Delayed Hydratable Polymer Silica Infusion

Solution Overview

Problem

The rapid hydration of conventional hydratable polymers in well treatment fluids leads to excessive viscosity, mixing and pumping problems, and permanent loss of viscosity due to shear, resulting in inefficient fracturing and cementing operations.

Innovation Solution

The use of delayed hydratable polymers comprising a hydratable polymer infused with amorphous silica, which slows down hydration and prevents clumping, allowing for controlled viscosity modification and reduced shear requirements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If hydratable polymers are added to mixing tub in fracturing operations, then viscosity increases to hold proppant in solution, but excessive viscosity causes pumping problems and requires extra hydraulic horsepower

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveviscosityVSAvoidhydraulic horsepower

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-coating polymer particles with hydrophobic material before use. This pre-treatment delays hydration until the polymer is pumped into the wellbore, allowing the polymer to remain in a low-viscosity state during pumping (reducing horsepower requirements) and then hydrate in-situ to provide the necessary viscosity for proppant suspension.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If hydratable polymers are added to water at fast rate, then mixing is faster, but polymer clumps form that prevent complete hydration and reduce viscosity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemixing speedVSAvoidhydration completeness

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses hydrophobic coating material as an intermediary substance that temporarily prevents water from contacting the polymer particles. This coating layer acts as a mediator that delays hydration, allowing polymers to be added faster without forming clumps, and ensures complete hydration occurs after the coating is removed or degraded in the wellbore environment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Stability of the object's composition

If high shear conditions are applied to break up polymer agglomerations, then mixing is improved, but already hydrated particles are over-sheared resulting in permanent loss of viscosity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepolymer dispersionVSAvoidviscosity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-coating polymer particles with hydrophobic material before use. This pre-treatment delays hydration until the polymer is pumped into the wellbore, allowing the polymer to remain in a low-viscosity state during pumping (reducing horsepower requirements) and then hydrate in-situ to provide the necessary viscosity for proppant suspension.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Speed

If conventional hydratable polymers are used, then immediate thickening occurs, but this causes mixing and pumping problems due to sudden viscosity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehydration rateVSAvoidmixing and pumping

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses hydrophobic coating material as an intermediary substance that temporarily prevents water from contacting the polymer particles. This coating layer acts as a mediator that delays hydration, allowing polymers to be added faster without forming clumps, and ensures complete hydration occurs after the coating is removed or degraded in the wellbore environment.

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

This approach enables more efficient pumping with lower horsepower, complete hydration, and consistent viscosity, reducing operational costs and improving treatment outcomes in fracturing and cementing processes.

Implementation Method 1

The particles may be coated with a hydrophobic material to delay the rate of hydration. The coating material may be biodegradable or removable in situ.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEncapsulation: Physical Containment

Implementation Method 2

Hydratable polymers have extensive use in oilfield applications. When the hydratable polymers are added to the water, they hydrate quickly and rapidly increase the viscosity of the aqueous system

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydration: Solvation

Implementation Method 3

The particles may be coated with a hydrophobic material to delay the rate of hydration

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrophobicity: Hydrophobe

Data Source

PatentUS10570328B2Delaying polymer hydration in well treatment fluids by using silica infusion

Publication Date: 2020.02.25 HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES INC

AI summary

A variety of systems, methods and compositions are disclosed. A method of well treatment may comprise providing a well treatment fluid comprising a base fluid and a delayed hydratable polymer, wherein the delayed hydratable polymer comprises a hydratable polymer and amorphous silica. The method may further comprise introducing the well treatment fluid into a wellbore.