Successful Optimization of Viscoelastic Foamed Fracturing Fluids With Ultralightweight Proppants for Ultralow-Permeability Reservoirs

Cawiezel, Kay E.; Gupta, D.V. Satya

doi:10.2118/119626-pa

Cited by 21 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…VES fluid can be broken through contacting oil in the reservoir (Chase et al 1997), where the wormlike micelles change to spherical micelles and lose viscoelasticity. For a gas reservoir with no oil or condensate, internal breakers are added-a specialty organic additive can break the VES fluid at 0.03%.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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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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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The first generation of VES fluids was based on cationic surfactant (Chase et al 1997). The second generation of VES fluids for higher-temperature applications was based on zwitterionic surfactant (Dahayanake and Yang 2004;Yang 2002).…”

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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“…Nitrogen and CO2 foaming of the VES gel formed by addition of cationic and anionic surfactants to water have reportedly increased both viscoelastic moduli and improved leakoff properties of the fluid system. These foamed VES systems carry proppants efficiently, while they leave minimal to no residue in the fracture …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A review of fracturing fluid systems used for hydraulic fracturing of oil and gas wells

Barati

Liang

2014

J of Applied Polymer Sci

614

341

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Hydraulic fracturing has been used by the oil and gas industry as a way to boost hydrocarbon production since 1947. Recent advances in fracturing technologies, such as multistage fracturing in horizontal wells, are responsible for the latest hydrocarbon production boom in the US. Linear or crosslinked guars are the most commonly used fluids in traditional fracturing operations. The main functions of these fluids are to open/propagate the fractures and transport proppants into the fractures. Proppants are usually applied to form a thin layer between fracture faces to prop the fractures open at the end of the fracturing process. Chemical breakers are used to break the polymers at the end of the fracturing process so as to provide highly conductive fractures. Concerns over fracture conductivity damage by viscous fluids in ultra-tight formations found in unconventional reservoirs prompted the industry to develop an alternative fracturing fluid called "slickwater". It consists mainly of water with a very low concentration of linear polymer. The low concentration polymer serves primarily to reduce the friction loss along the flow lines. Proppant-carrying capability of this type of fluids is still a subject of debate among industry experts. Constraints on local water availability and the potential for damage to formations have led the industry to develop other types of fracturing fluids such as viscoelastic surfactants and energized fluids. This article reviews both the traditional viscous fluids used in conventional hydraulic fracturing operations as well as the new family of fluids being developed for both traditional and unconventional reservoirs.

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“…Cawiezel and Gupta (2010) studied the rheology of the viscoelastic foam fluid system and defined the optimal fluid formulation to be the one with loading of 5 gpt each of the cationic and anionic surfactants with 70 -75% quality N 2 and 0.5 gpt of an internal breaker. This fluid has a viscosity of 85 cp at 100 s -1 after 90 minutes at 99°C.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Viscoelastic Behavior and Proppant Transport Properties of a New High-Temperature Viscoelastic Surfactant-Based Fracturing Fluid

Gomaa

Gupta

Carman

2015

SPE International Symposium on Oilfield Chemistry

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Viscoelastic surfactant (VES) fracture fluids were developed as a nondamaging alternative to conventional polymer-based fluids. However, the viscosity performance of typical VES fluids is dramatically reduced at high temperature. Therefore, these fluids are typically limited to treat relatively lowtemperature formations unless foamed with nitrogen or carbon dioxide. Recent laboratory work has shown that viscosity alone may not accurately assess proppant transport. Thus, combination of rotational and oscillatory measurements to determine the fluid viscous and elastic properties can better predict whether the fluid can be applied successfully in the field.The present study was conducted to introduce a new Gemini VES system that can gel and maintain useful viscosity up to 275°F, which can provide additional downhole benefits. Dynamic and static proppant settling tests were conducted using a high-pressure/high-temperature visualization cell to confirm the effect of elastic properties of this fluid on proppant settling. Finally, proppant settling tests were conducted with three proppant types of the same size, but different density and shape at a range of concentrations.Experimental results show that the surfactant gel behaved as an elastic material (elastic regime), where the elastic modulus (G') was dominant over the viscous modulus (G") during the tested range of frequency. This behavior gives perfect proppant transport properties. At temperature less than 225°F, Values of G= were independent of the frequency and/or shear rate values, while G" increased with increasing frequency and/or shear rate. At higher temperature, both G= and G" increased with increasing frequency and/or shear rate. This gives a good proppant-carrying capacity during dynamic conditions (mixing and injection) with a small pressure drop. The addition of an internal liquid breaker increases the viscous regime with time and temperature. When elastic regime dominates, 100% proppant suspension was confirmed for at least two hours at static and dynamic conditions and temperatures in the range of 75 to 250°F.

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Successful Optimization of Viscoelastic Foamed Fracturing Fluids With Ultralightweight Proppants for Ultralow-Permeability Reservoirs

Cited by 21 publications

References 7 publications

Supramolecular Fluid of Associative Polymer and Viscoelastic Surfactant for Hydraulic Fracturing

Supramolecular Fluid of Associative Polymer and Viscoelastic Surfactant for Hydraulic Fracturing

A review of fracturing fluid systems used for hydraulic fracturing of oil and gas wells

Viscoelastic Behavior and Proppant Transport Properties of a New High-Temperature Viscoelastic Surfactant-Based Fracturing Fluid

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