Nano-Encapsulated Reactants for Synthetic Sweet Spots in Tight Formations

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current technologies are unable to effectively locate or predict 'sweet spots' in tight hydrocarbon formations, leading to low well productivity and economic challenges in developing low permeability reservoirs, particularly in tight sands and shale formations, where hydraulic fracturing is often required but is costly and environmentally impactful.

Innovation Solution

A reaction mixture is introduced that includes encapsulated reactants capable of exothermic reactions to generate gas and heat, which are designed to create microfractures within the formation, enhancing permeability and creating synthetic sweet spots when triggered by temperature or water contact, thereby improving gas production.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If massive hydraulic fracturing is used to stimulate low permeability formations, then well productivity is enhanced, but the cost and environmental impact increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewell productivityVSAvoidenvironmental impact

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the fracturing process by using encapsulated reactants that undergo exothermic reactions to generate gas in-situ. This transforms the conventional mechanical hydraulic fracturing into a chemical reaction-based stimulation method, reducing the need for large volumes of water and repeated fracturing stages, thereby lowering environmental impact while maintaining productivity enhancement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical hydraulic fracturing system with a chemical reaction system. Instead of injecting high-pressure water to create fractures, the invention uses encapsulated reactants that decompose exothermically to generate gas pressure, creating microfractures and enhancing permeability through chemical energy conversion rather than mechanical force

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If multiple stages of hydraulic fracturing are performed to maximize reservoir contact, then stimulation effectiveness improves, but the complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestimulation effectivenessVSAvoidfracturing process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple fracturing stages into a single treatment by using encapsulated reactants that provide sustained gas generation over time. The progressive decomposition of encapsulated materials continues to create microfractures and maintain pressure without requiring repeated injection operations, merging multiple stimulation events into one integrated process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-encapsulating reactants with controlled decomposition rates before injection. The encapsulation design ensures that reactants decompose in a predetermined sequence and rate, creating microfractures progressively without requiring multiple field operations, thus simplifying the overall process while maintaining effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Quantity of substance

If conventional hydraulic fracturing is used in tight formations, then permeability is enhanced, but formation damage may occur

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovepermeabilityVSAvoidformation damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses biodegradable or soluble encapsulation materials that decompose completely after serving their purpose of containing reactants. These temporary encapsulation structures provide controlled release of reactants and then degrade harmlessly, avoiding long-term formation damage while achieving the desired permeability enhancement through microfracture creation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

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 method increases the chances of encountering productive areas within tight gas formations, reduces the number of fracturing stages needed, and minimizes environmental impact by generating microfractures that enhance reservoir conductivity and reduce formation damage, leading to more economical and efficient gas recovery.

Implementation Method 1

The reactant is capable of reacting exothermically to produce a volume of gas

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectExothermic reaction: Exothermic Reaction

Implementation Method 2

the gas production is increased by a process that includes injecting into the formation an aqueous solution that includes at least one encapsulated reactant, the reactant being capable of reacting exothermically to produce a volume of gas

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGas expansion:

Data Source

PatentUS10989030B2Synthetic sweet spots in tight formations by injection of nano encapsulated reactants

Publication Date: 2021.04.27 SAUDI ARABIAN OIL CO

AI summary

Provided is a method and composition for the in-situ generation of synthetic sweet spots in tight-gas formations. The composition can include gas generating compounds, which upon activation, exothermically react to generate heat and gas. The method of using the composition includes injecting the composition into a tight-gas formation such that upon activation, the heat and gas are generated, resulting in the formation of fractures and microfractures within the formation.