Sequential Surfactant Treatment for Hydraulic Fracturing Pore Declogging

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

During hydraulic fracturing, high friction between fracturing fluids and subterranean formations increases pumping time and energy, while insufficient wetting and miscibility hinder effective fracturing, leading to reduced penetration and production rates due to viscous gel blocking pore throats and poor wettability.

Innovation Solution

Sequential use of penetrating-aid surfactants and pore-declogging surfactants in the fracturing fluid to enhance permeation, wetting, and miscibility, reducing friction and unclogging pores to improve fracturing efficiency and production rates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If conventional fracturing fluids are used without surfactants, then the fracturing process is simpler, but high friction increases pumping time and energy consumption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of fracturing processVSAvoidpumping energy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameters of the fracturing fluid by incorporating surfactants that modify surface tension and interfacial properties. This parameter change reduces friction between the fluid and formation, decreasing pumping energy requirements while maintaining process feasibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

Surfactants act as intermediary substances between the fracturing fluid and the subterranean formation. These intermediaries reduce friction and improve fluid-formation interaction, thereby lowering pumping energy consumption without complicating the overall process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If conventional fracturing fluids are used without surfactants, then the fluid composition is simpler, but insufficient wetting decreases effective fracturing area

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of fluid compositionVSAvoideffective fracturing area

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the surface chemical parameters of the fracturing fluid by adding surfactants. This changes the wetting characteristics and surface energy, enabling the fluid to effectively wet and spread across a larger area of the subterranean formation, thereby increasing the effective fracturing area

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If conventional fracturing fluids are used without surfactants, then the fluid formulation is less complex, but lack of miscibility hinders penetration of the fracturing fluid

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of fluid formulationVSAvoidpenetration speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the interfacial chemical parameters between the fracturing fluid and hydrocarbon materials by incorporating surfactants. This improves miscibility and reduces interfacial tension, enabling faster and more effective penetration of the fracturing fluid into the formation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

Surfactants serve as intermediary agents that facilitate mixing and penetration between the aqueous fracturing fluid and hydrocarbon materials in the formation. This intermediary action enhances miscibility and accelerates fluid penetration speed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Strength

If viscous gel blocks pore throats, then the fracturing fluid provides some carrying capacity, but production rates decrease due to blocked pores

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecarrying capacity of fracturing fluidVSAvoidproduction rate

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the rheological and surface chemical parameters of the fracturing fluid by adding surfactants. This modifies the gel structure and interfacial properties, maintaining adequate carrying capacity while reducing viscous blocking of pore throats, thereby preserving production rates

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 sequential use of surfactants decreases pumping time and costs, increases production rates, and reduces cleanup time by improving fluid penetration and wetting, thereby enhancing hydraulic fracturing effectiveness.

Implementation Method 1

sequential use of a penetrating-aid surfactant and a pore-declogging surfactant

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurfactant: Surfactant

Implementation Method 2

insufficient wetting of the fracturing composition on the subterranean formation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectWetting: Wetting

Implementation Method 3

sequential use of a penetrating-aid surfactant and a pore-declogging surfactant

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurfactant: Surfactant

Implementation Method 4

viscous gel blocking pore throats

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectViscous gel blocking: Viscoelasticity

Data Source

PatentUS10696894B2Methods of treating subterranean formations including sequential use of at least two surfactants

Publication Date: 2020.06.30 HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES INC

AI summary

Various embodiments disclosed relate to methods of treating subterranean formations including sequential use of at least two surfactants. In various embodiments, the present invention provides a method of treating a subterranean formation including sequentially placing in the subterranean formation a penetrating-aid surfactant and a pore-declogging surfactant.