Encapsulated Breaker Composition for Controlled Viscosity Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing breakers for viscosified treatment fluids in subterranean formations are unreliable, often leading to incomplete or premature breaking, especially at high temperatures, which can reduce the effectiveness of fracturing operations and hydrocarbon recovery.
Innovation Solution
Encapsulated breaker compositions using a poly(meth)acrylate blend as an encapsulant to control the release of breakers such as enzymes, oxidizers, and chelators, allowing for delayed and controlled reduction of viscosity in viscosified treatment fluids, effective up to high temperature ranges (66° C. to 149° C.).
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If breakers are incorporated into the fracturing fluid, then the viscosity can be reduced after the fracturing process, but the breaking may occur prematurely or incompletely
Solution Approach 1:
The breaker is pre-incorporated into the fracturing fluid in an inactive or dormant state during fluid preparation. The breaker remains dormant during the fracturing operation and is activated only after the fracturing process is complete, typically through a trigger mechanism such as pH change, temperature change, or contact with formation water, ensuring delayed and reliable viscosity reduction without premature breaking
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary mechanism or trigger system is introduced between the breaker and the fracturing fluid matrix. This intermediary controls the activation timing of the breaker, allowing it to remain inactive during fracturing and become active only when specific conditions are met (e.g., pH shift, temperature increase, or contact with formation fluids), thereby achieving reliable delayed breaking
2Adaptability or versatility
If commonly available breakers are used, then the fluid viscosity can be reduced, but they degrade at moderate to high temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The chemical or physical parameters of the breaker are modified to enhance its thermal stability. This may involve selecting breakers with higher thermal decomposition temperatures, using thermally stable formulations, or adjusting the breaker's molecular structure to resist degradation at high temperatures, thereby extending the effective temperature range for breaker operation
Solution Approach 2:
A composite breaker system is employed that combines multiple components with complementary properties. The composite formulation includes thermally stable carriers, protected breaker agents, or synergistic additives that collectively maintain breaker effectiveness at high temperatures, overcoming the limitations of single-component breakers
3Speed
If oxidizers are used at high temperatures, then gels can be broken, but the breaking occurs at narrow temperature ranges leading to rapid viscosity decrease before operation completion
Solution Approach 1:
The oxidizer breaker is pre-positioned in the fracturing fluid but kept inactive during the fracturing operation through controlled storage conditions or protective encapsulation. Activation is triggered only after operation completion through environmental changes (temperature increase, pH shift, or contact with formation water), ensuring delayed breaking at the appropriate time rather than premature rapid breaking
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary trigger mechanism is introduced that mediates between the oxidizer breaker and the fracturing fluid. This intermediary controls the timing and rate of oxidizer release or activation, preventing premature rapid breaking and ensuring that viscosity reduction occurs only when the triggering conditions are met after the fracturing operation is complete
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 encapsulated breaker compositions provide controlled breaking of viscosified treatment fluids, delaying the reduction in viscosity for at least an hour and maintaining effectiveness at high temperatures, thereby enhancing fracture creation and hydrocarbon recovery.
Implementation Method 1
an encapsulated breaker composition comprising: an encapsulant that comprises a poly(meth)acrylate blend
Implementation Method 2
allowing the encapsulated breaker composition to release the breaker so as to reduce the viscosity
Implementation Method 3
introducing a breaker to the fluid that breaks the cross-linking bonds of the polymer gels
Implementation Method 4
oxidizers used at relatively high temperatures often break gels
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to encapsulated breakers and the use of encapsulated breakers for breaking viscosified treatment fluids. One embodiment of the present invention provides a method of providing a viscosified treatment fluid having a first viscosity having a gelling agent, a crosslinking agent, a proppant, an aqueous-base fluid, and an encapsulated breaker composition having an encapsulant that has a poly(meth)acrylate blend; introducing the viscosified treatment fluid in the subterranean formation; creating or enhancing a fracture in a subterranean formation; and allowing the encapsulated breaker composition to release the breaker so as to reduce the viscosity of the viscosified treatment fluid to a second viscosity.