Polyethylene Oxide Alkyl Ether Flowback Aid for Water-Block Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fracturing fluids leave an irreducible fraction behind in subterranean formations, impeding hydrocarbon flow and requiring effective flowback aids to minimize residual fluid and enhance production.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of polyethylene oxide alkyl ether nonionic surfactants in fracturing fluids to reduce capillary pressure and water block, with a contact angle greater than 80 degrees and surface tension less than 35 mN/m, facilitating efficient flowback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional fracturing fluids are used, then fractures are formed and propped open, but an irreducible fraction of fluid remains in the formation impeding hydrocarbon flow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the interfacial tension and wettability parameters of the fracturing fluid system through surfactant addition. The surfactant changes the contact angle and reduces capillary pressure, fundamentally altering the fluid-rock interaction parameters to enable better flowback and reduce residual fluid saturation.
Solution Approach 2:
The surfactant acts as an intermediary substance between the fracturing fluid and the formation rock. It mediates the interaction by adsorbing at the interface, modifying surface properties, and facilitating the displacement of residual water phase, thereby enabling improved hydrocarbon flow without directly interacting with the rock matrix itself.
2Productivity
If flowback aids are added to reduce residual fluid, then hydrocarbon flow improves, but fluid composition and formulation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by introducing surfactant functionality specifically at the fluid-rock interface rather than requiring bulk modification of the entire fracturing fluid system. The surfactant concentrates at the interface where it is needed to modify wettability and reduce capillary pressure, while the bulk fluid composition remains relatively simple and manageable.
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
Enhances hydrocarbon flow by reducing water saturation in subterranean formations, thereby improving production efficiency and accelerating the flowback of fracturing fluids.
Implementation Method 1
a flowback aid may be included in the fracturing fluid to reduce capillary pressure and water blocks
Implementation Method 2
a scientific measure of the ability of a flowback aid to change the wettability of the near wellbore formation can be obtained by accurately measuring the contact angle
Implementation Method 3
with a contact angle greater than 80 degrees and surface tension less than 35 mN/m
Data Source
AI summary
Methods of fracturing a subterranean formation include introducing a fracturing fluid containing an aqueous medium, a viscosifying agent and a polyethylene oxide alkyl ether through a wellbore and into the subterranean formation, pressurizing the fracturing fluid to fracture the subterranean formation, and allowing the fracturing fluid to flow back into the wellbore from the subterranean formation. The polyethylene oxide alkyl ether useful in some embodiments is defined according to the formula:where R1 and R2 are independently selected from linear or branched alkyl groups having from 2 to 16 carbon atoms, and ‘n’ may be a value selected from within a range of from 1 to 100.