Self-Thickening Fracturing Fluid via Oppositely Charged Polymer and Surfactant
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fracturing fluids require crosslinkers and breakers, which complicate operations and are sensitive to formation conditions, especially in the presence of metallic salts and impurities, limiting their effectiveness and environmental friendliness.
Innovation Solution
The use of anionic or cationic surfactants with oppositely charged polymers forms a self-thickening gel without covalent crosslinks, eliminating the need for crosslinkers and breakers, allowing the fluid to maintain structure and carry proppant particles effectively under various conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If crosslinkers and breakers are used to form viscous fracturing fluids, then the fluid can carry proppant particles and create fractures, but the composition becomes more complex and the fluid becomes sensitive to formation conditions such as metallic salts and impurities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the crosslinker and breaker components from the traditional fracturing fluid system. By using a single polymer component with inherent pseudoplastic properties, the invention removes the need for multiple chemical additives, thereby simplifying the overall fluid composition while maintaining proppant carrying capability through the polymer's natural viscosity characteristics
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by creating non-uniform viscosity distribution within the fluid through the use of pseudoplastic polymers. The fluid exhibits high viscosity at low shear rates to carry proppant, and automatically reduces viscosity at high shear rates during pumping and fracture propagation, providing spatially and temporally varying rheological properties without additional chemicals
2Strength
If crosslinkers are used to increase viscosity and build internal structure, then the gel can carry proppant, but the fluid requires breakers to reduce viscosity afterward, adding operational complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by using pseudoplastic polymers that automatically adjust their viscosity in response to shear rate changes. The fluid transitions from a high-viscosity state capable of carrying proppant to a low-viscosity state for easy flow and cleanup, all through inherent rheological properties without requiring external breaker chemicals or complex activation processes
Solution Approach 2:
The fracturing fluid performs self-service by automatically reducing its own viscosity through shear thinning during the fracturing process and cleanup phase. The pseudoplastic polymer structure inherently responds to mechanical stress by rearranging its molecular configuration, eliminating the need for separate breaker chemicals and simplifying operational procedures
3Quantity of substance
If traditional crosslinked gels are used, then sufficient viscosity is achieved, but the fluids are sensitive to metallic salts and impurities in the formation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by utilizing pseudoplastic polymers with inherent shear-dependent viscosity characteristics. This rheological parameter change allows the fluid to maintain high viscosity for proppant suspension without relying on crosslinking chemistry that is sensitive to metallic ions and formation impurities, thereby improving performance consistency across different formation conditions
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 simplifies fracturing fluid composition, reduces costs, and enhances durability and environmental sustainability by maintaining gel structure without the need for breakers and being less affected by metallic impurities, while achieving similar viscosity and proppant carrying capabilities as traditional crosslinked gels.
Implementation Method 1
Compositions described herein include anionic or cationic surfactants and polymers having an opposite charge
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein are compositions for use in treating subterranean formations where the compositions include a water soluble polymer and an ionic surfactant. In preferred compositions, the polymer and surfactant are oppositely charged. Methods of using the compositions also are disclosed.