Single-Phase Liquid Proppant for Fracture Conductivity and Lower Settling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional proppants face issues such as formation and fracture permeability damage, early screen-out, reduced effective propped area due to excessive leakoff or settling, and abrasion to pumping equipment and tubulars, necessitating improved hydraulic fracturing fluid compositions and methods.
Innovation Solution
A hydraulic fracturing fluid comprising a liquid solvent, surfactants, proppant-forming compounds, and curing agents that react in-situ to form proppant pillars under downhole conditions, providing higher hydraulic conductivity and reducing the need for conventional proppant pumping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional solid proppants are used in hydraulic fracturing fluid, then the fracture can be propped open to maintain conductivity, but the proppant causes formation and fracture permeability damage, early screen-out, excessive leakoff, settling, and abrasion to pumping equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of the proppant from solid to liquid, using a liquid proppant system that forms a gel-like structure under downhole conditions. This parameter change eliminates the harmful effects associated with solid proppants such as permeability damage, screen-out, leakoff, settling, and abrasion, while still maintaining fracture conductivity through the gel's network structure that allows fluid flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs hydraulic principles by using a liquid proppant system that is pumped into the fracture zone where it forms a gel structure. The liquid state allows the proppant to be easily pumped through the wellbore and into the fracture without causing abrasion or screen-out issues, while the gel formation provides the necessary propping function.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If liquid proppant system is used to avoid solid proppant disadvantages, then permeability damage and abrasion are reduced, but the system requires complex chemical components including proppant-forming compounds and curing agents
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by incorporating proppant-forming compounds and curing agents within the liquid proppant system itself. The system is self-sufficient, containing all necessary components to form the gel structure and provide propping function without requiring external solid proppant addition or complex external chemical systems. The liquid proppant autonomously transforms into the functional gel structure under downhole conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the liquid proppant base fluid with proppant-forming compounds and curing agents into a single integrated system. This combination allows the entire propping function to be achieved through one fluid injection, eliminating the need for separate solid proppant handling and installation operations, thereby reducing operational complexity despite the chemical complexity of the individual components.
3Reliability
If in-situ proppant formation is used instead of pumping solid proppant, then proppant settling and leakoff are eliminated, but the process requires the fracture to be maintained open long enough for proppant pillars to form
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by incorporating proppant-forming compounds and curing agents in the liquid proppant system before injection. The gel formation process begins as the liquid proppant is pumped into the fracture zone, and the proppant pillars start forming in-situ during the pumping operation. This eliminates the need for prolonged fracture maintenance open time, as the proppant structure forms continuously during the injection process rather than requiring a separate waiting period after proppant placement.
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 in-situ formed proppant pillars maintain conductive fractures, enhance fracture conductivity, and reduce proppant settling, while offering higher mechanical strength and channeling hydrocarbons to the wellbore for production.
Implementation Method 1
A hydraulic fracturing fluid comprising a liquid solvent, surfactants, proppant-forming compounds, and curing agents that react in-situ to form proppant pillars under downhole conditions
Implementation Method 2
A hydraulic fracturing fluid comprising a liquid solvent, surfactants, proppant-forming compounds, and curing agents
Data Source
AI summary
A hydraulic fracture fluid is provided. The fluid can include a liquid solvent, one or more surfactants, a proppant-forming compound, and one or more curing agents. The liquid reacts to form proppant in-situ under downhole conditions.