Oil-External Treatment Fluid for Proppant Suspension

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Solution Overview

Problem

In hydraulic fracturing, proppant particulates often settle out of treatment fluids before reaching their target interval in subterranean formations, leading to impaired fracture conductivity and production, due to high specific gravity and the increasing cost and pumpability issues associated with traditional gelling and crosslinking agents, as well as inadequate buoyancy from gas-generating mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

A method using an oil-external treatment fluid comprising a 3D-network chemical interaction between a hydrocarbon fluid, an aqueous fluid, and a surface modification agent to suspend proppant particulates, eliminating the need for traditional viscosifying agents and ensuring uniform placement in target intervals without settling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If traditional gelling and crosslinking agents are used to suspend proppant particulates, then proppant particulates can be kept in suspension, but the cost increases and pumpability issues occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesuspension stabilityVSAvoidcost and pumpability

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and removes traditional gelling and crosslinking agents from the treatment fluid system. Instead of using these conventional viscosifying agents, the patent employs a gas-generating mechanism that creates buoyancy forces to suspend proppant particulates, thereby eliminating the harmful factors (cost increases and pumpability issues) associated with traditional agents while maintaining suspension stability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces the chemical mechanism (gelling and crosslinking agents) with a physical-mechanical mechanism (gas generation and buoyancy). The gas-generating mechanism creates bubbles that attach to proppant particulates, providing upward buoyant forces that counteract gravity and keep particulates suspended without requiring viscous chemical agents

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Stability of the object's composition

If gas-generating mechanisms are used to increase proppant particulate buoyancy, then suspension is improved, but gas is generated at unwanted intervals

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesuspension stabilityVSAvoidgas generation location control

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies local quality by making the gas-generating mechanism responsive to local conditions. The mechanism uses a trigger substance that is present only at the target interval within the subterranean formation. Gas generation occurs locally where the trigger substance is encountered, ensuring that buoyancy forces are applied only where needed (at the target interval) and not at unwanted intervals during transport

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Stability of the object's composition

If proppant particulates are introduced in a viscous gelled fluid, then settling is prevented, but premature viscosity increases cause pumpability issues

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproppant suspensionVSAvoidpumpability

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies dynamics by making the suspension mechanism active and responsive rather than static. The gas-generating mechanism remains dormant during transport (avoiding premature viscosity increases) and activates only when triggered by the presence of the trigger substance at the target interval. This dynamic approach allows the system to maintain pumpability during injection while providing suspension stability when needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 effectively suspends proppant particulates without traditional viscosifying agents, reducing costs and operational challenges, while maintaining stability and uniform distribution within the subterranean formation, thereby enhancing fracture conductivity and production efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

an oil-external treatment fluid which is a 3D-network comprising a chemical interaction between a hydrocarbon fluid, an aqueous fluid, and a surface modification agent

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurface modification: Surfactant

Implementation Method 2

the oil-external treatment fluid is a 3D-network comprising a chemical interaction between a hydrocarbon fluid, an aqueous fluid, and a surface modification agent

Methodology Applied

Scientific Effect3D-network formation: Chemical Bonding

Data Source

PatentUS9038717B2Methods of transporting proppant particulates in a subterranean formation

Publication Date: 2015.05.26 HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES INC

AI summary

Methods of treating a wellbore in a subterranean formation including providing an oil-external treatment fluid, wherein the oil-external treatment fluid is a 3D-network comprising a chemical interaction between a hydrocarbon fluid, an aqueous fluid, and a surface modification agent; providing proppant particulates; suspending the proppant particulates in the oil-external treatment fluid; and introducing the oil-external treatment fluid comprising the proppant particulates into the wellbore in the subterranean formation.