Friction Reducing Polymer Performance in Hard Water

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Solution Overview

Problem

Anionic friction reducing polymers used in subterranean treatments are less effective in water containing multivalent ions, leading to increased energy losses due to turbulence, as these ions interact with the polymers, necessitating higher polymer concentrations and reduced friction reduction efficiency.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a complexing agent, such as carbonates or phosphates, to control multivalent ions like calcium, reducing their concentration and improving the performance of anionic friction reducing polymers by preventing undesirable interactions, thereby allowing lower polymer concentrations to achieve significant friction reduction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If anionic friction reducing polymer is used in water containing multivalent ions, then friction reduction is achieved, but the polymer effectiveness is reduced due to ion-polymer interactions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy loss due to turbulenceVSAvoidpolymer effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A complexing agent is introduced as an intermediary substance that selectively binds to multivalent ions (such as calcium, magnesium, and iron ions) in the water. This complexing agent acts as a mediator between the multivalent ions and the anionic friction reducing polymer, preventing direct interactions between the ions and polymer chains. By sequestering the multivalent ions through complexation, the complexing agent protects the polymer from degradation and maintains its friction reducing effectiveness in hard water conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the chemical environment parameters by adding a complexing agent that alters the availability and reactivity of multivalent ions. This parameter change transforms the system from one where multivalent ions are freely available to interact with the polymer, to one where the ions are chemically bound in complexes, thereby changing the effective concentration and reactivity parameters of the ions toward the polymer

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If polymer concentration is increased to maintain effectiveness in multivalent ion water, then friction reduction performance is maintained, but cost and fluid viscosity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefriction reduction performanceVSAvoidpolymer concentration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The complexing agent serves as a protective intermediary that allows the use of lower polymer concentrations by preventing ion-polymer interactions. This mediator enables the system to achieve the same friction reduction performance with reduced polymer dosage, as the complexing agent absorbs the harmful interaction effects that would otherwise require higher polymer concentrations to compensate for

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of energy

If higher polymer concentration is used to compensate for ion interactions, then friction reduction is maintained, but fluid viscosity increases affecting proppant transport

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefriction lossVSAvoidfluid viscosity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The complexing agent acts as a protective intermediary that decouples the relationship between polymer concentration and friction reduction performance. By preventing ion-polymer interactions, it allows the system to maintain optimal friction reduction with lower polymer concentrations, thereby maintaining appropriate fluid viscosity characteristics for effective proppant transport without the need for excessive polymer dosing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 use of complexing agents effectively reduces energy losses by enhancing the friction reducing capabilities of anionic polymers, achieving friction reductions of over 50% even in waters with high initial calcium ion concentrations, by maintaining lower calcium levels and maintaining fluid viscosity suitable for proppant transport.

Implementation Method 1

The complexing agent complexes with at least a portion of the multivalent ions in the water such that the reduction of energy loss by the friction reducing polymer is improved

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectComplexing: Solvation

Data Source

PatentUS7579302B2Friction reducer performance by complexing multivalent ions in water

Publication Date: 2009.08.25 HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES INC

AI summary

Embodiments relate to improving the performance of anionic friction reducing polymers in water containing multivalent ions. Exemplary embodiments relate to methods of improving the performance of anionic friction reducing polymers in a subterranean treatment, wherein the method comprises adding a complexing agent to water comprising multivalent ions. The method comprises adding the anionic friction reducing polymer to the water comprising the multivalent ions, wherein the anionic friction reducing polymer is added in an amount less than or equal to about 0.15% by weight of the water. The method comprises introducing the water comprising the multivalent ions, the complexing agent and the anionic friction reducing polymer into at least a portion of the subterranean formation such that the friction reducing polymer reduces energy loss due to turbulence in the water. The complexing agent complexes with at least a portion of the multivalent ions in the water such that the reduction of energy loss by the friction reducing polymer is improved.