Emulsified Fluid System for Proppant Suspension Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

In hydraulic fracturing, proppant particulates often settle out of treatment fluids before reaching their target interval in subterranean formations, leading to impaired fracture conductivity and production, and the use of gelling and crosslinking agents to prevent settling is costly and can cause pumpability issues.

Innovation Solution

An oil-external emulsified fluid system is used, comprising a dimer acid, an aqueous base fluid, and an oil base fluid, along with an emulsifier, to form a stable emulsion that suspends proppants effectively within the fluid, allowing for improved vertical proppant suspension and distribution during hydraulic fracturing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If gelling and crosslinking agents are used to prevent proppant settling, then proppant suspension is improved, but cost increases and pumpability issues occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproppant suspension stabilityVSAvoidpumpability

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the treatment fluid by using hydrophobic proppants with contact angles of at least 90 degrees, rather than relying on gelling agents. This parameter change (surface hydrophobicity) fundamentally alters how proppants interact with the fluid, enabling suspension without the viscosity-increasing side effects of gelling agents.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces expensive, problematic gelling and crosslinking agents with a simpler system based on hydrophobically modified proppants. The modification uses relatively inexpensive hydrophobic coatings that can be applied to standard proppant materials, eliminating the need for costly chemical additives while maintaining suspension stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Stability of the object's composition

If gelling and crosslinking agents are used to prevent proppant settling, then proppant suspension is improved, but treatment cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproppant suspension stabilityVSAvoidcost of gelling and crosslinking agents

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts and removes the need for gelling and crosslinking agents from the treatment fluid system. By transferring the suspension function to the proppant surface properties themselves, the system eliminates these costly additives entirely, reducing treatment costs while maintaining proppant suspension stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If proppant particulates are suspended in treatment fluid, then fracture conductivity is improved, but proppant settling occurs before reaching target interval

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefracture conductivityVSAvoidproppant suspension stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the proppants by applying hydrophobic coatings that create contact angles of at least 90 degrees. This parameter change fundamentally alters the interfacial properties between proppant and treatment fluid, preventing settling and ensuring proppants reach the target fracture interval while maintaining suspension stability throughout transport.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 emulsified fluid system enhances proppant suspension and distribution, reducing the need for costly gelling agents and minimizing premature viscosity increases, thereby improving fracture conductivity and hydrocarbon production.

Implementation Method 1

an oil-external emulsion fluid system comprises a dimer acid, sand, an emulsifier, an oil base fluid, and an aqueous base fluid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEmulsion: Emulsion

Implementation Method 2

combining a dimer acid; sand; an emulsifier; an oil base fluid; and an aqueous base fluid to form an oil-external emulsified fluid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurface tension reduction: Surfactant

Implementation Method 3

the proppant may be a hydrophobic proppant or a proppant that has been hydrophobically modified

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrophobic effect: Hydrophobe

Data Source

PatentUS11060010B2Emulsified fluid system for fracturing application

Publication Date: 2021.07.13 HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES INC

AI summary

A method of treating in a subterranean formation including combining a dimer acid; proppant; an emulsifier; an oil base fluid; and aqueous base fluid to form an oil-external emulsified fluid; and introducing the oil-external emulsified fluid into the subterranean formation. A method of forming a wellbore fluid including combining proppant; a dimer acid; an aqueous base fluid, an oil base fluid, and an emulsifier to form a pre-emulsified fluid; and mixing the pre-emulsified fluid to form an oil-external emulsified fluid.