscosity reduction progresses continuously over time and distance along the fracture, allowing the fluid to carry proppant to appropriate locations before gradually reducing viscosity to enable hydrocarbon flow
Solution Approach 2:
The invention delays the breaking action until after proppant has been deposited in the fracture, ensuring that the viscosified fluid maintains its load-bearing capacity during proppant transport and placement before initiating viscosity reduction
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 calcium peroxide particles effectively reduce viscosity in well treatment fluids, enhancing hydrocarbon recovery by maintaining oxidizing properties without the drawbacks of traditional breakers, such as temperature-dependent break times and stability issues, while minimizing environmental and logistical concerns.
Implementation Method 1
calcium peroxide particles which are manufactured so as to be classified as a non-oxidizer under standard testing methods, while maintaining oxidizing properties
Implementation Method 2
When APS is used, free sulfate radicals are generated due to thermal decomposition of the persulfate ions upon homolytic cleavage of the peroxo (O-O) bond
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
A treatment fluid composition for treating a subterranean formation penetrated by a well bore is formed from an aqueous fluid, a hydratable polymer and an inorganic peroxide breaking agent, which is classified as a stable, non-oxidizer according to UN standards but which retains oxidizing properties as measured by the content of available oxygen. A method of treating a subterranean formation penetrated by a well bore may also be performed by forming a treatment fluid from an aqueous hydrated polymer solution. This is combined with a stable, inorganic peroxide breaking agent. The treating fluid is then introduced into the formation. An optional crosslinking agent capable of crosslinking the polymer may also be included.