Fracturing Fluid Proppant Distribution via Flow Restriction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hydraulic fracturing methods face challenges in achieving uniform distribution of proppants across multiple fracture clusters in a subterranean zone, leading to inefficiencies in fracture creation and hydrocarbon production, with multi-stage operations often resulting in fewer usable fractures compared to one-by-one operations.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a proppant mixture of materials with different specific gravities, dynamically adjusted during the fracturing process, is used to create a hydraulic fracturing fluid that distributes proppants uniformly across fracture clusters through a combination of laminar and turbulent flow patterns, ensuring equal proppant distribution across various depths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multi-stage fracturing operation is used, then productivity and cost efficiency are improved, but uniform distribution of proppant among fracture clusters deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the flow regime parameter from laminar to turbulent flow by introducing a flow restriction device. This parameter change enables better mixing of proppant particles with the fracturing fluid, ensuring uniform distribution across multiple fracture clusters during multi-stage operations. The turbulent flow pattern created by the flow restriction device prevents proppant settling and ensures consistent proppant delivery to each cluster.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a flow restriction device as an intermediary component between the fracturing fluid source and the fracture clusters. This intermediary device creates turbulent flow conditions that facilitate uniform proppant distribution. The flow restriction device acts as a mediator that ensures consistent proppant mixing and delivery across all fracture clusters, solving the distribution uniformity problem in multi-stage operations.
2Manufacturing precision
If proppant mixture with different specific gravities is used, then proppant distribution uniformity is improved, but fluid mixing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the specific gravity parameter difference between proppant particles to achieve uniform distribution. By selecting proppant particles with varying specific gravities and introducing them into turbulent flow conditions, the patent leverages gravitational forces enhanced by turbulent mixing to distribute proppant uniformly across fracture clusters. This parameter-based approach avoids complex mixing systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs self-service mixing where the turbulent flow pattern, generated by the flow restriction device, automatically mixes proppant particles with different specific gravities. The system uses its own flow dynamics to achieve mixing without external intervention or complex mixing equipment. The turbulent flow self-performs the mixing function, distributing proppant uniformly based on their specific gravity differences.
3Productivity
If turbulent flow pattern is used, then proppant mixing efficiency is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a flow restriction device as an intermediary that converts laminar flow to turbulent flow. This intermediary component creates the necessary turbulence for efficient proppant mixing without requiring excessive pumping energy. The flow restriction device acts as a passive energy converter, using the existing fluid pressure to generate turbulent flow patterns that enhance mixing efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the flow regime parameter from laminar to turbulent by introducing a flow restriction. This parameter change enables efficient proppant mixing and distribution. The flow restriction device creates turbulent flow conditions that enhance mixing efficiency while maintaining reasonable energy consumption levels, as the turbulence is generated by the restriction geometry rather than high-energy pumping.
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
This approach achieves a more uniform and efficient distribution of proppants into fracture clusters, enhancing fracture creation and hydrocarbon production by optimizing the use of proppants with varying specific gravities and flow patterns, thereby improving the effectiveness of multi-stage fracturing treatments.
Implementation Method 1
The wellbore fluid is circulated through the wellbore in a laminar flow pattern
Implementation Method 2
The wellbore fluid is circulated through the wellbore in a turbulent flow pattern
Implementation Method 3
A proppant mixture of materials with different specific gravities
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes preparing a hydraulic fracturing fluid that includes a proppant mixture; adjusting the hydraulic fracturing fluid to a flow pattern operable to distribute a substantially equal distribution of an amount of proppant from the proppant mixture into a plurality of fracture clusters formed in a subterranean zone; and distributing the hydraulic fracturing fluid in the substantially equal distribution of the amount of proppant from the proppant mixture into the plurality of fracture clusters, each of the plurality of fracture clusters formed in the subterranean zone at a unique depth from the terranean surface.