Phase Transition Material Fluid for Fracture Propping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hydraulic fracturing techniques face challenges with proppant injection, including sand removal, blockage, and injection failure, due to the low strength and high density of existing proppants, which affect fracture conductivity and prolong the construction process.
Innovation Solution
A phase transition material fluid is developed, comprising supramolecular building blocks, functional units, dispersants, and initiators, which self-assemble at formation temperature to form a proppant with improved toughness and reduced formation time, incorporating a pore-forming agent to enhance fracture conductivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional proppant (quartz sand or ceramsite) is injected into the formation, then the fracture can be propped to maintain conductivity, but the proppant causes sand removal, sand blockage, and injection failure due to low strength and high density
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the proppant material by using phase transition materials that transform from liquid state at ground temperature to solid state at formation temperature. This parameter change allows the proppant to have low density and high fluidity during injection, then high strength after phase transition, resolving the contradiction between injection reliability and proppant strength
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs phase transition of the proppant material as the core mechanism. The phase transition material fluid transforms from liquid to solid upon contact with formation temperature, enabling the proppant to be easily injected in liquid form and then provide strong propping force in solid form, thereby solving the contradiction between injection reliability and proppant strength
2Ease of operation
If phase transition material fluid is used to form proppant, then the proppant can be easily injected without solid particle issues, but the reaction rate is slow and takes a long time to form proppant with pressure resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-mixing the phase transition material with a foaming agent before injection. The foaming agent begins to generate gas bubbles immediately upon contact with formation temperature, accelerating the phase transition process and reducing the time required to form proppant with pressure resistance, while maintaining the ease of injection of the liquid fluid
3Reliability
If phase transition material forms solid proppant particles, then the fracture can be propped, but the solid particles lack toughness and are easily broken, blocking gaps and affecting conductivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials by combining phase transition materials with foaming agents and other additives. The resulting proppant has a composite structure with gas-filled pores within the solid matrix, which provides both the necessary propping strength and improved toughness, preventing particle breakage and maintaining fracture conductivity
4Productivity
If conventional fracturing fluid is used to carry proppant, then the fracture can be extended and propped, but the process is complicated and requires separate injection of proppant
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the fracturing fluid and proppant into a single integrated system. The phase transition material fluid serves both as the fracturing fluid that extends the fracture and as the proppant that props the fracture. This merging eliminates the need for separate proppant injection processes, simplifying the overall operation and improving fracturing efficiency
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 phase transition material fluid reduces string friction, decreases construction costs and risks, and enhances fracture conductivity by forming a proppant with pores, allowing for faster reaction times and improved toughness, while maintaining flowability and reducing the need for solid proppant injection.
Implementation Method 1
a material fluid, in which a phase transition may take place, is injected into the fracture after the fracturing, and the material fluid forms proppant after the phase transition (supramolecular self-assembly) at the formation temperature
Implementation Method 2
the material fluid forms proppant after the phase transition (supramolecular self-assembly) at the formation temperature
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a phase transition material fluid and a proppant formed therefrom, wherein the components for preparing the phase transition material fluid comprise in percentages by mass: a supramolecular building block 10 to 60 wt %, a supramolecular functional unit 20 to 50 wt %, a dispersant 0.1 to 2 wt %, an inorganic co-builder 0.1 to 1 wt %, an initiator 0.1 to 1 wt %, the balance being a solvent. The supramolecular building block comprises a melamine-based substance and/or a triazine-based substance; the supramolecular functional unit comprises a dicyclopentadiene resin; and the dispersant includes a hydroxyl-bearing polysaccharide substance and a surfactant. After the phase transition material fluid enters the reservoir, it may form a solid substance to prop the fracture under the action of supramolecular chemistry and physics.