Proppant Slug Metering for Heterogeneous Fracture Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for providing heterogeneous proppant placement in hydraulic fracturing lack effective techniques for creating multiple spaced apart proppant slugs within fractures, which is crucial for maintaining fracture openness and enhancing fluid production.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a system that includes a hopper with a controllable metering unit, a variable speed conveyor, and alternating flow of pre-mixed proppant slurry and clean fluid to create discrete, spaced apart proppant slugs within the hydraulic fracturing fluid, ensuring precise control over proppant placement and distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If proppant is continuously admixed with fracturing fluid during treatment, then the fracture remains open, but heterogeneous proppant placement cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous proppant stream is segmented into discrete slugs using a valve assembly that alternates between open and closed positions. This segmentation allows proppant to be delivered in distinct packets rather than continuously, enabling heterogeneous placement patterns while maintaining fracture openness through cumulative proppant deposition.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve assembly operates periodically, alternating between open and closed positions to create discrete proppant slugs at regular or irregular intervals. This periodic action enables heterogeneous proppant placement by varying the timing and duration of proppant injection, while the cumulative effect of multiple slugs maintains fracture openness.
2Adaptability or versatility
If proppant is delivered in discrete slugs, then heterogeneous proppant placement is achieved, but precise control over slug size and spacing is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates flow meters and pressure sensors that provide real-time feedback on proppant slurry flow rate and injection pressure. This feedback is fed to a controller that adjusts valve timing and duration to maintain precise control over slug size and spacing, compensating for variations in fluid properties and wellbore conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve assembly and pumping system are designed with dynamic control capabilities, allowing real-time adjustment of valve opening duration, pumping rate, and slug timing. This dynamic control enables precise adjustment of slug size and spacing to match desired heterogeneous placement patterns while adapting to changing treatment conditions.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple devices are used to create proppant slugs, then precise control is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve assembly is integrated directly into the proppant injection system, combining the slug creation function with the existing proppant delivery infrastructure. The controller integrates with the pumping system to coordinate valve timing with fluid injection, merging multiple control functions into a unified system that reduces overall complexity while maintaining precise slug control.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve assembly serves multiple functions: it creates discrete slugs, controls slug size through timing adjustment, regulates slug spacing through interval control, and can adapt to different proppant types and fracturing fluid conditions. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate devices for each control aspect, reducing system complexity while maintaining precision.
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 optimal heterogeneous proppant placement, maintaining fracture openness and enhancing fluid production by creating proppant slugs with precise control over size and spacing, thereby improving the efficiency of hydraulic fracturing operations.
Implementation Method 1
a hopper containing proppant is provided having a controllable metering unit that can be opened and closed between closed and variable open positions. The metering unit selectively meters proppant from the hopper to a variable speed conveyer
Implementation Method 2
The proppant groups are delivered by the conveyer to a mixing tank where the proppant is combined with the hydraulic fracturing fluid
Implementation Method 3
The proppant groups are delivered by the conveyer to a mixing tank where the proppant is combined with the hydraulic fracturing fluid
Implementation Method 4
introducing fluids into the wellbore at very high flow rates and pressures to facilitate cracking and fracturing of the surrounding formation
Implementation Method 5
The fracturing fluid injection rate exceeds the filtration rate into the formation so that the pressure increases at the rock face
Implementation Method 6
a hydrocyclone separator, the hydrocyclone separator having an underflow outlet and overflow outlet wherein the pre-mixed proppant slurry is provided from at least one of the underflow outlet and overflow outlet
Data Source
AI summary
A proppant pack may be formed in a fracture that extends from a wellbore formed in a subterranean formation and is accomplished through different methods. The methods involve providing multiple spaced apart proppant slugs within a hydraulic fracturing fluid that is introduced into the wellbore at a pressure above the fracturing pressure of the formation.