Amorphous Polymeric Web for Proppant Placement Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The dispersal of proppant into fractures in subterranean formations lacks operator control, leading to potential fracture closure and increased costs due to the need for refracing, as the current methods rely heavily on high-pressure injection and result in proppant flowback and uneven distribution.
Innovation Solution
A solubilized water-insoluble degradable polyester is used to form an amorphous polymeric web that captures and aggregates proppant, allowing for controlled injection and reduced flowback, with the polyester degrading over time to maintain proppant placement and increase permeability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If high-pressure injection is used to disperse proppant into fractures, then proppant can be placed into the fracture, but operator control is lost and proppant flowback occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-agglomerating proppant with a polymer matrix before injection. The proppant is mixed with a polymer solution and allowed to form agglomerates with controlled size and distribution prior to being injected into the fracture. This pre-preparation ensures that the proppant arrives at the fracture in a controlled, agglomerated state rather than as loose particles, giving operators control over placement while preventing flowback.
2Manufacturing precision
If high-pressure injection is used to disperse proppant, then proppant enters the fracture, but uneven distribution and flowback occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a polymer matrix as an intermediary substance between the injection system and the proppant. The polymer binds proppant particles together to form agglomerates of controlled size and density. This intermediary structure allows the proppant to be transported uniformly through the injection system and distributed evenly in the fracture, while the polymer matrix prevents individual proppant particles from flowing back into the wellbore.
3Reliability
If more proppant is pumped to prevent fracture closure, then fracture may stay open, but cost and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of proppant delivery by using agglomerated proppant instead of loose particles. The agglomerates have controlled size, density, and flow characteristics that allow them to be pumped at lower pressures and volumes while achieving the same or better fracture filling效果. This parameter change reduces the total amount of proppant needed while ensuring fracture openness, thereby reducing cost and avoiding the need for time-consuming refracing operations.
4Ease of operation
If proppant is suspended in aqueous fluid with water soluble gelling agents, then proppant can be dispersed, but rheology alteration is required and control is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the suspension function from the aqueous carrier fluid and transfers it to the polymer-proppant agglomerate structure itself. Instead of relying on water soluble gelling agents to suspend proppant particles, the proppant is pre-bound into agglomerates that maintain their structure during transport. This eliminates the need for complex rheology modification of the carrier fluid while maintaining excellent suspension and distribution capabilities.
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 reduces the amount of proppant needed, enhances permeability, and increases hydrocarbon recovery rates by ensuring consistent proppant placement and distribution within the fracture, minimizing operational expenditures and the risk of fracture closure.
Implementation Method 1
A solubilized water-insoluble degradable polyester is used to form an amorphous polymeric web that captures and aggregates proppant
Implementation Method 2
a solubilized water-insoluble degradable polyester is used to form an amorphous polymeric web that captures and aggregates proppant, allowing for controlled injection and reduced flowback, with the polyester degrading over time
Data Source
AI summary
Methods for propping a fracture. The method comprises providing a treatment fluid comprising a polyester, a water-miscible solvent, and a proppant and then pumping the treatment fluid through an aqueous fluid within a wellbore to form an amorphous polymeric web. The method further comprises pumping the amorphous polymeric web into a fracture within a subterranean formation and then allowing the amorphous polymeric web to dissolve.