Plugging Agent Injection for Proppant Overdisplacement Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Hydraulic fracturing in hydrocarbon reservoirs often results in overdisplacement of proppants from the wellbore region, leading to reduced conductivity and decreased hydrocarbon flow due to the displacement of proppant particles from areas near the wellbore into the fracture, where they no longer provide support to keep the fracture walls separated.

Innovation Solution

Introducing a plugging agent into the treatment fluid before the entire predetermined amount of proppant reaches the fracture, without lowering the fluid pressure, to form a plug and prevent overdisplacement of proppants, thereby maintaining high conductivity in the near-wellbore region.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If diverting techniques using particulates are used to redirect fractures between zones, then fracture redirection is enabled, but proppant particles may be displaced from near-wellbore areas and lost within the fracture (overdisplacement)

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefracture redirection capabilityVSAvoidproppant overdisplacement

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

A plug is formed in the fracture before the proppant injection is complete, preventing the displacement of proppant particles into the fracture. This preliminary placement of the plug ensures that proppant remains in the near-wellbore region where it is needed for maintaining fracture conductivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

A plugging agent is introduced as an intermediary substance that forms a physical barrier (plug) in the fracture. This plug acts as a mediator to stop the harmful displacement of proppant while allowing the diverting technique to function for fracture redirection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If proppant is injected to hold fracture open, then fracture conductivity is maintained, but proppant may be displaced from high conductivity areas near wellbore

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefracture conductivityVSAvoidproppant placement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The plug is placed in the fracture before the proppant injection completes, creating a preliminary barrier that prevents proppant from being displaced beyond the desired location. This ensures precise proppant placement in the near-wellbore region while maintaining fracture conductivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The plug creates a localized barrier at the fracture entrance, allowing different regions of the fracture to have different functions: the near-wellbore region contains proppant for high conductivity, while the plug prevents further displacement into the fracture interior.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Loss of substance

If plugging agent is introduced before proppant reaches fracture, then overdisplacement is minimized, but treatment process complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproppant retentionVSAvoidtreatment process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The plugging agent injection is merged with the ongoing proppant injection process, occurring simultaneously or in close sequence without requiring separate treatment operations. This integration minimizes process complexity while effectively preventing proppant overdisplacement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 method effectively minimizes proppant overdisplacement, maintaining high conductivity in the near-wellbore region and enhancing hydrocarbon flow by ensuring proppants remain in the desired location, thus increasing the production surface area and flow efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

injecting a treatment fluid into the wellbore at a fluid pressure equal to or greater than a fracture initiation pressure of the subterranean formation, such that the treatment fluid is used to transport a predetermined amount of a proppant into the wellbore

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid pressure: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 2

forming a plug in the fracture by introducing a plugging agent into the treatment fluid before the entire predetermined amount of proppant reaches the fracture

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPlug formation: Physical Containment

Data Source

PatentUS9410394B2Methods for minimizing overdisplacement of proppant in fracture treatments

Publication Date: 2016.08.09 SCHLUMBERGER TECH CORP

AI summary

A method of treating a subterranean formation comprising generating a fracture in the subterranean formation, introducing a predetermined amount of proppant into a treatment fluid, and subsequently introducing a plugging agent into the treatment fluid before the entire predetermined amount of proppant reaches the fracture, minimizing overdisplacement of the proppant from the fracture.