Polyethylene Polyamine Clay Stabilizer for Shale Hydration Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hydraulic fracturing fluids can cause shale formations to hydrate and swell, reducing permeability and hydrocarbon production, and often result in environmental concerns due to excessive salt concentrations.
Innovation Solution
A hydraulic fracturing fluid containing polyethylene polyamines as a clay stabilizer, which adsorbs onto clay particles to prevent hydration, maintaining permeability and reducing environmental impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional hydraulic fracturing fluids containing salts (sodium chloride or potassium chloride) are used as clay stabilizers to prevent hydration of shale formations, then the hydration of shale formations is prevented, but the quality of surrounding water and soil is negatively affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameter of the clay stabilizer from conventional salts (sodium chloride, potassium chloride) to polyethylene polyamines. This parameter change maintains the clay stabilization function while eliminating the environmental harm caused by excessive salt concentrations in surrounding water and soil
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses polyethylene polyamines as a replaceable clay stabilizer that can be applied and then discarded without causing long-term environmental damage. Unlike persistent salt contaminants, the polyethylene polyamines degrade harmlessly, allowing the system to achieve clay stabilization without compromising environmental quality
2Productivity
If conventional hydraulic fracturing fluids are used in shale formations, then the fluid can flow through the formation, but clay particles swell and reduce permeability and hydrocarbon production
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies polyethylene polyamines to clay particles before the hydraulic fracturing process begins. This preliminary action of adsorbing the stabilizer onto clay particles prevents their subsequent swelling when exposed to the aqueous base fluid, thereby maintaining formation permeability and enabling successful hydrocarbon production
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces polyethylene polyamines as an intermediary substance between the aqueous base fluid and clay particles. The polyethylene polyamines adsorb onto the clay particle surfaces, creating a protective barrier that prevents direct interaction between the water and clay, thus preventing swelling while allowing the fluid to flow through the formation
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 use of polyethylene polyamines in hydraulic fracturing fluids enhances the efficiency of shale formation fracturing while minimizing environmental harm by preventing hydration and maintaining fluid rheology, thereby increasing hydrocarbon production.
Implementation Method 1
The chemical structure of the polyethylene polyamines may facilitate the adsorption of the polyethylene polyamines onto the surface of clay particles present in shale formations during hydraulic fracturing.
Data Source
AI summary
According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a method for hydraulic fracturing includes pumping a hydraulic fracturing fluid through a wellbore into a subterranean formation at a pressure greater than a fracturing pressure of the subterranean formation. The hydraulic fracturing fluid may include an aqueous base fluid and a clay stabilizer consisting of one or more polyethylene polyamines having a first structure H2NCH2CH2(NHCH2CH2)xNH2, where x is an integer greater than or equal to 3. The amount of the clay stabilizer may be from 1 lbm/bbl to 20 lbm/bbl relative to the total volume of the hydraulic fracturing fluid. The average molecular weight of the polyethylene polyamines in the hydraulic fracturing fluid having the first chemical structure may be from 200 g/mol to 400 g/mol. All of the polyethylene polyamines in the hydraulic fracturing fluid having the first chemical structure may be encompassed in the clay stabilizer.