LPG Fracturing Fluid System for Enhanced Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fracturing methods using water and oil-based fluids are inefficient in terms of recovery and limited in effective fracture length, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has not seen widespread commercial adoption due to these limitations.
Innovation Solution
A fracturing method and apparatus that combines a stream of liquefied petroleum gas with a gelling agent and a stream of lubricated proppant, pumped into a hydrocarbon reservoir under fracturing pressures, with the streams combined within the wellhead to match the surface tension of the reservoir hydrocarbons, enhancing fracture creation and proppant transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If water-based or oil-based fracturing fluids are used, then the fracturing process can be performed, but recovery efficiency is poor and effective fracture length is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the fracturing fluid by using LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) instead of conventional water-based or oil-based fluids. LPG's unique properties including its ability to match reservoir hydrocarbon surface tension and its phase change characteristics enable improved recovery efficiency and extended effective fracture length without the limitations of traditional fluids.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the phase transition properties of LPG, which can transition between liquid and gas phases under reservoir conditions. This phase change capability allows the fracturing fluid to effectively propagate fractures and improve hydrocarbon recovery by matching reservoir conditions and enhancing the fracturing process efficiency.
2Productivity
If LPG is used as fracturing fluid, then recovery efficiency improves, but the system complexity and safety requirements increase due to LPG handling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs specialized pumping systems designed to handle LPG under controlled pressure and temperature conditions. The use of frac pressure pumps and intensifiers ensures that LPG is delivered at the required pressures while maintaining it in a liquid state during surface operations, thereby managing system complexity through engineered fluid delivery infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent controls LPG phase and pressure parameters through engineered systems including pressure regulation and temperature management. By maintaining LPG in a liquid state during pumping and allowing phase change only at reservoir conditions, the system manages complexity while achieving improved recovery efficiency.
3Ease of operation
If conventional fracturing fluids are used, then operational procedures are simpler, but environmental impact and cleanup costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes LPG's phase transition from liquid to gas under reservoir conditions, which facilitates easy recovery and minimal environmental impact. The gas phase LPG naturally vent or be collected after fracturing, eliminating the need for extensive cleanup operations required by water-based or oil-based fluids, thereby reducing environmental harm while maintaining operational feasibility.
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 improves well production by facilitating efficient fracture creation, effective proppant transport, and rapid recovery of LPG, reducing cleanup costs and increasing the effective fracture length, while minimizing environmental impact and operational complexity.
Implementation Method 1
pumping a first stream of gelled liquefied petroleum gas with a first frac pressure pump
Implementation Method 2
pumping a second stream of lubricated proppant with a second frac pressure pump
Implementation Method 3
combining the first stream and the second stream in a ratio selected to yield a combined stream that, under reservoir conditions, has a surface tension that matches or is less than, the surface tension of the reservoir hydrocarbons
Data Source
AI summary
A fracturing method comprises: pumping a first stream of liquefied petroleum gas and gelling agent with a first frac pressure pump; pumping a second stream of lubricated proppant with a second frac pressure pump; combining the first stream and the second stream within a wellhead into a combined stream; pumping the combined stream into a hydrocarbon reservoir; and subjecting the combined stream in the hydrocarbon reservoir to fracturing pressures. A fracturing apparatus comprises: a first frac pressure pump connected to a first port of a wellhead; a second frac pressure pump connected to a second port of the wellhead; a frac fluid source connected to simply a stream of frac fluid comprising liquefied petroleum gas to the first frac pressure pump; a gel source connected to supply a gelling agent into the frac fluid; and a proppant supply source connected to supply lubricated proppant to the second frac pressure pump.