Hydraulic Fracturing Pressure Pulses for Perforation Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hydraulic fracturing methods are inefficient in creating a maximum number of fractures in earth formations, leading to suboptimal hydrocarbon production due to reduced pressure in newly opened fractures and potential damage to equipment, especially in long horizontal wells.
Innovation Solution
A hydraulic fracturing system that introduces pressure pulses by varying the flow rate of fracturing fluid into the wellbore, creating a temporary increase in pressure to open new fractures without using physical flow diverters like ball sealers, thereby minimizing equipment stress and increasing hydrocarbon production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional hydraulic fracturing methods are used to create fractures in earth formations, then fractures can be opened, but the pressure in newly opened fractures decreases reducing the tendency to open new fractures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by implementing pressure pulses through variable flow rates. The fracturing fluid flow rate is varied in a periodic manner (pulsed flow) to create pressure spikes that force open new fractures. This periodic variation in flow rate maintains pressure in newly opened fractures and prevents the pressure decrease that would otherwise occur, enabling continuous fracture creation and improving hydrocarbon production.
2Productivity
If ball sealers are used to block newly formed fractures, then additional fractures can be created, but the process becomes complex and time-consuming with equipment damage risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the ball sealer component from the fracturing process. Instead of using physical ball sealers to block fractures, the invention uses pure hydraulic pressure pulses achieved through variable flow rates. This removal of the ball sealer mechanism simplifies the equipment required, reduces operational complexity, and eliminates the associated risks of equipment damage while still achieving effective fracture creation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical ball sealer system with a hydraulic pressure pulse system. Instead of using physical mechanical components (ball sealers) to control fracture opening, the invention uses hydraulic pressure variations achieved through flow rate modulation. This substitution eliminates mechanical contact and complexity while achieving the same functional result of creating and maintaining open fractures.
3Productivity
If constant flow rate is maintained during fracturing, then fluid injection is simple, but the number of open perforations is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from constant flow rate to variable flow rate. The flow rate is dynamically adjusted during the fracturing process to create pressure pulses. This dynamic variation in flow rate enables the system to adapt to different fracture opening conditions, forcing open additional perforations that would remain closed under constant flow conditions, thereby increasing productivity.
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 system effectively increases the number of open perforations and fractures, enhancing hydrocarbon production while reducing equipment wear and operational costs, particularly in long horizontal wells, by using pressure pulses to overcome the limitations of traditional fracturing methods.
Implementation Method 1
introduces pressure pulses by varying the flow rate of fracturing fluid into the wellbore, creating a temporary increase in pressure to open new fractures
Implementation Method 2
varying the flow rate of fracturing fluid into the wellbore
Implementation Method 3
Hydraulic fracturing is a method of extracting hydrocarbons from earth formations in which thousands of gallons of a fracturing fluid, generally water, proppants, and other chemicals, are injected into a wellbore and a surrounding earth formation. The high pressure creates fractures in the earth formation
Implementation Method 4
the fracturing fluid enters this new space and the pressure in the wellbore and fractures decreases reducing the tendency to open new fractures
Data Source
AI summary
A hydraulic fracturing system and method for enhancing effective permeability of earth formations to increase hydrocarbon production, enhance operation efficiency by reducing fluid entry friction due to tortuosity and perforation, and to open perforations that are either unopened or not effective using traditional techniques, by varying a pump rate and/or a flow rate to a wellbore.