Non-Halogenated Tracers for Hydraulic Fracturing Fluid Source Identification

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Solution Overview

Problem

In multi-stage hydraulic fracturing operations, it is difficult to determine which fracturing stage a particular fluid is produced from due to the intermingling of fluids, and existing halogenated tracers are expensive and difficult to separate, posing challenges in maximizing hydrocarbon production and identifying sources of water production.

Innovation Solution

The use of non-halogenated tracers such as primary or secondary alkyl and aromatic amines, alkyl or aromatic diols, diamines, dicarboxylic acids, and diesters, which are absorbed onto substrates and introduced into the subterranean location in various forms, allowing for their detection and differentiation using gas chromatography with an electron capture detector or other methods.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If halogenated tracers are used to identify fluid sources in multi-stage hydraulic fracturing, then the ability to determine which fracturing stage produces fluid is improved, but the cost increases and separation difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid source identification accuracyVSAvoidtracer cost and separation difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive halogenated tracers with inexpensive non-halogenated compounds such as amines, alcohols, ketones, or organic acids. These cheaper tracer substances perform the same function of identifying fluid sources in multi-stage hydraulic fracturing operations, significantly reducing both material costs and separation complexities while maintaining measurement precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the chemical parameters of the tracer substances from halogenated compounds to non-halogenated compounds. This parameter change maintains the tracer's ability to be detected and tracked while eliminating the high cost and separation difficulties associated with halogenated substances, thereby resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and ease of manufacture

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If multiple fracturing stages are conducted to maximize hydrocarbon production, then productivity is improved, but the difficulty of determining which stage produces fluid increases due to fluid intermingling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehydrocarbon production rateVSAvoidfluid source differentiation difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by introducing unique tracer compounds into each individual fracturing stage. This allows the intermingled fluids from multiple stages to be differentiated and traced back to their specific sources, enabling accurate measurement and optimization of each stage's contribution to overall hydrocarbon production

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback by detecting and analyzing the presence of specific tracer compounds in produced fluids. This feedback mechanism provides real-time information about which fracturing stages are producing fluid, allowing operators to optimize production strategies and identify underperforming stages while maintaining high overall productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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 allows for the inexpensive and efficient detection and separation of tracers, enabling accurate determination of fluid sources and maximizing hydrocarbon production by identifying which fracturing stage is producing water or oil, thus optimizing well operations.

Implementation Method 1

primary or secondary alkyl and aromatic amines with the formula H2N—R or R′—HN—R′′ having from 8 to 18 carbon atoms and salts of these amines, alkyl or aromatic diols having the formula HO—(CH2)n—OH, diamines having the formula H2N—(CH2)n—NH2, dicarboxylic acids having the formula HO.CO—(CH2)n—CO.OH, diesters having the formula R′O.CO—(CH2)n—CO.OR′′, where n is 4 to 18, and R′ and R′′ are independently straight or branched alkyl or aromatic groups of 1-20 carbon atoms

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS9297252B2Use of long chain amines and difunctional compounds as tracers

Publication Date: 2016.03.29 BJ ENERGY SOLUTIONS LLC

AI summary

Non-halogenated molecules including, but are not necessarily limited, to alkyl and aromatic amines having from 8 to 18 carbon atoms and salts of these amines, diols having the formula HO—(CH2)n—OH, diamines having the formula H2N—(CH2)n—NH2, dicarboxylic acids having the formula HO.CO—(CH2)n—CO.OH, diesters having the formula R′O.CO—(CH2)n—CO.OR″, where n is 4 to 18, and R′ and R″ are independently straight or branched alkyl or aromatic groups of 1-20 carbon atoms, and combinations thereof are used as tracers to measure oil and/or water fluid returns, e.g. from a hydraulic fracturing job. The non-halogenated molecules may be combined with substrates and introduced into a subterranean location, desorbed and recovered from the subterranean location with a fluid, reacted with a reagent to give a derivatized tracer. The presence of the derivatized tracer is then detected in the recovered fluid. Different non-halogenated tracers may be used for each hydraulic fracturing stage.