Reactive Composites for Fracture Conductivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fracturing fluids used in hydraulic fracturing face issues such as proppant degradation, increased fluid density, environmental contamination, and inefficiency in stimulating oblique fractures, leading to reduced equipment lifespan and incomplete resource recovery.
Innovation Solution
Development of reactive composites that generate controlled heat and pressure through interaction with water or chemicals, using materials like alkali metals, metal hydrides, and polymers to enhance fracture conductivity, proppant transport, and reduce the need for surface intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional fracturing fluids and proppants are used, then hydraulic fracturing can be performed, but proppant particles degrade pumping components and piping, reducing equipment lifespan
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses biodegradable proppants made from natural materials such as corn starch, cellulose, or wood flour that are designed to degrade after serving their temporary purpose of holding fractures open. These disposable proppants replace conventional sand or ceramic proppants that cause equipment degradation, as they break down into harmless substances that do not abrasive pumping components or piping.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of proppants by using materials with different mechanical properties, density, and degradability. The biodegradable proppants have lower hardness and different surface characteristics compared to conventional proppants, reducing their ability to degrade equipment while maintaining their function of propping open fractures during the production phase.
2Reliability
If dense proppants are used to hold fractures open, then fracture conductivity is improved, but fluid density increases adversely affecting pumping requirements and costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the density parameter of proppants by using biodegradable materials that are less dense than conventional sand or ceramic proppants. This reduces the overall density of the fracturing fluid, lowering pumping requirements and energy consumption while still providing adequate fracture support through the proppant's structural integrity during the critical production period.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs temporary proppants that provide sufficient fracture conductivity during the production phase but are designed to degrade over time. This allows the use of lower-density materials that reduce pumping costs, as the proppants only need to maintain fracture openness temporarily until natural production pressures are established.
3Productivity
If high-volume fracturing fluids are used to transport proppants, then proppant delivery is improved, but environmental contamination and water usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses biodegradable proppants and environmentally benign fracturing fluids that break down into harmless substances, eliminating long-term environmental contamination concerns. This allows for more aggressive proppant delivery strategies without permanently harming the environment, as the materials naturally decompose into safe byproducts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of high-volume fluid injection by using biodegradable materials that turn from environmental contaminants into beneficial substances as they degrade. The degradation products of the biodegradable proppants and fluids can actually benefit the formation by providing temporary plugging or nutrient sources, transforming an environmental hazard into a potential advantage.
4Productivity
If conventional fracturing fluids are used, then fracturing can be performed, but chemicals can leach into aquifers and contaminate ground water
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional chemical-laden fracturing fluids with biodegradable alternatives that break down into harmless substances. The temporary nature of these materials ensures they provide adequate fracturing effectiveness during the operation but do not persist in the environment to contaminate aquifers or ground water supplies.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts potentially harmful chemicals into beneficial biodegradable materials that, upon degradation, can actually benefit the formation and surrounding environment. The degradation products may provide temporary plugging to redirect fluids or serve as nutrients for microbial activity, transforming environmental hazards into beneficial effects.
5Productivity
If high-pressure pumping is used to deliver proppants through the reservoir, then proppant placement is improved, but excessive loads on injection pumps increase costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the density and viscosity parameters of the fracturing fluid by using biodegradable materials with optimized physical properties. These parameter changes reduce the pumping power required to deliver proppants through the reservoir while maintaining adequate placement efficiency, as the biodegradable materials flow more easily and require less pressure to transport.
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
The reactive composites improve fracture network development, reduce pumping friction, and increase resource recovery by generating localized heat and pressure, effectively addressing the limitations of current fracturing fluids and proppants.
Implementation Method 1
The reactive material is formulated to react with water and/or other type of oxidizer in a controlled manner to create localized heat and/or pressure
Implementation Method 2
which is formulated to degrade/dissolve when exposed to a) a certain type of fluid, b) a certain temperature, c) a certain chemical, and/or d) a certain pH
Data Source
AI summary
A high strength engineered reactive composite that includes a reactive core. These reactive composites are useful for oil and gas completions and well stimulation processes, enhanced oil and gas recovery operations, as well as in defensive and mining applications requiring high energy density and good mechanical properties.