Flowback Control Framework for Proppant Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hydraulic fracturing operations face challenges in optimizing fluid flowback during fracture closure, leading to proppant loss, settling, and reduced fracture conductivity due to inadequate control over proppant flowback and crushing.
Innovation Solution
An intelligent decision-making method, referred to as an expert system, evaluates the necessity of forced flowback based on local formation properties and system behavior, utilizing a flowback control framework for real-time adjustment of fluid flowback rates to achieve desired fracture closure and propped fracture geometry, optimizing user-defined objectives such as maximizing production or minimizing proppant settling and crushing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If proppant is allowed to flowback into the wellbore with formation and treatment fluids, then proppant settling in the fracture is decreased, but proppant loss from the formation fractures back to the wellbore increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the flowback rate based on real-time conditions during fracture closure. The flowback rate is not fixed but continuously optimized to balance proppant suspension (preventing settling) with proppant retention (minimizing loss), adapting to changing pressure, fluid viscosity, and fracture conditions throughout the closure process
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the flowback rate parameter dynamically during fracture closure. By adjusting the flowback rate as a variable parameter rather than maintaining a constant rate, the system can optimize the balance between keeping proppant suspended in the fracture and preventing excessive proppant loss to the wellbore
2Stability of the object's composition
If fracture closure is performed quickly to prevent proppant settling, then fracture conductivity is maintained, but proppant crushing may increase due to rapid pressure reduction
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically controls the fracture closure process by adjusting flowback rate over time. Rather than immediate or uniform closure, the system optimizes the closure timeline and rate to achieve proppant entrapment while minimizing crushing, using real-time data to adapt the closure strategy
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses real-time measurements of pressure, flow rate, and other parameters during fracture closure to feedback into the control algorithm. This feedback enables the system to detect when proppant entrapment is occurring and adjust the closure rate accordingly to prevent excessive crushing while maintaining conductivity
3Stability of the object's composition
If flowback rate is increased to prevent proppant settling, then proppant suspension is improved, but proppant loss to wellbore increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flowback rate is dynamically optimized rather than maintained at a high constant level. The system adjusts the rate based on real-time conditions, using higher rates only when necessary to prevent settling and lowering rates when proppant loss becomes excessive, achieving the minimum effective suspension while minimizing loss
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the flowback rate parameter continuously to optimize the balance between proppant suspension and loss prevention. By treating flowback rate as a dynamic parameter rather than a fixed value, the system can adapt to changing fracture conditions and proppant transport characteristics
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 solution dynamically controls fluid flowback rates in real-time, optimizing fracture conductivity and reducing proppant loss, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of hydraulic fracturing operations by minimizing proppant degradation and improving long-term well production.
Implementation Method 1
a viscous fracturing fluid, which also functions as a carrier fluid, is pumped into a producing formation zone during an injection or treatment stage
Implementation Method 2
particulates, such as graded sand, suspended in a portion of the fracturing fluid are then deposited in the fractures when the fracturing fluid is converted to a thin fluid to be returned to the surface
Implementation Method 3
proppant is transported out of the fractures and formation, carried by the flowing formation fluids and carrier fluid as the well is allowed to produce
Implementation Method 4
in a fracture closure stage, the pressure of the injected fluid is decreased to below the closure pressure of the formation
Implementation Method 5
Proppant crushing after the fracturing treatment stage has ended can also occur as the associated fracturing pressure is bled off, i.e., the fracture closure stage
Implementation Method 6
in certain low permeability reservoirs, due to the characteristic low leak-off rates of treatment fluids to the formation, a previously suspended proppant may settle to the fracture bottom before it can be trapped between fracture walls
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems are presented in this disclosure for evaluating whether to apply fluid flowback during a fracture closure stage of a hydraulic fracturing operation of a reservoir formation. Information collected prior to the fracture closure stage of the hydraulic fracturing operation can be first gathered. Based on the collected information, it can be determined whether to perform fluid flowback during the fracture closure stage following a treatment stage of the fracturing operation. Based on the determination, a rate of the fluid flowback can be adjusted and optimized in real-time during the fracture closure stage.