Proppant Suspension via Bubble Bridge Effect
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for proppant suspension in hydraulic fracturing face challenges due to uneven distribution caused by high proppant density, leading to reduced fracture opening and stimulation effectiveness, with existing solutions being costly or damaging to reservoirs.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing the bubble bridge effect to optimize proppant suspension by hydrophobically modifying proppant surfaces and adjusting fracturing fluid parameters, such as pH, Zeta potential, and bubble size, to form stable proppant-bubble aggregates with reduced apparent density, enhancing suspension and transport efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If proppant density is increased to enhance fracture opening, then fracture opening is improved, but proppant suspension uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces gas bubbles as an intermediary substance that attaches to proppant particles to form composite structures. These bubble-proppant aggregates have reduced apparent density while maintaining the proppant's mechanical function, thereby improving suspension uniformity without sacrificing fracture opening capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state of the proppant system by introducing gas phase bubbles that attach to solid proppant particles. This phase change creates a气固两相 composite structure with tunable apparent density, allowing optimization of both suspension uniformity and fracture opening
2Productivity
If fracturing fluid viscosity is increased to improve proppant carrying capacity, then proppant transport is improved, but material cost and reservoir damage risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
Gas bubbles serve as intermediaries that attach to proppant particles, reducing their apparent density and improving transport efficiency. This approach eliminates the need for high-viscosity fracturing fluids, thereby reducing material costs and minimizing reservoir damage risks associated with viscous fluid injection
3Stability of the object's composition
If hollow proppant is used to reduce density, then proppant suspension is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of manufacturing expensive hollow proppant structures, the patent uses gas bubbles as external intermediaries that attach to conventional solid proppant surfaces. This approach achieves density reduction and improved suspension using simple, low-cost gas injection rather than complex proppant manufacturing processes
4Strength
If proppant concentration is increased at fracture bottom, then fracture opening is improved, but proppant distribution uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Gas bubbles attach to proppant particles throughout the fracturing fluid, creating buoyancy forces that counteract gravity-induced settling. This enables uniform proppant distribution from bottom to top of the fracture while maintaining adequate concentration for fracture opening
Solution Approach 2:
The gas bubbles provide an upward buoyant force that counteracts the downward gravitational force on proppant particles. This anti-weight effect prevents proppant settling and maintains uniform distribution throughout the fracture height
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 achieves longer transport distance and more uniform proppant distribution, significantly improving hydraulic fracture stimulation and oil and gas production by reducing proppant density through bubble bridge formation.
Implementation Method 1
a method for proppant suspension and suspension parameter optimization based on bubble bridge effect
Implementation Method 2
hydrophobically modify the surface of the selected proppant to obtain a hydrophobically surface-modified proppant
Implementation Method 3
the density of proppant is often significantly higher than that of fracturing fluid, and the proppant will inevitably settle under the action of gravity
Implementation Method 4
Measure the Zeta potential of the bubbly water-based fracturing base fluid with different basic parameter values
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses a method for proppant suspension and suspension parameter optimization based on bubble bridge effect, comprising: select a proppant and hydrophobically modify its surface to obtain a hydrophobically surface-modified proppant; prepare a bubbly fracturing base fluid; make the first optimization of the base fluids according to the average radius of the proppant and the average radius of the bubbles of the base fluids; optimally select the base fluids selected for the second time according to the interaction energy between the proppant particle and the bubble after the hydrophobically surface-modified proppant mixed with the base fluid; the basic parameters of the bubbly fracturing base fluid selected at the third time were used for the perfect selection for proppant suspension. The present invention establishes a procedure on experimental evaluation and parameter calculation optimization by suspending fracturing proppant with the bubble bridge effect on the hydrophobic surface.