Global Sensitivity Analysis of a Reactive Transport Model for Mineral Scale Formation During Hydraulic Fracturing

Li, Qingyun; Wang, Lijing; Perzan, Zach; Caers, Jef; Brown, Gordon E.; Bargar, John R.; Maher, Kate

doi:10.1089/ees.2020.0365

Cited by 9 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…The reuse of treated produced water (i.e., clean brine) as a hydraulic fracturing fluid, however, may be detrimental to hydrocarbon extraction efficiency due to the chemical composition of the fluid. For example, this water commonly returns to the surface bearing elevated concentrations of alkaline earth metals, such as barium and strontium, which are known to be responsible for the accumulation of mineral scale and ultimately the degradation of productivity. − Current unconventional stimulation practices commonly create conditions that favor scale formation, , ultimately reducing rock permeability and, consequently, production rates. − Importantly, it remains unclear how the use of clean brine may lend to or mitigate scale formation in unconventional plays, where shut-in time often far exceeds the inhibition delay provided by scale inhibitors …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geochemical Modeling of Celestite (SrSO₄) Precipitation and Reactive Transport in Shales

Esteves

Spielman-Sun

et al. 2022

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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Celestite (SrSO4) precipitation is a prevalent example of secondary sulfate mineral scaling issues in hydraulic fracturing systems, particularly in basins where large concentrations of naturally occurring strontium are present. Here, we present a validated and flexible geochemical model capable of predicting celestite formation under such unconventional environments. Simulations were built using CrunchFlow and guided by experimental data derived from batch reactors. These data allowed the constraint of key kinetic and thermodynamic parameters for celestite precipitation under relevant synthetic hydraulic fracturing fluid conditions. Effects of ionic strength, saturation index, and the presence of additives were considered in the combined experimental and modeling construction. This geochemical model was then expanded into a more complex system where interactions between hydraulic fracturing fluids and shale rocks were allowed to occur subject to diffusive transport. We find that the carbonate content of a given shale and the presence of persulfate breaker in the system strongly impact the location and extent of celestite formation. The results of this study provide a novel multicomponent reactive transport model that may be used to guide future experimental design in the pursuit of celestite and other sulfate mineral scale mitigation under extreme conditions typical of hydraulic fracturing in shale formations.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geochemical Modeling of Celestite (SrSO₄) Precipitation and Reactive Transport in Shales

Esteves

Spielman-Sun

et al. 2022

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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“…104 The formation of barite coatings on fracture faces sharply reduces fluid transport within shale cores. 104 In aggregate, these measurements demonstrate that Barite 198 performed a global sensitivity analysis on factors influencing barite and Fe(III)-(oxyhydr)oxide mineral scale precipitation. This analysis showed that the most important factor influencing barite mineral scale precipitation is the rate of sulfate ion generation that occurs during stimulation and continues afterward.…”

Section: Mineral Precipitation Processes In Unconventional Reservoirsmentioning

confidence: 70%

“…170,197 Pyrite dissolution triggered by acid imbibition with an oxidative solution is one of the most significant processes affecting geochemical reaction networks in stimulated shales. 2,3,94,104,183,198,199 Fe(II) released from pyrite diffuses through the shale matrix and fracture network until it encounters oxygen or other oxidants introduced with the HFF. Upon oxidation, iron precipitates as Fe(III)-(oxyhydr)oxide, one of the most ubiquitous and problematic mineral scale deposits.…”

Section: Dissolution Processesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Indeed, this series of geochemical processes has recently been identified as the most important control on sulfate mineral scale precipitation. 198…”

Section: Dissolution Processesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…mineralization within the stimulated rock volume is problematic in the Marcellus region, and likely in other unconventional basins. Where present, barite precipitation should be expected to reduce permeability through fracture faces wherever injected fluids are present in the stimulated rock volume, likely substantially reducing production efficiency Li et al (2021). …”

