Micro-fracturing Formation Tester Proppant Suspension
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional micro-fracturing techniques face challenges in effectively sampling formation fluids from tight, low-permeability subterranean formations due to issues with proppant settling and the need for large, complex tools that destabilize openhole wellbores.
Innovation Solution
A formation-tester tool with a dual-action pumping device that agitates proppant-laden fracturing fluid to keep proppant suspended, allowing for small-scale fracturing and sampling without destabilizing the wellbore, using a modular design with a single pumping device to generate fractures, inject proppant-laden fluid, and retrieve samples, reducing tool size and complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional micro-fracturing techniques are used to sample formation fluids from tight formations, then proppant settling occurs and sampling effectiveness decreases, but using larger tools increases tool size and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The tool is divided into separate functional modules: a pumping device for fluid injection, a sampling device with collection chambers, and a proppant injection device. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and reduces overall tool complexity while maintaining sampling effectiveness in tight formations.
Solution Approach 2:
The single pumping device performs multiple functions: injecting fracturing fluid to create fractures, injecting proppant-laden fluid to maintain fractures, and retrieving formation fluid samples. This multi-functionality reduces tool size and complexity while improving sampling reliability in tight formations.
2Reliability
If proppant-laden fracturing fluid is injected to create fractures in tight formations, then fracture creation is achieved, but proppant settling reduces fracture quality
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses dynamic pumping operations with variable flow rates and pressures to keep proppant suspended in the fracturing fluid. The pumping device alternates between high-pressure injection phases and lower-pressure phases, creating dynamic conditions that prevent proppant settling while maintaining fracture integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes fluid parameters including viscosity, density, and flow rate during the fracturing operation. By adjusting these parameters dynamically, the proppant remains suspended in the fracturing fluid, ensuring high-quality fracture creation in tight formations.
3Power
If large tools are used for micro-fracturing operations, then sufficient fracture creation capability is achieved, but wellbore destabilization occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The tool creates small, controlled fractures rather than large-scale fractures. By using partial action with precise control of fluid injection volume and pressure, the system achieves sufficient fracture creation capability while minimizing wellbore destabilization. The modular design allows controlled, incremental fracture creation.
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
Enables efficient collection of low-mobility fluid samples from tight formations with reduced tool size and complexity, enhancing safety and operational efficiency by allowing micro-fracturing and sampling before wellbore casing, providing valuable reservoir fluid analysis for optimized hydrocarbon production.
Implementation Method 1
a pump, operable to generate a test fracture in the subterranean formation, inject proppant-laden fracturing fluid into the test fracture
Implementation Method 2
retrieve a sample of formation fluid from the fracture
Implementation Method 3
the proppant-laden fracturing fluid is agitated prior to the pump injecting the proppant-laden fluid into the fracture to prevent the proppant from settling in the fluid
Data Source
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AI summary
A formation-tester tool may be positioned downhole in an openhole wellbore. The formation-tester tool may suspend proppant in fracturing fluid located in a chamber of the formation-tester tool. The formation-tester tool may generate a test fracture in an uncased wall of an area of interest of a subterranean formation adjacent to the openhole wellbore and inject the fracturing fluid and the proppant toward the uncased wall and into the test fracture. The formation-tester tool may retrieve a fluid sample from a reservoir within the area of interest of the subterranean formation by creating a drawdown pressure in the test fracture.