Hydraulic Fracturing Water Quality Monitoring and Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in hydraulic fracturing processes is the variability in water quality, which leads to chemical over-dosage issues due to the use of different water sources, necessitating an online tool for real-time monitoring and adjustment of water properties to ensure optimal chemical dosage.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a controller and sensors that measure and adjust water properties in real-time by controlling chemical injection pumps and flow rates of water sources to maintain acceptable ranges, allowing for on-the-fly adjustments to optimize water quality for the fracturing process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If multiple water sources are used for hydraulic fracturing, then water availability is improved, but water quality variability increases leading to chemical dosage problems
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors water quality parameters (pH, conductivity, turbidity, temperature) and provides real-time feedback to adjust chemical injection rates automatically, ensuring accurate chemical dosage despite variations in water source quality
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts chemical dosage parameters based on measured water quality parameters, changing the concentration and type of chemicals injected according to the specific properties of each water source being used
2Reliability
If real-time water quality monitoring is implemented, then chemical dosage accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring unit is designed as a multi-functional device that simultaneously measures multiple water quality parameters (pH, conductivity, turbidity, temperature) and controls multiple chemical injection pumps, reducing the need for separate monitoring and control systems
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically adjusts chemical dosing based on real-time water quality measurements without requiring manual intervention, and includes self-diagnostic capabilities to monitor sensor and pump performance
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure relates to systems, methods, and devices useful for monitoring and controlling water to be used, for example, in oil and natural gas production and hydraulic fracturing processes. An on-line unit for measuring, controlling, and optimizing the quality of water being used during the hydrocarbon production or hydraulic fracturing processes is also disclosed. Optimizing and controlling can include measuring one or more properties associated with the production water to be sure that the one or more properties are within an acceptable range and, if the one or more properties are not within the acceptable range for each respective property being measured, causing a change in flow of one or more water sources and/or one or more chemicals.