Underground Proppant Agglomeration via Binding Liquid
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for manipulating flow paths underground, such as in hydraulic fracturing and preventing lost circulation, face challenges in achieving heterogeneous proppant placement and effective plugging, as they rely on surface treatments and complex fluid injection techniques that are costly and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing differences in polarity between a binding liquid and a particulate solid, suspended in a carrier liquid, to agglomerate underground, forming deformable agglomerates that act as proppant or plugs, allowing for heterogeneous placement and flow path manipulation without the need for surface treatments or complex fluid injection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If surface treatments are applied to proppant particles to make them adhere together, then proppant flowback control is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a binding liquid as an intermediary substance that mediates between proppant particles to create agglomerates. Instead of directly treating the proppant surface, the binding liquid acts as a mediator that causes particles to adhere together through liquid bridging, simplifying the process while achieving flowback control
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the proppant system by introducing a binding liquid with specific properties (viscosity, surface tension, density) that differ from conventional surface treatments. This parameter change enables agglomerate formation through liquid-phase interactions rather than surface chemistry modifications
2Reliability
If complex fluid injection techniques are used to achieve heterogeneous proppant placement, then fracture conductivity is improved, but device complexity and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the proppant placement process by creating discrete agglomerates of proppant particles bound by the binding liquid. These segmented agglomerates are then distributed heterogeneously in the fracture, achieving localized proppant clusters with flow channels between them, simplifying the injection process while maintaining fracture conductivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates composite agglomerates consisting of proppant particles combined with binding liquid. This composite structure provides both the mechanical support of solid proppant and the adhesive properties of the liquid binder, enabling heterogeneous placement without complex injection systems
3Stability of the object's composition
If proppant particles are packed densely in the fracture, then flow path stability is improved, but fluid conductivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating heterogeneous distributions of agglomerates rather than uniform packing. Some regions have dense agglomerate clusters providing stability, while other regions have fewer agglomerates or larger inter-agglomerate spaces providing flow channels, thus simultaneously achieving stability and conductivity
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 approach enhances fracture conductivity by clustering proppant at localized areas while maintaining open pathways, and effectively blocks or diverts flow as needed, reducing costs and operational complexity.
Implementation Method 1
A method utilizing differences in polarity between a binding liquid and a particulate solid, suspended in a carrier liquid, to agglomerate underground, forming deformable agglomerates
Implementation Method 2
the binding liquid and particulate solid being similar to each other but opposite to the carrier in hydrophilic/hydrophobic character such that agglomerates of the solid particles held together by the binding liquid are formed by agglomeration below ground
Data Source
AI summary
Solid material required at a subterranean location is supplied from the surface suspended in a carrier liquid and agglomerated below ground by means of a binding liquid. To achieve agglomeration, the binding liquid and the particulate solid are similar to each other but opposite to the carrier liquid in hydrophilic/hydrophobic character. The solid and the binding liquid may both be hydrophobic while the carrier liquid is hydrophilic, or vice versa. The solid may be hydrophobically surface modified to render it hydrophobic. The binding liquid may be provided as a precursor which converts to the binding liquid below ground to trigger agglomeration after arrival at the subterranean location. The agglomerates may function as proppant heterogeneously placed in a fracture of a reservoir, or may serve to block an unwanted path of flow. The binding liquid may polymerise after agglomeration so as to stabilise and strengthen the agglomerates.