Degradable Particulate Fracturing Fluid for Ultra-Low Permeability Formations

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Solution Overview

Problem

Ultra-low permeable formations, such as shale reservoirs, pose challenges in increasing fracture complexity and enhancing hydrocarbon production due to their low matrix permeability, which limits the effectiveness of conventional fracturing methods.

Innovation Solution

Pumping fracturing fluids with a degradable solid particulate that bridges the pore throats of a proppant pack, allowing for increased fracture complexity and temporary reduction of permeability to enhance fluid flow, while the degradable material ensures the proppant pack can be reopened for production.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of moving object

If conventional fracturing methods are used in ultra-low permeable formations, then the near-wellbore region can be treated, but fracture complexity and deeper penetration are limited due to low matrix permeability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefracture penetration depthVSAvoideffectiveness of fracturing method

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a degradable particulate material as an intermediary substance that temporarily bridges pore throats in the proppant pack. This mediator allows fracturing fluid to penetrate deeper into the formation by temporarily reducing permeability, then degrades to restore flow paths, enabling both deep penetration and effective treatment in ultra-low permeable formations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the permeability parameter of the proppant pack dynamically by introducing degradable particulates that temporarily block pore throats. This temporary parameter change allows controlled fluid diversion into deeper regions, and subsequent degradation restores the original permeability state, solving the contradiction between penetration depth and treatment effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Length of moving object

If degradable particulate is used to bridge pore throats and increase fracture complexity, then deeper penetration is achieved, but the complexity of the proppant pack structure increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefracture penetration depthVSAvoidproppant pack structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs degradable particulates that serve as temporary, disposable structures within the proppant pack. These short-living objects bridge pore throats only during the fracturing operation to enable deep fluid penetration, then degrade and disappear, leaving no permanent structural complexity in the proppant pack while achieving the desired penetration depth

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Productivity

If permeability is reduced to enhance fluid flow control, then fracture complexity increases, but production capability may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid flow controlVSAvoidproduction capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies a dynamic approach to permeability control by using degradable particulates that temporarily reduce permeability during fracturing to enhance fluid flow control and fracture complexity. The particulates then degrade over time, dynamically restoring permeability and ensuring production capability is not compromised, thus resolving the contradiction between flow control and production reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 increases fracture complexity beyond the near-wellbore region, allowing for deeper penetration and improved hydrocarbon flow to the wellbore, effectively addressing the limitations of conventional methods in ultra-low permeability formations.

Implementation Method 1

a degradable solid particulate that bridges the pore throats of a proppant pack

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBridging:

Implementation Method 2

the degradable material ensures the proppant pack can be reopened for production

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDegradation: Decomposition (biological)

Data Source

PatentUS8697612B2Increasing fracture complexity in ultra-low permeable subterranean formation using degradable particulate

Publication Date: 2014.04.15 HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES INC

AI summary

A method of increasing the fracture complexity in a treatment zone of a subterranean formation is provided. The subterranean formation is characterized by having a matrix permeability less than 1.0 microDarcy. The method includes the step of pumping one or more fracturing fluids into a far-field region of a treatment zone of the subterranean formation at a rate and pressure above the fracture pressure of the treatment zone. A first fracturing fluid of the one or more fracturing fluids includes a first solid particulate, wherein: (a) the first solid particulate includes a particle size distribution for bridging the pore throats of a proppant pack previously formed or to be formed in the treatment zone; and (b) the first solid particulate comprises a degradable material. In an embodiment, the first solid particulate is in an insufficient amount in the first fracturing fluid to increase the packed volume fraction of any region of the proppant pack to greater than 73%. Similar methods using stepwise fracturing fluids and remedial fracturing treatments are provided.