Elastic Fluids for Hydraulic Fracturing Proppant Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hydraulic fracturing methods require high pumping horsepower and excessive water usage due to the limitations of conventional fracturing fluids in suspending proppant materials effectively.
Innovation Solution
The use of elastic fluids with a hybrid rheology model, characterized by a viscosity of 20 cP-90 cP, which can carry proppant concentrations ranging from 0.1 lb/gl-10 lbs/gl, and are designed to mimic the pumpability of linear gels and the proppant-carrying ability of cross-linked polymers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional crosslinked fluids are used to suspend proppant materials, then proppant carrying ability is improved, but pumping horsepower requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the rheological parameters of the fracturing fluid by using elastic fluids with specific viscosity ranges (20-90 cP) and elastic properties (storage modulus G' and loss modulus G'') to achieve effective proppant suspension at lower pumping pressures, resolving the contradiction between proppant carrying capacity and pumping power requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite fluid systems combining elastic polymers with specific rheological properties, creating a hybrid fluid that exhibits both pumpability of linear gels and proppant-carrying ability of crosslinked polymers, thereby achieving high proppant concentration transport with reduced pumping horsepower
2Quantity of substance
If conventional fracturing fluids are used to transport proppant, then proppant suspension is improved, but water usage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the physical-chemical parameters of the fracturing fluid by introducing elastic fluids with controlled viscosity and elastic modulus, enabling effective proppant suspension at lower fluid volumes and reducing the requirement for large quantities of fresh water while maintaining proppant carrying capacity
3Quantity of substance
If high viscosity fluids are used to carry proppant, then proppant transport ability is improved, but fracture width control deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes elastic fluids with optimized viscosity parameters (20-90 cP range) and rheological properties that provide sufficient proppant transport capability while maintaining better control over fracture geometry and width, avoiding the excessive height growth and width control issues associated with high viscosity fluids
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 reduces the required pumping horsepower, minimizes water usage, and enhances proppant placement and distribution without settling, leading to improved fracture conductivity and reservoir connectivity.
Implementation Method 1
The use of elastic fluids with a hybrid rheology model, characterized by a viscosity of 20 cP-90 cP, which can carry proppant concentrations ranging from 0.1 lb/gl-10 lbs/gl
Implementation Method 2
enhances proppant placement and distribution without settling
Data Source
AI summary
An integrated hydraulic fracture design model that utilizes elastic fluids with high proppant suspension and low required power for injection into a hydrocarbon-bearing, subterranean formation. The integrated physics-based approach utilizes a hybrid friction model to compute viscous and elastic behavior to estimate pressure losses at different pumping conditions coupled with a novel geomechanical model capable of modeling proppant transport with elastic fluids in planar hydraulic fractures and natural fractures. An integrated process to optimize hydraulic fracture design evaluates and quantifies the proppant-carrying capacity of elastic fluids and its impact on the proppant transport process, and low water requirements.