Cooling Hydraulic Fracturing Fluid to Reduce Breakdown Pressure

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Solution Overview

Problem

High breakdown pressure in tight gas reservoirs, particularly in deep, highly stressed, low permeability, and high pressure, high temperature environments, hinders hydraulic fracturing operations, leading to increased costs and decreased efficiency due to the difficulty in initiating fractures.

Innovation Solution

A hydraulic fracturing system integrated with a cooling system at the well surface is used to cool the fracturing fluid before pumping it downhole, reducing the formation temperature and subsequently lowering the breakdown pressure, thereby enhancing fracturing efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If high pressure is applied to fracture the formation, then fractures can be initiated and hydrocarbon extraction is enhanced, but breakdown pressure increases leading to decreased operational efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehydrocarbon extraction efficiencyVSAvoidbreakdown pressure

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by cooling the fracturing fluid to sub-ambient temperatures before injection. This temperature parameter change reduces the breakdown pressure of the formation, allowing fractures to be initiated at lower pressures while maintaining hydrocarbon extraction efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The cooling system pre-cools the fracturing fluid before it is pumped into the formation. This preliminary action of temperature reduction prepares the fluid to lower formation temperature and breakdown pressure, making the subsequent fracturing operation more efficient

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If high pressure pumping is used to create fractures, then fracture propagation is achieved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefracture creation efficiencyVSAvoidpumping energy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

By changing the temperature parameter of the fracturing fluid to sub-ambient levels, the patent reduces the energy required for pumping. The cooled fluid lowers formation temperature and breakdown pressure, enabling fracture creation with reduced pumping energy consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If conventional temperature fracturing fluid is used, then standard fracturing operations can be performed, but breakdown pressure remains high in tight gas reservoirs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefracturing operation feasibilityVSAvoidbreakdown pressure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements parameter changes by using cooling systems to reduce the fracturing fluid temperature to sub-ambient levels. This temperature parameter modification enables easier operation in tight gas reservoirs by significantly reducing the breakdown pressure that would otherwise be prohibitively high

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The cooling system acts as an intermediary between the fracturing fluid and the formation. By pre-cooling the fluid, it mediates the interaction to reduce formation temperature and breakdown pressure, making fracturing operations feasible in difficult reservoir conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 cooling system effectively reduces downhole temperature and breakdown pressure, allowing for more efficient hydraulic fracturing by decreasing the pressure required to initiate fractures, thus improving operation efficiency and hydrocarbon recovery.

Implementation Method 1

using the cooling system to cool the base fluid to a cooled base temperature upstream of the pump and manifold system

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCooling: Cooling

Implementation Method 2

using the cooled base fluid to lower a temperature of the tight reservoir formation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS11851989B2Cooling methodology to improve hydraulic fracturing efficiency and reduce breakdown pressure

Publication Date: 2023.12.26 SAUDI ARABIAN OIL CO

AI summary

A method for reducing breakdown pressure at a formation includes detecting a tight reservoir formation in a well and providing hydraulic fracturing equipment assembled together as a hydraulic fracturing system at a surface of the well. The hydraulic fracturing system includes a fluid source containing a base fluid and fluidly connected to a blender and a pump and manifold system fluidly connecting an outlet of the blender to a wellhead of the well. The method further includes connecting a cooling system to the hydraulic fracturing system, using the cooling system to cool the base fluid to a cooled base temperature upstream of the pump and manifold system, pumping the cooled base fluid down the well to the tight reservoir formation, and using the cooled base fluid to lower a temperature of the tight reservoir formation and reduce a breakdown pressure of the tight reservoir formation.