Foam-Coated Proppant Aggregates for Fracture Conductivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
In subterranean fracturing operations, traditional proppant particulates tend to settle, leading to partial fracture closure and reduced conductivity, which increases the cost and demand for gelling and crosslinking agents due to the need for higher concentrations in treatment fluids.
Innovation Solution
The use of proppant aggregates comprising proppant particles coated with a binding fluid and adhered foamed particulates, which are suspended in a gelled treatment fluid to form a proppant pack that resists settling and maintains fracture conductivity, reducing the quantity and cost of gelling agents required.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If higher concentration of proppant particulates is transported and deposited into the fracture, then fracture conductivity is improved, but the cost of gelling and crosslinking agents increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces foam particulates as an intermediary substance that interacts with proppant particles to form aggregates. These foam-coated proppant aggregates have reduced settling rates compared to traditional proppant particles, allowing for lower concentrations of gelling and crosslinking agents while maintaining effective fracture conductivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates composite proppant aggregates by combining proppant particles with foam particulates and binding fluids. This composite structure reduces the overall density and settling rate of the proppant mixture, enabling better distribution within the fracture with reduced amounts of expensive gelling and crosslinking agents.
2Stability of the object's composition
If higher concentration of gelling and crosslinking agents is used, then proppant particulate settling is reduced, but operational cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
Foam particulates serve as a mediator that stabilizes the proppant suspension without requiring high concentrations of gelling and crosslinking agents. The foam particles interact with proppant particles to form stable aggregates that resist settling, reducing dependence on expensive chemical stabilizers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the proppant mixture by incorporating foam particulates, which alter the density, viscosity, and settling characteristics of the suspension. This parameter change allows for reduced amounts of gelling and crosslinking agents while maintaining suspension stability.
3Device complexity
If traditional proppant particulates are used, then fracture treatment is simpler, but partial fracture closure occurs reducing conductivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite proppant aggregates made from proppant particles coated with foam particulates and binding fluids. These composites maintain simplicity in the fracture treatment process while significantly improving fracture conductivity by preventing proppant settling and ensuring uniform distribution throughout the fracture.
Solution Approach 2:
The foam particulates act as a counterweight to the heavy proppant particles, reducing their effective density and settling rate. This anti-weight effect prevents proppant aggregation at the bottom of the fracture, maintaining uniform distribution and preventing fracture closure.
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 method effectively reduces the settling of proppant particulates, ensuring more uniform distribution and maintaining fracture conductivity, thereby decreasing the need for high concentrations of gelling and crosslinking agents, thus lowering operational costs and enhancing fracture conductivity.
Implementation Method 1
proppant aggregates themselves comprising proppant particles coated with a binding fluid and having foamed particulates adhered thereto
Implementation Method 2
suspending the coated proppant and the foamed particulates in a gelled treatment fluid
Implementation Method 3
Gelled treatment fluids, because of their increased viscosity, are useful in transporting and depositing proppant particulates into subterranean fractures
Implementation Method 4
crosslinking agents are often used to further increase the viscosity and stability of gelled treatment fluids
Data Source
AI summary
Methods of fracturing a subterranean formation comprising introducing a fracturing fluid into the subterranean formation at a pressure sufficient to create or enhance at least one fracture therein. And providing proppant aggregates themselves comprising proppant particles coated with a binding fluid and having foamed particulates adhered thereto that are suspended in gelled treatment fluid and placed into at least a portion of the fracture so as to form a proppant pack therein.