Proppant Reservoir Pressure Control for Fracturing Fluid
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for controlling proppant concentration in liquefied gas fracturing face challenges in achieving timely and accurate adjustments, often resulting in overshooting desired concentrations due to hysteresis and time-delays, particularly when using complex modeling and densitometers, which can increase response time and lead to misdirected pressure changes.
Innovation Solution
A system that utilizes a flow meter and densitometer to measure the fracturing fluid flow rate and proppant concentration, sending electronic signals to a processor to calculate a pressure gradient, which then adjusts the pressure in the proppant reservoir through pressure control valves, ensuring precise regulation of proppant concentration in the fracturing fluid stream.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If complex modeling and densitometers are used to control proppant concentration, then measurement precision is improved, but response time increases and hysteresis effects occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-calculates pressure gradient values based on desired proppant concentrations and stores them in a lookup table. When control is needed, the system simply retrieves the pre-calculated pressure gradient corresponding to the desired concentration, avoiding time-consuming real-time complex modeling and densitometer measurements.
2Productivity
If pressure control adjustments are made rapidly to correct concentration deviations, then productivity is improved, but overshooting of desired concentration values occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-calculates appropriate pressure gradient values that will achieve the desired proppant concentration without overshooting. These pre-calculated values account for system dynamics and are stored for rapid retrieval, enabling fast response while maintaining precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors actual proppant concentration and compares it with the desired concentration. Based on this feedback, the system adjusts the pressure gradient in real-time to maintain the desired concentration, preventing overshooting while ensuring rapid correction of deviations.
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 allows for timely and accurate adjustments in proppant concentration, reducing the likelihood of overshooting and improving the efficiency of proppant loading into fracturing fluid streams, enhancing the stimulation of oil and gas wells by maintaining optimal pressure conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a flow meter to measure the fracturing fluid flow rate
Implementation Method 2
a densitometer to measure the proppant concentration
Implementation Method 3
Pressurized fluid is fed to the head space of the proppant reservoir to control the pressure inside the proppant reservoir
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention concerns a feedback control method for adjusting the proppant concentration in a fracturing fluid that is utilized in stimulation of an underground formation.