Fracture Simulation Device with Textured Shims
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current devices for simulating borehole fractures in subterranean operations do not account for the textured surface of actual fractures, which affects the interaction of Lost Circulation Materials (LCM) with the fracture, leading to inadequate control of Lost Circulation during drilling.
Innovation Solution
A device with a housing and a gap that includes shims with textured surfaces to simulate the characteristics of subterranean fractures, allowing for the analysis of fluid interaction and LCM performance, featuring an inlet and outlet for fluid flow and the option to simulate various fracture sizes and orientations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If smooth surface disks are used to simulate fractures, then the device structure is simple, but the simulation accuracy of actual fracture characteristics is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by introducing shims with different surface textures (smooth, rough, or patterned) into specific regions of the gap to simulate varying fracture surface characteristics. This allows different portions of the simulated fracture to have different surface properties, accurately representing the heterogeneity of actual subterranean fractures while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses shims as physical copies or replicas of actual fracture surfaces. These shims are designed to replicate the textured surface characteristics of real subterranean fractures, providing an accurate model for testing LCM performance without requiring actual subsurface conditions. The shims copy the essential surface features that affect LCM interaction.
2Measurement precision
If textured shims are added to simulate fracture surfaces, then the simulation accuracy improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the fracture simulation function by using separate, removable shims that can be independently selected and positioned within the gap. This segmentation allows the complex task of simulating various fracture types to be divided into manageable components, where each shim represents a specific fracture surface type. The modular nature of shims reduces overall device complexity compared to integrating textured surfaces directly into the housing.
Solution Approach 2:
The shims serve multiple functions: they define the gap geometry, provide the textured surface for LCM interaction, and can be removed or changed to simulate different fracture types. This multi-functionality reduces device complexity by consolidating several functions into a single component rather than requiring separate mechanisms for each function.
3Measurement precision
If actual fracture texture is simulated, then LCM interaction accuracy improves, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring LCM performance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shims create a controlled copy of the fracture surface that preserves the essential textural features affecting LCM interaction while eliminating the complexities of actual subsurface environments. This copied surface provides consistent, repeatable conditions for measurement, making it easier to detect and quantify LCM performance compared to field conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates pressure sensors and flow meters that provide real-time feedback on LCM performance as the LCM-laden fluid passes through the shim-defined gap. This feedback mechanism allows for quantitative measurement of LCM effectiveness in plugging the simulated fracture, transforming the complex interaction into measurable parameters such as pressure differential and flow rate.
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus and methods for simulation of bore hole fractures are disclosed. A device for simulating a fracture in a subterranean formation comprises a housing, a gap in the housing, and one or more shims positioned inside the gap. The shims cover at least a portion of a surface of a wall forming the gap. The device further comprises an inlet for directing a sample fluid into the gap. The sample fluid flows through the gap and flows out of the gap through an outlet.