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Chemical and Reactive Transport Processes Associated with Hydraulic Fracturing of Unconventional Oil/Gas Shales

et al. 2022

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Hydraulic fracturing of unconventional oil/gas shales has changed the energy landscape of the U.S. Recovery of hydrocarbons from tight, hydraulically fractured shales is a highly inefficient process, with estimated recoveries of <25% for natural gas and <5% for oil. This review focuses on the complex chemical interactions of additives in hydraulic fracturing fluid (HFF) with minerals and organic matter in oil/gas shales. These interactions are intended to increase hydrocarbon recovery by increasing porosities and permeabilities of tight shales. However, fluid–shale interactions result in the dissolution of shale minerals and the release and transport of chemical components. They also result in mineral precipitation in the shale matrix, which can reduce permeability, porosity, and hydrocarbon recovery. Competition between mineral dissolution and mineral precipitation processes influences the amounts of oil and gas recovered. We review the temporal/spatial origins and distribution of unconventional oil/gas shales from mudstones and shales, followed by discussion of their global and U.S. distributions and compositional differences from different U.S. sedimentary basins. We discuss the major types of chemical additives in HFF with their intended purposes, including drilling muds. Fracture distribution, porosity, permeability, and the identity and molecular-level speciation of minerals and organic matter in oil/gas shales throughout the hydraulic fracturing process are discussed. Also discussed are analysis methods used in characterizing oil/gas shales before and after hydraulic fracturing, including permeametry and porosimetry measurements, X-ray diffraction/Rietveld refinement, X-ray computed tomography, scanning/transmission electron microscopy, and laboratory- and synchrotron-based imaging/spectroscopic methods. Reactive transport and spatial scaling are discussed in some detail in order to relate fundamental molecular-scale processes to fluid transport. Our review concludes with a discussion of potential environmental impacts of hydraulic fracturing and important knowledge gaps that must be bridged to achieve improved mechanistic understanding of fluid transport in oil/gas shales.

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Transport, dispersion, and degradation of nonpoint source contaminants during flood‐managed aquifer recharge

Perzan,

Maher

2024

Vadose Zone Journal

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In water‐stressed regions of the world, the inundation of working landscapes to replenish aquifers—known as flood‐managed aquifer recharge (flood‐MAR)—has become a valuable tool for sustainable groundwater management. Due to their diverse land use histories, however, many potential recharge sites host nonpoint source contaminants (such as salts, pesticides, and fertilizers) within the vadose zone that may flush to groundwater during recharge operations. To identify the controls on contaminant migration, we perform stochastic simulations of flood‐MAR through a heterogeneous alluvial aquifer and apply transient particle tracking to evaluate conservative and reactive contaminant transport over 80 years of recharge operations. With semi‐annual recharge events, the water table begins to rise 0.13–1.84 years after the first inundation event while solutes take much longer (11 to 80 years) to transit the 45‐m thick unsaturated zone. We derive a parametric expression for the ratio of celerity (or rate of pressure transmission) to velocity of the flood‐MAR wetting front and show that this simplified expression agrees with values calculated from heterogeneous model simulations. Slow solute velocities (0.25–1.75 m year−1) allow for significant contaminant removal through denitrification, but the contaminant plume experiences minimal dispersion or dilution over this time, reaching the water table as a sharp front. Our results suggest that minimizing groundwater velocity and maximizing groundwater celerity during flood‐MAR should optimize increases in water supply while limiting water quality degradation.

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Global Sensitivity Analysis of a Reactive Transport Model for Mineral Scale Formation During Hydraulic Fracturing

Cited by 9 publications

References 53 publications

Geochemical Modeling of Celestite (SrSO₄) Precipitation and Reactive Transport in Shales

Geochemical Modeling of Celestite (SrSO₄) Precipitation and Reactive Transport in Shales

Chemical and Reactive Transport Processes Associated with Hydraulic Fracturing of Unconventional Oil/Gas Shales

Transport, dispersion, and degradation of nonpoint source contaminants during flood‐managed aquifer recharge

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Global Sensitivity Analysis of a Reactive Transport Model for Mineral Scale Formation During Hydraulic Fracturing

Cited by 9 publications

References 53 publications

Geochemical Modeling of Celestite (SrSO4) Precipitation and Reactive Transport in Shales

Geochemical Modeling of Celestite (SrSO4) Precipitation and Reactive Transport in Shales

Chemical and Reactive Transport Processes Associated with Hydraulic Fracturing of Unconventional Oil/Gas Shales

Transport, dispersion, and degradation of nonpoint source contaminants during flood‐managed aquifer recharge

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Product

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Geochemical Modeling of Celestite (SrSO₄) Precipitation and Reactive Transport in Shales

Geochemical Modeling of Celestite (SrSO₄) Precipitation and Reactive Transport in Shales