High-Pressure Amott Cell for Shale Oil Imbibition Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for evaluating spontaneous hydraulic fracturing fluid imbibition and oil displacement in unconventional shale oil and gas resource rocks are inadequate, as they fail to simulate the high pressure forces experienced during hydraulic fracturing, leading to inaccurate results and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A composite core made from drill cuttings is used within a pressure cell capable of withstanding up to 10,000 PSI, along with a high-pressure generator and a roller oven for simulating hydraulic fracturing conditions, allowing for rapid and accurate evaluation of fracturing fluid interactions with shale rocks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional Amott cell apparatus is used for imbibition testing, then the test can be performed with simple equipment, but the test cannot simulate high pressure forces (250-5000 PSI) experienced during hydraulic fracturing, leading to inaccurate results
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the pressure cell to accommodate high pressure forces (250-5000 PSI) ranging from conventional testing limits. The pressure cell is designed with a pressure range of 0-10,000 PSI, enabling it to simulate actual hydraulic fracturing conditions rather than limited to 30 PSI, thereby improving testing accuracy and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by creating a composite core from drill cuttings mixed with bonding agents and additives. This composite core structure allows the test to accurately represent unconventional shale oil and gas resource rocks while withstanding the high pressure forces required to simulate real hydraulic fracturing conditions.
2Productivity
If conventional Amott cell testing is used, then the test procedure is simple, but it takes months for fluid imbibition to occur, making it inefficient for evaluating multiple fluid combinations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by significantly increasing the pressure parameter from conventional 30 PSI limits to 250-5000 PSI range. This pressure acceleration causes rapid fluid imbibition into the composite core, reducing test duration from months to just 3 days, thereby enabling efficient evaluation of hundreds to thousands of fluid combinations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic action through automated pressure cycling and data collection systems that continuously monitor imbibition processes. This allows systematic evaluation of multiple fluid combinations in rapid succession, improving testing throughput while maintaining accurate measurement of fluid-rock interactions.
3Reliability
If atmospheric pressure testing is used, then equipment requirements are minimal, but it cannot account for fines migration and fouling of pore spaces that occur under high pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by transitioning from atmospheric pressure to high pressure conditions (250-5000 PSI). This enables the test to accurately capture fines migration and pore space fouling phenomena that only occur under hydraulic fracturing pressure conditions, significantly improving the reliability of oil displacement measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by creating a composite core that replicates the physical and chemical properties of unconventional shale oil and gas resource rocks. This composite core, made from drill cuttings with bonding agents, serves as an accurate model that can be tested under high pressure to predict actual reservoir behavior without requiring access to real formation cores.
4Reliability
If high pressure testing up to 10,000 PSI is implemented, then accurate simulation of hydraulic fracturing conditions is achieved, but the pressure cell requires specialized materials and construction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by designing the pressure cell with a pressure range of 0-10,000 PSI, enabling accurate simulation of hydraulic fracturing conditions. The pressure cell incorporates specialized materials and construction techniques to withstand these extreme pressures while maintaining structural integrity and measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials in the pressure cell construction, combining materials with different mechanical properties to achieve both high pressure resistance and measurement precision. This allows the pressure cell to accurately simulate hydraulic fracturing conditions while remaining manufacturable through the use of composite material structures.
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 enables fast and reliable testing of fracturing fluids, reducing imbibition time from months to just 3 days, and allows for evaluation of fluid breakdown properties under formation temperature conditions, significantly improving the accuracy and efficiency of fluid selection for hydraulic fracturing.
Implementation Method 1
The prior art cells are limited to 30 PSI pressure, which is very close to the maximum pressure that glass can withstand. Unconventional shale oil and gas resource rock wells have imbibition pressure forces that can be in the range of 250 PSI to 5000 PSI greater than the confining pressure.
Implementation Method 2
measuring the ability of a holistic fracturing fluid and/or individual components to interact with unconventional shale oil and gas resource rocks to improve upon the wettability and subsequent fluid imbibition and oil displacement mechanism
Implementation Method 3
placing the cells into a roller oven custom designed to the pressure cell size for heating to evaluate under formation temperature conditions
Data Source
AI summary
A test for evaluating spontaneous hydraulic fracturing fluid imbibition and oil displacement method and apparatus utilizing a composite core with a pressurized Amott cell test.