Friction Reducer Composition for Hydraulic Fracturing
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Solution Overview
Problem
High molecular weight polyacrylamides used in hydraulic fracturing are susceptible to breakdown in high shear and alkaline conditions, leading to reduced friction reduction and potential damage to rock formations, especially in waters with high concentrations of cations, necessitating increased usage of friction reducers and fresh water resources.
Innovation Solution
A friction reducer composition comprising an ionic polyacrylamide and a silicon polyether, which accelerates the hydration of polyacrylamide chains, enhancing friction reduction in brines with high monovalent and multivalent cations, thereby improving the performance of polyacrylamide emulsions in hydraulic fracturing fluids.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high molecular weight polyacrylamides are used as friction reducers in hydraulic fracturing, then friction reduction performance is improved, but the polymers are susceptible to breakdown into smaller chains under high shear conditions, reducing effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The invention combines polyacrylamide with silicon polyether copolymer to create a composite friction reducer system. The silicon polyether component (containing Si-O-Si backbone with polyether side chains) forms a protective complex with polyacrylamide, enhancing resistance to shear breakdown while maintaining friction reduction capabilities. This composite approach allows the system to withstand high shear rates without polymer chain scission.
2Reliability
If polyacrylamides are used in waters with high concentrations of multivalent cations, then friction reduction is maintained, but the hydrolyzed polymers form complexes with cations and precipitate out, reducing effectiveness and potentially damaging rock formations
Solution Approach 1:
The silicon polyether copolymer acts as an intermediary that modifies the interaction between polyacrylamide and multivalent cations. The silicon polyether's unique structure (Si-O-Si backbone with hydrophobic polyether side chains) creates a steric barrier and alters the polymer's charge distribution, preventing direct complexation between polyacrylamide carboxylate groups and multivalent cations like Ca2+ and Mg2+, thereby preventing precipitation while maintaining friction reduction in brines.
3Reliability
If higher amounts of friction reducer are used to achieve desired hydration in high cation water, then friction reduction is improved, but consumption of fresh water resources increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical parameters of the friction reducer system by introducing silicon polyether copolymer, which fundamentally alters the polymer's interaction with water and cations. This parameter change enables the system to achieve effective friction reduction in high cation water without requiring increased polymer dosage or fresh water consumption, as the silicon polyether-modified system maintains solubility and friction reduction efficacy across all water types.
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 silicon polyether copolymers significantly improve the hydration viscosity of polyacrylamide chains, resulting in enhanced friction reduction and reduced power consumption, while maintaining stability in challenging water conditions, thus optimizing hydraulic fracturing efficiency and conserving fresh water resources.
Implementation Method 1
a silicon polyether, which accelerates the hydration of polyacrylamide chains
Implementation Method 2
high molecular weight anionic and cationic polyacrylamides are used as friction reducers where the hydrated polymer suppresses the turbulence present in high velocity gradient water
Data Source
AI summary
A composition for treating an aqueous fluid includes an ionic polyacrylamide and a silicon polyether. The composition can be an oil-in-water emulsion or a water-in-oil emulsion. The ionic polyacrylamide can be an anionic polyacrylamide or a cationic polyacrylamide. The composition can be employed, for example, as a friction reducing additive for water based fracturing fluid, or a drilling mud additive.