Effect of Proppant Size and Surface Characteristics on the Critical Velocity Required for the Effective Transport of Proppants in Hydraulic Fracturing of Horizontal Wells

支撑剂尺寸和表面特征对水平井水力压裂支撑剂有效输送所需临界速度的影响

• 批准号: 515333-2017
• 负责人: Kuru, Ergun
• 金额: $ 1.82万
• 依托单位: University of Alberta
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Engage Grants Program
• 财政年份: 2017
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2017-01-01 至 2018-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=640646
• 关键词: Effect; Proppant; Size; Surface; Characteristics

Proppant transport efficiency is a critical aspect of hydraulic fracturing operations. Proppants must be properlyplaced to hold fractures open and enable increased hydrocarbon production. Proppants most widely used byindustry are high density particles like sand and ceramics. These particles settle down in water-based fluids andtheir placement to fractures becomes a task that requires high intensity pumping power and large amount ofwater-based fluids to ensure these heavy particles travel to specified zones in the reservoir. Although chemistryis used to viscosify fracking fluids to facilitate transport of particles, the use of chemicals is not desirable.Slickwater (non-viscosified fluid) contains a minimum amount of chemicals and is one of the preferred optionsfor hydraulic fracturing operations but difficulties are encountered in achieving efficient proppant transport dueto proppant settling in these fluids. An improved understanding of the drivers behind proppant transport (i.e.near wall turbulence, fluid rheological properties, proppant size, density, and surface characteristics, etc.) basedon the results from this project, will be useful for designing optimum fracturing operations which ensuresproper placement of proppants by avoiding premature settling and screening of proppants. This will helpdeveloping new, more reliable proppant surface modification products, resulting in more efficient and securefrac job designs for improved reservoir production. Canada's Oil and gas industry's capacity to conduct moreefficient and economical hydraulic fracturing jobs will benefit tremendously from this proposed study. Thebenefits in improved proppant transport will potentially lead to reduction of water and energy consumption inthe operations. In addition, improved slick-water fracturing jobs will result in use of less chemistry in thehydraulic fracturing market with positive environmental advantages for Canada.

支撑剂输送效率是水力压裂作业的一个关键方面。支撑剂必须正确放置，以保持裂缝打开并提高碳氢化合物产量。工业上最广泛使用的支撑剂是高密度颗粒，如沙子和陶瓷。这些颗粒在水基流体中沉淀，并将它们放置到裂缝中成为一项需要高强度泵送功率和大量水基流体的任务，以确保这些重颗粒移动到储层中的指定区域。尽管使用化学方法使压裂液增稠以促进颗粒输送，但使用化学品并不可取。滑溜水（非增稠流体）含有最少量的化学品，是水力压裂作业的首选选择之一，但由于支撑剂在这些流体中沉降，在实现有效支撑剂输送方面遇到困难。根据该项目的结果，更好地了解支撑剂输送背后的驱动因素（即近壁湍流、流体流变特性、支撑剂尺寸、密度和表面特性等），将有助于设计最佳压裂作业，避免支撑剂过早沉降和筛分，确保支撑剂正确放置。这将有助于开发新的、更可靠的支撑剂表面改性产品，从而实现更高效、更安全的压裂作业设计，从而提高油藏产量。加拿大石油和天然气行业进行更高效、更经济的水力压裂作业的能力将从这项拟议的研究中受益匪浅。改善支撑剂运输的好处将有可能减少运营中的水和能源消耗。此外，滑溜水压裂作业的改善将导致水力压裂市场中化学品的使用量减少，这对加拿大来说具有积极的环境优势。