Carboxymethylcellulose a Cost Effective Alternative to Guar, CMHPG and Surfactant-Based Fluid Systems

Abstract

The first fracture treatment using crosslinked guar was performed in 1969. Since then guar and its derivative polymers have dominated hydraulic fracturing. But because of volatility and supply issues with guar gum that have surfaced during peak activity years, industry has turned to alternatives. One of those is Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) that just like guar comes from food industry. CMC is also used in pharmaceuticals as a thickening agent, and in the oil and gas industry as an ingredient in drilling mud. Use in hydraulic fracturing is surprisingly limited. The objective of this paper is to demonstrate successful cases of CMC based treatments over traditional guar and surfactant based treatments used in linear and foamed applications. This paper presents several cases from treatments performed on formations such as Cardium, Montney, Belly River, and Dunvegan. Presented production comparison will demonstrate that wells treated with CMC based hydraulic fracturing fluid system yield similar performance when compared to wells treated with guar, its derivatives, and surfactant based fluid systems. Cost savings realized when switching to CMC based fluid systems are also discussed in the paper. Laboratory tests described, performed, and results shared to demonstrate the performance of CMC compared to guar, Carboxymethylhydroxypropyl guar (CMHPG), and surfactant systems. The paper attempts to provide degree of confidence to the operators looking for cleaner alternatives to industry established fluid systems and shows that these can be successfully implemented without additional risk or cost.

Chemical and Physical Architecture of Macromolecular Gels for Fracturing Fluid Applications in the Oil and Gas Industry; Current Status, Challenges, and Prospects

“…Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), another cellulose derivative, exhibits thermosensitive behavior due to partial methoxyl displacement by hydroxypropyl groups with gelation temperatures determined by the stability between hydrophilic and hydrophobic groups on its molecular chains. Azizov et al demonstrated that the incorporation of carboxymethyl cellulose within fracturing fluid systems can yield comparable production efficacy and reduced expenses compared to guar gum [51]. The industry is becoming more interested in employing polymers like carboxymethyl cellulose in hydraulic fractur- Later, the thermogelation phenomenon was observed in aqueous methylcellulose (MC) solutions where the solution forms a gel at high temperatures and reverts to a liquid state upon cooling [49].…”

Enzyme biotechnology development for treating polymers in hydraulic fracturing operations

“…In the oil and gas industry, CMC is used as a gelling or thickening agent (also known as a viscosifier) that is added to water-based fracturing fluids to optimize proppant delivery into fractures created during hydraulic fracturing processes to keep the fissures open (Harris, 1988;Fink, 2013;Barbati et al, 2016). Over the years, different types of gelling agents, including guar gum and CMC, have been used by the energy industry depending on their availability and market pricing (Fink, 2013;Azizov et al, 2015). A recent study highlighted the sustainability of using CMC as the polymer of choice (compared to guar gum, for example) to deliver proppant to the fractures (Azizov et al, 2015).…”

“…Over the years, different types of gelling agents, including guar gum and CMC, have been used by the energy industry depending on their availability and market pricing (Fink, 2013;Azizov et al, 2015). A recent study highlighted the sustainability of using CMC as the polymer of choice (compared to guar gum, for example) to deliver proppant to the fractures (Azizov et al, 2015). CMC has also been proven to be an effective substitute to guar gum in fractured wells due to its better stability at high temperature (up to 90˚C), a better regain of conductivity after its degradation, and for superior proppant suspension (Aliu, 2017).…”

“…Although cellulose metabolism has been widely studied in the context of biofuel production (Brown, 2015;Yang et al, 2015;Lusk et al, 2017), and enzymes targeting other gelling agents (guar gum) have been developed (Tjon-Joe-Pin, 1993;Cheng and Prud'homme, 2000;Politz et al, 2000;You et al, 2016), little information exists for the breakdown of CMC in the context of filter cake removal. As hydraulic fracturing is widely used for oil and gas recovery from tight subsurface reservoirs, and CMC can be used as a gelling agent in this process (Trabelsi and Kakadjian, 2013;Azizov et al, 2015), we aimed here to develop an enzyme-based solution for treating CMC filter cakes that may form during hydraulic fracturing. Following the establishment of a CMC-degrading microbial consortium and confirmation of its enzymatic activity, we tested the properties of the CMCutilizing enzymes under different pH, temperature and salinity conditions that can characterize produced oilfield fluids associated with hydraulic fracturing operations.…”

Insights on Potential Formation Damage Mechanisms Associated with the Use of Gel Breakers in Hydraulic Fracturing

“…A typical water-based fracturing fluid contains a polymer thickening agent, clay stabilizer, crosslinker, buffer system, and a gel breaker. Different polymers have been used as thickeners, such as starches and cellulose derivatives [ 17 , 18 , 19 ]. However, the most common fracturing fluid polymers are guar gum and its two main derivatives hydroxypropyl guar (HPG) and carboxymethyl hydroxypropyl guar (CMHPG) due to their high performance, relatively low price, and wide availability [ 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 ].…”