Water-Soluble Layered Silicate Crosslinkers for Hydraulic Fracturing

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need for alternatives to borates as crosslinkers in hydraulic fracturing fluids that are environmentally friendly and cost-effective, as borates are controversial and expensive.

Innovation Solution

The use of water-soluble, layered silicates as crosslinkers in aqueous fracturing fluids, which include an aqueous base fluid, polysaccharides or their derivatives, and proppants, to enhance viscosity and maintain fractures in subterranean formations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If borates are used as crosslinkers in fracturing fluids, then the fluid viscosity and fracture maintenance are improved, but environmental harm and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefracture maintenanceVSAvoidenvironmental harm

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive borate crosslinkers with cheaper, environmentally benign alternatives such as sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, and other alkali metal hydroxides or carbonates. These substitutes provide the necessary crosslinking function at lower cost without the environmental contamination concerns associated with borates, effectively treating the crosslinking agent as a consumable that can be replaced with more sustainable materials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of the fracturing fluid by substituting borate ions with alkali metal ions (Na+, K+, etc.) from hydroxides or carbonates. This parameter change maintains the crosslinking mechanism's effectiveness in achieving desired viscosity and fracture maintenance while eliminating the harmful environmental effects of borate discharge into subterranean formations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If borates are used as crosslinkers in fracturing fluids, then the fluid viscosity and fracture maintenance are improved, but the cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefracture maintenanceVSAvoidcost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes expensive borate crosslinkers with inexpensive alkali metal hydroxides (sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide) and carbonates (sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate). These alternative chemicals achieve the required crosslinking performance at significantly lower material cost, reducing the overall fracturing operation cost while maintaining reliable fracture maintenance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If water-soluble layered silicates are used as crosslinkers, then environmental friendliness and cost-effectiveness are improved, but the need for alternative crosslinkers must be addressed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental friendlinessVSAvoidcrosslinker availability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent establishes a universal crosslinking system where multiple alkali metal compounds (hydroxides and carbonates of sodium, potassium, and other alkali metals) can interchangeably serve as crosslinkers. This multi-functional approach ensures that environmentally friendly alternatives are readily available and adaptable, maintaining system versatility while eliminating dependence on borates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

Water-soluble layered silicates effectively replace borates, providing similar performance without environmental concerns and at a lower cost, ensuring efficient fracture creation and maintenance in hydraulic fracturing processes.

Implementation Method 1

a crosslinker, which is a water-soluble, layered silicate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCrosslinking: Chemical Bonding

Data Source

PatentUS10982132B2Process of fracturing subterranean formations with water-soluble layered silicate

Publication Date: 2021.04.20 BASF SE

AI summary

Method of fracturing a subterranean formation by injecting an aqueous fracturing fluid comprising an aqueous base fluid, a polysaccharide and/or polysaccharide derivative, a crosslinker, which is a water-soluble, layered silicate and a proppant. Aqueous fracturing fluid comprising an aqueous base fluid, a polysaccharide and/or polysaccharide derivative, a crosslinker, which is a water-soluble, layered silicate and a proppant and to the use of water-soluble, layered silicates as crosslinker for aqueous fracturing fluids comprising polysaccharides and/or polysaccharide derivatives.