Self-Degrading Particles for Re-fracture Diversion
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current re-fracture treatments in subterranean operations face challenges in isolating compartments of the wellbore for stimulation, as the entry points created during primary fracture treatments are permanently destroyed, making it difficult to achieve multistage re-fracturing without new barriers, and existing methods require massive fluid volumes and high injection rates to create diversion across the reservoir.
Innovation Solution
The use of self-degrading particles combined with a carrier fluid is introduced into the subterranean formation to penetrate and plug off existing fractures, bridge off fracture propagation near the wellbore, and initiate a re-fracture treatment with re-fracture fluids and proppant materials before the self-degrading particles degrade, minimizing leakoff and improving flow capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If massive fluid volumes at high injection rates are used to create diversion across the reservoir, then fracture treatment effectiveness is improved, but energy consumption and equipment requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Self-degrading materials are injected into the formation before the main fracture treatment to pre-establish diversion pathways and reduce leakoff. This preliminary action modifies the formation conditions so that subsequent fracture treatment requires significantly less fluid volume and energy input to achieve the same effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
Self-degrading materials serve as an intermediary substance that temporarily occupies the formation pore space and fracture pathways. These materials mediate between the fracture treatment fluid and the formation, controlling fluid distribution and reducing direct energy consumption by the treatment fluid.
2Adaptability or versatility
If new mechanical barriers are installed to enable multistage re-fracturing, then isolation capability is improved, but device complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The self-degrading materials automatically perform the isolation function through their physical presence and degradation characteristics. The materials self-position and self-function without requiring external mechanical barriers, eliminating the need for complex installation equipment and procedures while maintaining effective isolation capability.
3Quantity of substance
If self-degrading materials are used to create diversion, then fluid volumes required are reduced, but material selection and formulation complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The self-degrading materials are designed with specific physical and chemical parameters (particle size distribution, degradation rate, viscosity modifiers) that can be adjusted to optimize performance. By carefully controlling these parameters, the materials achieve effective diversion with reduced fluid volumes while managing formulation complexity through systematic parameter optimization.
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 reduces fluid volumes required for re-fracturing, enhances the conductivity of existing fractures, and increases the stimulated reservoir volume, while minimizing horsepower requirements for fracture treatments.
Implementation Method 1
allowing the self-degrading materials to penetrate and plug off the connection to existing fractures
Implementation Method 2
bridge off fracture propagation near the wellbore
Implementation Method 3
combining self-degrading particles with a carrier fluid; placing the self-degrading particles and the carrier fluid into a fracture
Data Source
AI summary
A method of treating a subterranean formation includes combining self-degrading particles with a carrier fluid, placing the self-degrading particles and the carrier fluid into a zone in a formation, said zone comprising fractures, allowing the self-degrading materials to penetrate and plug off the connection to existing fractures and to bridge off fracture propagation near the wellbore, and initiating a re-fracture treatment comprising re-fracture fluids and proppant materials prior to the degradation of the self-degrading particles.