Composite Proppant with Polymeric Carrier for Settling Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hydraulic fracturing in the oil and gas industry faces challenges such as proppant embedment, fluid residue blocking pores, inorganic and organic scaling, and poor proppant transport properties, leading to reduced permeability and short-term effectiveness of scale inhibitors.
Innovation Solution
A composite proppant is developed with a polymeric carrier that includes scale inhibitors, featuring a unique shape and composition to slow down settling and provide controlled release of inhibitors, enhancing proppant transport and long-term protection against scaling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If proppant particles are used in hydraulic fracturing, then fracture conductivity is improved, but proppant settles in fracturing fluid due to higher density leading to poor transport properties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent attaches polymeric carriers with specific shapes (disks, plates, stripes, spirals, bundles of fibers, fragments of net or film) to proppant particles. These carriers extend the proppant structure into additional spatial dimensions, increasing hydrodynamic radius and resistance to settling while maintaining the proppant's fracture-conductivity function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates composite proppant structures by combining solid proppant particles with polymeric carriers. The composite comprises both the dense proppant core (for conductivity) and the lighter polymeric carrier (for improved transport), resolving the contradiction between density-related settling and conductivity requirements.
2Reliability
If scale inhibitors are injected into formation during fracturing treatment, then protection against inorganic and organic scales is provided, but the chemicals are easily washed out during production stage leading to short duration of treatment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates scale inhibitors into the polymeric carrier structure before proppant injection. The inhibitors are pre-positioned within the carrier matrix, ready for controlled release during production, ensuring prolonged protection without requiring repeated injections.
Solution Approach 2:
The polymeric carrier provides a sustained release mechanism for scale inhibitors during the production stage. As the polymer degrades or dissolves over time, inhibitors are continuously released, maintaining protective concentrations in the fracture and extending treatment duration far beyond simple injection methods.
3Speed
If polymeric carriers with specific shapes are attached to proppant particles, then proppant settling rate decreases and transport is improved, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses thin polymeric carrier structures (disks, plates, stripes, films) that are simple in form but effective in function. These thin-film carriers provide sufficient hydrodynamic resistance to settling while maintaining manufacturability and avoiding excessive structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes parameters such as carrier size, shape, and polymeric material selection to achieve the desired balance between settling resistance and structural simplicity. By adjusting these parameters, effective transport is achieved without requiring overly complex multi-component structures.
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 composite proppant improves proppant transport and longevity, maintaining high hydraulic fracture conductivity by delaying inhibitor release, thus extending the period between downhole treatments and increasing hydrocarbon production.
Implementation Method 1
by regulating the shape of proppant particles in such a way as to increase their 'windage' (i. e. hydrodynamic resistance to motion of proppant particles through the fracturing fluid), which results in a lower settling rate of proppant particles in fracturing fluid
Implementation Method 2
the polymeric carrier comprises inclusions of at least one inhibitor for inorganic or organic scales
Implementation Method 3
A decrease in proppant settling rate has been addressed in a number of patents and patent applications
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to the oil and gas industry, in particular, to a composite proppant modified by a polymeric carrier for the purpose of improving transport properties and delayed release of inhibitors from proppant. A composite proppant is provided which comprises at least one solid particle attached to at least one polymeric carrier facilitating a decrease in the composite proppant settling rate, where the polymeric carrier comprises inclusions of at least one inhibitor for inorganic or organic scales. The disclosure also relates to a method for manufacturing of such composite proppant and methods for using the same during hydraulic fracturing of a subterranean formation, and for treatment of organic fossils during downhole production after hydraulic fracturing of subterranean formation.