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Polymer-Free Fluid for Hydraulic Fracturing

1997; Linguagem: Inglês

10.2523/38622-ms

Mathew Samuel, Roger Card, Erik J. Nelson, J. Brown, P.S. Vinod, Harry Leroy Temple, Qi Qu, Dan Fu,

Reservoir Engineering and Simulation Methods

Polymer-Free Fluid for Hydraulic Fracturing Mathew Samuel; Mathew Samuel Schlumberger Dowell Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Roger J. Card; Roger J. Card Schlumberger Dowell Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Erik B. Nelson; Erik B. Nelson Schlumberger Dowell Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar J. Ernest Brown; J. Ernest Brown Schlumberger Dowell Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar P.S. Vinod; P.S. Vinod Schlumberger Dowell Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Harry L. Temple; Harry L. Temple Schlumberger Dowell Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Qi Qu; Qi Qu Schlumberger Dowell Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Dan K. Fu Dan K. Fu Schlumberger Dowell Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Paper presented at the SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, San Antonio, Texas, October 1997. Paper Number: SPE-38622-MS https://doi.org/10.2118/38622-MS Published: October 05 1997 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Twitter LinkedIn Get Permissions Search Site Citation Samuel, Mathew, Card, Roger J., Nelson, Erik B., Brown, J. Ernest, Vinod, P.S., Temple, Harry L., Qu, Qi, and Dan K. Fu. "Polymer-Free Fluid for Hydraulic Fracturing." Paper presented at the SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, San Antonio, Texas, October 1997. doi: https://doi.org/10.2118/38622-MS Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex Search Dropdown Menu nav search search input Search input auto suggest search filter All ContentAll ProceedingsSociety of Petroleum Engineers (SPE)SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition Search Advanced Search AbstractPolymer residues that stay in the fracture after a hydraulic fracturing treatment can limit treatment effectiveness. A new and easy-to-prepare, polymer-free fluid that consists of a quaternary ammonium salt derived from a long-chain fatty acid is described. In brine, it builds viscosity due to the formation of highly entangled worm-like micelles. The micelles have a gross structure similar to a polymer chain. Since the viscosity of the fluid depends on the nature of micelles, the fluid can be broken by changing this micellar structure. The breaking occurs when the fluid is exposed to hydrocarbons or diluted with formation waters. Therefore, conventional breakers are not required, and the produced oil or gas can act as breakers for this fluid system.The structural characteristics of the polymer-free surfactant fluid to its chemical and physical properties are correlated in this paper. Structure, rheology, fluid loss and conductivity of this surfactant fluid together with its production data are presented.IntroductionFracturing fluid is a very critical component of a hydraulic fracturing treatment. Selection of the fracturing fluid, job design, and well turnaround procedure all help to determine the production of a well after a stimulation by hydraulic fracturing. A fracturing fluid should provide sufficient viscosity to suspend and transport proppant into the fracture, and should break into a low-viscosity fluid after the job is completed. This will facilitate the fracture to clean up by allowing rapid flowback of fluid to the surface.Analysis of the fluid returned to the surface (flowback fluid) after hydraulic fracturing indicates that as little as 30 to 45% of the guar-based polymer pumped during the treatment returned from the well during the flowback period. Polymer residues that remain in the fracture significantly contribute to a lowered proppant-pack permeability leading to a loss in fracture treatment effectiveness.The field success of a viscoelastic surfactant-based (VES) polymer-free fluid in frac-pack applications led to the development of a similar fluid for hydraulic fracturing.The VES fluid can be used for the fracturing treatment of potentially all gas and oil wells below 240 F. The principal advantage of this fluid system is its operational simplicity. This fluid is easy to prepare and requires less equipment at the wellsite This fluid does not require polymer hydration, biocides, crosslinkers, or breakers. The hydrocarbons produced, or dilution of VES gel by other formation fluids, can break this fluid.This new fluid has been used for the successful execution of more than 250 fracturing jobs. Results from representative treatments are presented. Keywords: fracturing materials, proppant, frac and pack, hydraulic fracturing, sand control, fracturing fluid, Upstream Oil & Gas, polymer-free fluid Subjects: Hydraulic Fracturing, Frac and pack, Fracturing materials (fluids, proppant), Sand Control, Completion Operations This content is only available via PDF. 1997. Society of Petroleum Engineers You can access this article if you purchase or spend a download.