Friction Reducer with Secondary Oil for High TDS Water
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Solution Overview
Problem
Friction reducers in hydraulic fracturing fluids face performance issues due to high total dissolved solids (TDS) in water, leading to reduced viscosity and increased horsepower requirements, which impede efficient proppant movement and flow across wellbore perforations and fractures.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a secondary base oil into the friction reducer formulation, which forms an oil-external emulsion with a continuous phase of base and secondary oils, a discontinuous phase of water and a water-soluble polymer, and an emulsifying surfactant, thereby enhancing inversion efficiency and reducing the need for expensive inverting surfactants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional water-soluble polymer friction reducers are used in high TDS water, then the friction reduction performance deteriorates due to association and altered inversion, but adding more inverting surfactants increases cost and may not fully resolve the performance loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a mediator substance (such as a specific surfactant or compatibility agent) that facilitates the interaction between the water-soluble polymer and high TDS water. This mediator prevents the harmful association effect by forming a protective complex or altering the interfacial properties, allowing the friction reducer to maintain effectiveness in high TDS environments without requiring excessive inverting surfactants
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies key parameters of the friction reducer system, including the chemical structure of the water-soluble polymer (e.g., using polymers with specific functional groups like carboxyl or hydroxyl), the concentration and type of inverting surfactants, and the pH or ionic strength of the base fluid. These parameter changes enable the system to tolerate high TDS while maintaining friction reduction performance
2Reliability
If friction reducer performance is maintained in high TDS water, then viscosity remains stable, but this requires increased use of inverting surfactants which increases cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive inverting surfactants with more cost-effective alternatives such as readily available polymers (e.g., hydroxyethyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose) or common surfactants that can be obtained at lower costs. These substitutes provide sufficient performance in high TDS water without the high cost associated with specialized inverting surfactants
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the concentration and molecular weight parameters of the water-soluble polymer to achieve maximum viscosity stability at minimal cost. By carefully selecting polymers with specific intrinsic viscosity values and concentrations (e.g., 0.01-5% by weight), the system maintains performance while reducing the need for expensive additives
3Device complexity
If conventional friction reducers are used, then formulation is simple, but proppant movement and flow across perforations becomes inefficient due to performance loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite friction reducer system by combining water-soluble polymers with inorganic materials (such as bentonite clay, silica, or other mineral additives) or organic modifiers. This composite approach enhances the friction reduction performance and proppant suspension capabilities, ensuring efficient proppant transport and flow across perforations even in challenging high TDS conditions
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 secondary-oil-containing friction reducer demonstrates improved friction reduction performance, reduced viscosity, and lower costs due to minimized use of inverting surfactants, while maintaining effective proppant transport and flow across fractures.
Implementation Method 1
Pumping rates for hydraulic fracturing operations may regularly exceed 50 barrels per minute (8 m3/min) or more, which may cause turbulence in conduits such as wellbore tubing, liners, and casings. Turbulent flow of hydraulic fracturing fluids leads to high horsepower requirements to maintain pressure and flow rates. Some common friction reducers may include long chain water soluble polymers which may aid in moderating turbulence by reducing eddy currents within a conduit.
Implementation Method 2
Incorporating a secondary base oil into the friction reducer formulation, which forms an oil-external emulsion with a continuous phase of base and secondary oils, a discontinuous phase of water and a water-soluble polymer, and an emulsifying surfactant
Implementation Method 3
Incorporating a secondary base oil into the friction reducer formulation, which forms an oil-external emulsion with a continuous phase of base and secondary oils, a discontinuous phase of water and a water-soluble polymer, and an emulsifying surfactant
Implementation Method 4
An important component of hydraulic fracturing fluids is a friction reducer. Pumping rates for hydraulic fracturing operations may regularly exceed 50 barrels per minute (8 m3/min) or more, which may cause turbulence in conduits such as wellbore tubing, liners, and casings. Turbulent flow of hydraulic fracturing fluids leads to high horsepower requirements to maintain pressure and flow rates.
Data Source
AI summary
A variety of methods and compositions are disclosed, including, in one embodiment, A friction reducer comprising: a continuous phase comprising a base oil and a secondary oil, wherein the secondary oil is different than the base oil; a discontinuous phase dispersed in the continuation phase, wherein the discontinuous phase comprises water and a water-soluble polymer, and an emulsifying surfactant.