Coke Proppant Fracturing Fluids With Low-Viscosity Carriers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hydraulic fracturing methods using conventional proppants and carrier fluids face challenges such as high cost, limited hydrocarbon recovery rates, and formation damage due to the use of high-viscosity gels, which affect the permeability and conductivity of subterranean formations.
Innovation Solution
The use of coke proppant particles combined with a low-base-viscosity carrier fluid, comprising gases like CO2, natural gas, or nitrogen, effectively transports proppant particles into fractures, reducing the need for viscosifying agents and minimizing formation damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high-viscosity gels are used as carrier fluid, then proppant transport capability is improved, but formation damage occurs due to reduced permeability and conductivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the viscosity parameter of the carrier fluid from high-viscosity gels to low-viscosity fluids (water, CO2, nitrogen, or hydrocarbon-based fluids with viscosity less than 100 cP, preferably less than 10 cP). This parameter change maintains proppant transport capability while eliminating formation damage caused by high-viscosity gels blocking pore spaces and reducing permeability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates viscosifying agents from the fracturing fluid formulation. By using low-viscosity carrier fluids without polymers or gel-forming additives, the harmful effects of viscosity-induced formation damage are removed while proppant transport is achieved through optimized fluid selection and injection parameters.
2Reliability
If conventional proppants are used, then fracture conductivity is maintained, but hydrocarbon recovery rate is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite proppant systems combining conventional proppants (sand, ceramic beads) with coke particles. This composite approach maintains fracture conductivity through the conventional proppant framework while coke particles enhance hydrocarbon recovery by reducing capillary pressure and improving fluid flow through the fracture network, achieving both objectives simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different proppant materials with specific local properties: conventional proppants provide structural support and conductivity in the fracture core, while coke particles are distributed to enhance permeability and reduce capillary effects in the fracture zone, creating localized functional zones that collectively improve both conductivity and recovery.
3Quantity of substance
If viscosifying agents are used to transport proppant, then proppant delivery is improved, but costs increase and formation damage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates viscosifying agents (polymers, gel-forming additives) from the fracturing fluid system. Proppant delivery is achieved without these additives by using low-viscosity carrier fluids combined with optimized injection rates and pressure parameters, thereby eliminating the additional costs of polymer materials and chemical treatments while avoiding formation damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces expensive polymer-based viscosifying agents with inexpensive low-viscosity carrier fluids (water, CO2, nitrogen, or simple hydrocarbons). These simple fluids serve their purpose of proppant transport during the fracturing operation without requiring costly chemical additives, reducing overall treatment costs while maintaining effective proppant delivery.
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 enhances hydrocarbon recovery by promoting deeper penetration and better fracture geometry, reducing costs, and preventing formation damage, while maintaining fracture conductivity.
Implementation Method 1
Hydraulic fracturing typically involves the pumping of large quantities of fracturing fluid into a subterranean formation (e.g., a low-permeability formation) under high hydraulic pressure to promote the formation of one or more fractures
Implementation Method 2
The use of coke proppant particles combined with a low-base-viscosity carrier fluid, comprising gases like CO2, natural gas, or nitrogen, effectively transports proppant particles into fractures
Implementation Method 3
hydraulic fracturing, which is a commonly used for unconventional reservoirs. Hydraulic fracturing typically involves the pumping of large quantities of fracturing fluid into a subterranean formation under high hydraulic pressure to promote the formation of one or more fractures within the matrix of the formation
Implementation Method 4
Upon pressure release, the proppant particles remaining in the fractures keep the fractures open by preventing them from collapsing, facilitating the flow of the desired resource from the fractured formation into the wellbore through the propped fractures
Data Source
AI summary
A method comprises hydraulically fracturing a subterranean formation by introducing a fracturing fluid comprising coke proppant particles and a carrier fluid into the formation, where the carrier fluid has a base viscosity of at most 0.8 centipoise (cP) at 25 degrees Celsius (° C.). A hydrocarbon well comprises a wellbore that extends within a formation, a production casing string that extends within the wellbore, perforation clusters formed within the production casing string, hydraulic fractures formed in the formation proximate to the perforation clusters, and a fracturing fluid comprising coke proppant particles and a carrier fluid within at least a portion of the hydraulic fractures, where the carrier fluid has a base viscosity of at most 0.8 cP at 25° C. Another method comprises providing a carrier fluid having a viscosity of at most 0.8 cP at 25° C. and forming a fracturing fluid comprising the carrier fluid and coke proppant particles.