Dual-Function Proppant with Ion Exchange Resins for In-Situ Contaminant Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
The oil and gas industry faces challenges in effectively removing dissolved contaminants, such as heavy metals and naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMs), from water and hydrocarbons produced from fractured wells, as existing methods are costly and often require surface-based treatment facilities that are not always conveniently located.
Innovation Solution
A dual-function proppant composition that includes a contaminant removal component, such as ion exchange resins or zeolites, integrated with the proppant structure or coated on its surface, which can sequester or chelate dissolved contaminants while maintaining conductivity and propping open fractures in the well stratum.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If surface-based treatment facilities are used to remove contaminants, then contaminant removal effectiveness is improved, but treatment cost and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the proppant function (keeping fractures open) with the contaminant removal function by integrating ion exchange resins or zeolites directly into the proppant structure or coating. This merging eliminates the need for separate surface treatment facilities, reducing operational complexity while maintaining contaminant removal effectiveness through in-situ treatment within the wellbore.
Solution Approach 2:
The proppant with integrated contaminant removal capability performs self-service by treating contaminants as they pass through the fractured formation during production. The ion exchange resins or zeolites within the proppant automatically sequester heavy metals and NORMs from the produced water, eliminating the need for external treatment facilities and reducing operational complexity.
2Reliability
If surface treatment facilities are deployed, then contaminant removal capability is improved, but operational cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The proppant performs self-service contaminant removal within the wellbore, treating produced water in-situ as it flows through the fractured formation. This eliminates transportation costs to surface facilities and reduces treatment operational expenses, while the ion exchange resins or zeolites continuously sequester contaminants without additional energy input.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the contaminant removal function from external surface facilities and integrates it directly into the proppant material itself. By incorporating ion exchange resins or zeolites within the proppant structure, the system removes contaminants at the source within the wellbore, eliminating transportation and surface treatment costs.
3Productivity
If proppant is used to maintain fracture conductivity, then production efficiency is improved, but contaminant removal function is not provided
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by integrating contaminant removal capabilities directly into the proppant. The proppant simultaneously maintains fracture conductivity (original function) and removes heavy metals and NORMs through ion exchange resins or zeolites (additional function), allowing a single material to perform multiple roles and improve overall system versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the mechanical propping function with the chemical contaminant removal function by integrating ion exchange resins or zeolites into the proppant structure. This combination allows the same material to both maintain fracture openness for production efficiency and actively sequester contaminants, enhancing overall functional capability.
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 solution enables in-situ removal of contaminants, reducing the need for costly surface treatment and extending the life of well production by integrating contaminant removal capabilities directly within the well, thereby lowering treatment costs and improving water reuse efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The proppant composition includes a contaminant removal component, such as ion exchange resins or zeolites, integrated with the proppant structure or coated on its surface, which can sequester or chelate dissolved contaminants
Implementation Method 2
The proppant composition includes a contaminant removal component, such as ion exchange resins or zeolites, integrated with the proppant structure or coated on its surface, which can sequester or chelate dissolved contaminants
Data Source
AI summary
Proppants for use in fractured or gravel packed/frac packed oil and gas wells are provided with a contaminant removal component to remove one or more of the contaminants found in subterranean water/hydrocarbon from a production well. The water/hydrocarbon cleaning proppant solids may be used as discrete particles in a proppant formulation, as a coating on proppant solids in pores of a porous proppant solid or as part of the proppant's internal structure. The contaminant removal component removes contaminants, especially dissolved contaminants, in the subterranean water or hydrocarbon before the water/hydrocarbon leaves the well. For those contaminant removal components that can be regenerated, such as ion exchange resins, a measured quantity of an acidic regeneration solution can be injected into the fractured stratum for regeneration and recovered when the well resumes production.