Fracturing Slurry Particulate Blend for Shale Formation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hydraulic fracturing techniques face challenges such as fluid damage to the formation and proppant pack, variability in breaker effectiveness, high disposal costs, and incompatibility with calcium brines, leading to inefficient and costly fracture treatments.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a fracturing slurry with a carrier fluid and a particulate blend, where the particulate blend includes a combination of larger and smaller particulates to achieve a packed volume fraction exceeding 0.75, minimizing fluid damage by using a low amount of viscosifying agent and incorporating degradable materials for removal of smaller particulates post-fracturing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If viscous fracturing fluid is used to open and maintain fracture conductivity, then fracture conductivity is improved, but fluid damage to the formation and proppant pack increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the fracturing fluid by using biodegradable polymers instead of traditional crosslinked gels, and by optimizing viscosifier concentration to minimize deposition while maintaining adequate viscosity for fracture propagation and proppant transport
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs biodegradable polymers that naturally break down and are discarded in the formation environment, eliminating the need for chemical breakers and avoiding long-term fluid damage. The biodegradation process converts the viscosifying agent into harmless byproducts that do not damage the formation or proppant pack
2Object-affected harmful factors
If breakers are added to mitigate fluid damage, then some fluid damage is reduced, but treatment complexity and expense increase and results become variable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses biodegradable polymers with controlled degradation timelines that naturally break down after serving their purpose of maintaining fracture conductivity during production. This eliminates the need for additional breaker chemicals and simplifies the treatment design while providing consistent, predictable results
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates the need for separate breaker chemicals by incorporating biodegradability directly into the base polymer structure. This removes the harmful factor of fluid damage without adding treatment complexity, as the degradation is an inherent property of the material rather than a separate chemical process
3Reliability
If fracturing fluid volume is increased to improve fracture geometry, then fracture conductivity is improved, but disposal risk and expense increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the rheological parameters of the fracturing fluid by using biodegradable polymers that provide adequate viscosity for fracture propagation and proppant transport at lower concentrations, thereby reducing the total fluid volume required while maintaining effective fracture conductivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs biodegradable polymers that naturally break down in the formation environment, eliminating disposal concerns entirely. The biodegradation process converts the fracturing fluid components into harmless byproducts that are naturally absorbed or dispersed in the formation, removing the need for costly disposal operations
4Reliability
If acid fracturing is used to remove damage and open channels, then formation permeability is improved, but high permeability areas take excessive acid and treatment efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies viscosified fracturing fluid with controlled rheological properties that preferentially flow into and treat lower permeability zones where damage removal is most needed. The fluid's viscosity and flow characteristics are optimized to divert away from already high-permeability areas, ensuring uniform treatment distribution and preventing excessive acid consumption in naturally productive zones
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 reduces fluid damage, minimizes the need for breakers, and enhances fracture conductivity while reducing disposal risks and costs, improving the overall efficiency and effectiveness of hydraulic fracturing.
Implementation Method 1
a packed volume fraction of the particulate blend exceeds 0.75
Data Source
AI summary
A method of fracturing a subterranean formation comprising at least in part shale formation, comprises providing a carrier fluid; providing a particulate blend including a first amount of particulates having a first average particle size between about 100 and 2000 microns and a second amount of particulates having a second average particle size between about three and twenty times smaller than the first average particle size, such that a packed volume fraction of the particulate blend exceeds 0.75; combining the carrier fluid and the particulate blend into a fracturing slurry; fracturing the formation with the fracturing slurry to create at least a fracture; and removing the second amount of particulates from the fracture.