Removable Channelant for Heterogeneous Proppant Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for hydraulic fracturing struggle to achieve uniform distribution of proppant clusters and maintain fracture openness, leading to issues with fluid flow resistance and fracture closure, as they rely on porosity and permeability of the proppant pack, which can result in non-uniform distribution and excessive closure.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a removable 'channelant' material that segregates proppant clusters to form pillars and initially fills the spaces between them, allowing for the creation of open channels by removing the channelant, thereby enhancing fluid flow through the fracture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If homogeneous proppant placement procedures are used to uniformly distribute proppant and porosity-inducing materials, then porosity distribution is improved, but fluid flow channels are constricted
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the fracture space into two distinct regions: proppant-rich regions that provide structural support and proppant-lean regions that form high-permeability flow channels. This segmentation allows the proppant pack to maintain porosity while creating dedicated pathways for fluid flow, resolving the contradiction between uniform porosity distribution and fluid flow capability
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the fracture are assigned different properties: proppant-rich regions have high porosity for structural stability, while proppant-lean regions have low porosity but high permeability for fluid flow. This local differentiation allows each region to optimize its function, with flow channels forming in the proppant-lean regions where less proppant blocks the flow paths
2Strength
If proppant clusters are constructed to prevent fracture closing, then fracture openness is improved, but non-uniform distribution occurs leading to excessive closure
Solution Approach 1:
The fracture is segmented into multiple discrete proppant clusters separated by proppant-lean flow channels. Each cluster acts as an independent structural support element, preventing fracture closure locally, while the overall distribution remains controlled through the alternating pattern of clusters and channels
Solution Approach 2:
Proppant clusters are placed in predetermined locations within the fracture before production begins. The alternating injection of proppant-containing and proppant-free fracturing fluids creates a pre-planned pattern of clusters and channels, ensuring uniform distribution and preventing excessive closure at any location
3Strength
If proppant-containing fluid is injected to form clusters, then fracture support is improved, but fluid density differences cause underriding and non-uniform distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The injection process alternates between proppant-containing fracturing fluid stages and proppant-free fracturing fluid stages. This periodic action allows proppant clusters to form during proppant injection, then proppant-free fluid to redistribute and separate the clusters, preventing underriding and achieving uniform distribution through repeated cycles of cluster formation and redistribution
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 significantly increases hydraulic conductivity by forming interconnected open channels around proppant pillars, improving fluid flow and reducing fracture closure, as the channelant can be removed through various mechanisms, such as flushing or degradation, to maintain high permeability.
Implementation Method 1
a removable material that can act as fill to physically separate the proppant clusters at appropriate distances during placement in the fracture
Implementation Method 2
the channelant can be removed through various mechanisms, such as flushing or degradation, to maintain high permeability
Implementation Method 3
the channelant can be removed through various mechanisms, such as flushing or degradation, to maintain high permeability
Implementation Method 4
the fracture remains propped open by the packed proppant, allowing fluids to flow from the formation through the proppant pack to the production wellbore
Implementation Method 5
fluids to flow from the formation through the proppant pack to the production wellbore
Data Source
AI summary
A method of heterogeneous proppant placement in a subterranean fracture is disclosed. The method comprises injecting well treatment fluid including proppant (16) wherein the proppant comprises from 1 to 100 percent in weight of stiff, low-elasticity and low-deformability elongated particles (34) and proppant-spacing filler material called a channelant (18) through a wellbore (10) into the fracture (20), heterogeneously placing the proppant in the fracture in a plurality of proppant clusters or islands (22) spaced apart by the channelant (24), and removing the channelant filler material (24) to form open channels (26) around the pillars (28) for fluid flow from the formation (14) through the fracture (20) toward the wellbore (10). The proppant and channelant can be segregated within the well treatment fluid, or segregated during placement in the fracture. The channelant can be dissolvable particles, initially acting as a filler material during placement of the proppant in the fracture, and later dissolving to leave the flow channels between the proppant pillars. The well treatment fluid can include fibers to provide reinforcement and consolidation of the proppant and, additionally or alternatively, to inhibit settling of the proppant in the treatment fluid.