Hydraulic Fracturing Under Extreme HPHT Conditions: Successful Application of a New Synthetic Fluid in South Texas Gas Wells

Funkhouser, Gary P.; Holtsclaw, Jeremy; Blevins, Joy Jean

doi:10.2118/132173-ms

Cited by 20 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…At this crosslinker concentration, the actual amount of added nanoparticle is only 72 ppm. Compared to the 86 pptg base gel that was reported earlier in the literature (Funkhouser et al 2010) for similar HPHT conditions, a reduction in 48% of the base gel loading has been achieved by using this innovative approach. The cleanup is expected to be better since less polymer loading has been used.…”

Section: Proppant-pack Regained Conductivity Testsmentioning

confidence: 74%

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Reduced Polymer Loading, High Temperature Fracturing Fluids using Nano-crosslinkers

Liang

Al-Muntasheri

et al. 2015

Day 2 Tue, November 10, 2015

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In the quest to discover more natural gas resources, considerable attention has been devoted to finding and extracting gas locked within tight formations with permeability in the nanoto microdarcy range. The main challenges associated with working in such formations are the intrinsically high temperature and high pressure bottom hole conditions. For formations with bottom hole temperatures around 350-400°F, traditional hydraulic fracturing fluids that use crosslinked polysaccharide gels, such as guar and its derivatives, are not suitable because of significant polymer breakdown in this temperature range. Fracturing fluids that can work at these temperatures require thermally stable synthetic polymers such as acrylamide-based polymers. However, such polymers have to be employed at very high concentrations in order to suspend proppants. The high polymer concentrations make it very difficult to completely degrade at the end of a fracturing operation. As a consequence, formation damage by polymer residue can block formation conductivity to gas flow. This paper addresses the shortcomings of the current state-of-the-art high temperature fracturing fluids, and focuses on developing a less damaging, high-temperature stable fluid that can be used at temperatures up to 400°F. A laboratory study was conducted with this novel system which is comprised of a synthetic acrylamide-based copolymer gelling agent and is capable of being crosslinked with a nano-sized particulate crosslinker (nano-crosslinker). The laboratory data has demonstrated that the temperature stability of the crosslinked fluid is much better than a similar fluid lacking the nano-crosslinker. The nano-crosslinker allows the novel fluid system to operate at significantly lower polymer concentrations (25 to 45 pptg) when compared to current commercial fluid systems (50 to 87 pptg) designed for temperatures from 350°F to 400°F. This paper presents results from rheological studies which demonstrate superior crosslinking performance and thermal stability in this temperature range. This fracturing fluid system has sufficient proppant carrying viscosity, and allows for efficient cleanup using an oxidizer-type breaker. Low polymer loading and little or no polymer residue are anticipated to facilitate efficient cleanup, reduced formation damage, better fluid conductivity and enhanced production rates. Laboratory results from proppant-pack regained conductivity tests are also presented.

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Section: Proppant-pack Regained Conductivity Testsmentioning

confidence: 74%

“…This system can work at temperatures between 350 and 400°F. However these terpolymers have been used in very high concentrations as high as 86 pounds per thousand gallons (pptg) (Table 1, source: Funkhouser et al 2010). The regained conductivity is within the range of 34 to 100% depending on the breaker package and testing temperature.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reduced Polymer Loading, High Temperature Fracturing Fluids using Nano-crosslinkers

Liang

Al-Muntasheri

et al. 2015

Day 2 Tue, November 10, 2015

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“…Several synthetic fluids have been developed over the last ten years but have required special mixing (hydration) and logistics in order to deploy (Funkhouser et al, 2010). Several synthetic fluids have been developed over the last ten years but have required special mixing (hydration) and logistics in order to deploy (Funkhouser et al, 2010).…”

Section: Chemistrymentioning

confidence: 99%

Fracturing Fluid for Extreme Temperature Conditions is Just as Easy as the Rest

Gupta

Carman

2011

All Days

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As exploration goes deeper, most conventional methods have to be modified or completely re-engineered to hold up to these extreme conditions. Fracturing fluids are no exception to these changes. Fluids have evolved rapidly to adjust to an ever changing market. The trick is to make them as easy as possible to deliver on location. There have been several attempts at developing new high temperature fluids that will give good stability and deliver the fracture properties desired. Most of these to date require special handling and have operational difficulties.A new high temperature synthetic low-pH crosslinked fluid system has been developed to avoid these pitfalls. The system employs a synthetic co-polymer in an environmentally compliant oil-based emulsion that hydrates very rapidly with excellent fluid rheology properties. Proppant pack regain conductivity using encapsulated oxidizers has also shown very good cleanup at these temperatures. The system uses exceedingly low polymer concentrations (18 to 40 pptg) compared to others (60 to 100 pptg) at temperatures from 350 to over 450°F. The fluid can also be energized with nitrogen or carbon dioxide or foamed if needed. Operationally, fracturing with this fluid can be performed with conventional equipment without any modifications. The paper will present the chemistry and technology of this new fluid including rheology and cleanup data. This new technology has the potential to change the manner in which ultrahigh-temperature wells are completed.

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“…Synthetic polymer was also used as a fracturing fluid for high-temperature applications, even though it required special mixing (hydration) and logistics to deploy (Funkhouser et al 2010). It is high-pH fluid, crosslinked with zirconium.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Supramolecular Fluid of Associative Polymer and Viscoelastic Surfactant for Hydraulic Fracturing

Yang

Cui

Guan

et al. 2016

SPE Production &Amp; Operations

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This paper details the study of a new fracturing fluid that is based on a supramolecular complex between associative polymer and viscoelastic surfactant (VES). The crosslinked complex gel was based on weak physical attractive forces, such as van der Waals, hydrogen bonding, and electrostatic interaction between associative polymer and wormlike micelles of VES. The concentration of surfactant in the new fluid is 10 times less than that of VES fracturing fluid. The combination of VES and associative polymer synergistically enhances the viscosity to several times more than that of the individual components alone. The fluid system was optimized by experimental design. The microstructure of wormlike micelles and complex formation was verified by electron microscopy. The fluid is shear stable at high temperature for 1 hour. The dynamic rheological properties of the supramoleulcar fluid show high viscoelasticity, in which the elastic moduli are higher than the loss moduli below an angular frequency of 0.1 rad/s. The proppant-transport test in a large-scale fracture simulator showed good proppant-suspension ability. The fluid has 50% lower formation damage than conventional guar. The fluid was prepared with fewer additives, formed gel instantly, and can be mixed on the fly in the field. The gel can be completely broken with almost no residue. Field application of the new fracturing fluid in a gas well showed the enhancement of gas production by more than 100%. The fluid has 20% lower friction pressure than guar fluid. Hence, the new supramolecular fluid is an effective fracturing fluid.

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Hydraulic Fracturing Under Extreme HPHT Conditions: Successful Application of a New Synthetic Fluid in South Texas Gas Wells

Cited by 20 publications

References 21 publications

Reduced Polymer Loading, High Temperature Fracturing Fluids using Nano-crosslinkers

Reduced Polymer Loading, High Temperature Fracturing Fluids using Nano-crosslinkers

Fracturing Fluid for Extreme Temperature Conditions is Just as Easy as the Rest

Supramolecular Fluid of Associative Polymer and Viscoelastic Surfactant for Hydraulic Fracturing

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