Non-Halogenated Tracers for Hydraulic Fracturing Fluid Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hydraulic fracturing methods struggle to determine which fracturing stage a particular fluid is produced from, as existing halogenated tracers are expensive and difficult to separate, and can poison catalysts in downstream refineries.
Innovation Solution
Introducing non-halogenated tracers, such as alcohols, ketones, and organic acids with 10-30 carbon atoms, which are introduced into the subterranean location in various forms like neat, encapsulated, or in oil-in-water emulsions, and reacting them with reagents to create derivatized tracers for detection using GC/ECD or other chromatography methods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If halogenated tracers are used to track fluid origins in hydraulic fracturing, then fluid source identification is enabled, but the tracers are expensive and difficult to separate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive halogenated tracers with inexpensive non-halogenated alcohol tracers that can be easily introduced and detected without requiring complex separation processes, effectively using cheap, disposable tracer molecules for the tracking application
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the tracer from halogenated compounds to non-halogenated alcohols, fundamentally altering the tracer's properties to eliminate separation difficulties and reduce costs while maintaining detection capability through derivatization methods
2Measurement precision
If halogenated tracers are used to determine fracturing stage fluid production, then tracking capability is achieved, but catalysts in downstream refineries are poisoned
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses inexpensive non-halogenated alcohol tracers that do not have the harmful catalytic poisoning effects of halogenated compounds, allowing for safe introduction into the fracturing fluid without compromising downstream refinery catalysts
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the previously harmful halogenated tracer approach into a beneficial non-halogenated alcohol tracer system that eliminates catalyst poisoning while maintaining the essential tracking function, effectively transforming a harmful practice into a safe and effective alternative
3Object-affected harmful factors
If non-halogenated tracers are used instead of halogenated tracers, then catalyst poisoning is avoided and cost is reduced, but detection sensitivity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces derivatization reagents as intermediaries that react with the non-halogenated alcohol tracers to create detectable derivative compounds, allowing indirect detection of the original tracer while maintaining sensitivity and avoiding direct use of harmful halogenated compounds
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct detection methods with derivatization-based detection, substituting a chemical transformation step that converts non-detectable or poorly detectable alcohols into easily detectable derivative compounds for chromatographic analysis
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 cost-effective and efficient tracking of fluid origins, avoiding catalyst poisoning and enabling precise identification of fluid sources, thereby optimizing hydrocarbon production.
Implementation Method 1
reacting the at least one non-halogenated tracer with a reagent to give at least one derivatized tracer
Implementation Method 2
detecting the at least one derivatized tracer from at least a portion of the recovered fluid
Data Source
AI summary
Non-halogenated molecules having 10-30 carbons including aliphatic, aromatic, saturated, unsaturated (and combinations thereof) alcohols, ketones, organic acids, organic acid salts, sulfonated derivatives, and/or other derivatives are used as tracers to measure oil and/or water fluid returns, such as 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 (e.g. pentafluoro benzyl chloride) to give a derivatized tracer. Alternatively, the tracer molecule release can be delayed by use of an emulsion or a coating that allows slower diffusion of the tracer into the fluid. The presence of the derivatized tracer is then detected in the recovered fluid. A different non-halogenated tracer may be used for each hydraulic fracturing stage, e.g. to determine from which fracturing stage water is produced and from which oil is produced.