Large quantities of high-total dissolved solids (TDS) produced water are generated during oil and gas production in Eddy County, New Mexico (more than 164 million bbl in 2011). Most of the high-saline produced water is reinjected into disposal wells at an average cost of USD 0.75 to USD 1.00 per bbl. Caused in part by the persistent drought conditions in New Mexico, beneficial use of produced water is receiving attention in the oil and gas industry. One alternative being considered is the use of produced water for hydraulic fracturing operations. Typically, wells in the Delaware basin require 40,000 to 60,000 bbl of fresh water each for hydraulic fracturing job during well development. As such, reclaiming produced water as the base fluid for fracturing not only helps alleviate the industry's dependence on fresh water but can also lower the overall cost of the well stimulation treatment. Using produced water exceeding TDS values of 270,000 ppm is key to reclamation and reuse programs in the Delaware basin. This paper discusses a project to (1) identify the critical parameters and the corresponding optimal ranges in the laboratory, that will allow use of treated produced water as a base fluid for crosslinked-gel-based hydraulic fracturing, and (2) evaluate the validity of the laboratory findings under actual field conditions. High-TDS produced water from a Brushy Canyon producing well near Carlsbad, New Mexico was used as the base fluid for the bench-scale experiments. Crosslinked gels were formulated with carboxymethyl hydroxypropyl guar gum (CMHPG), a zirconium-based crosslinker, sodium chlorite breakers, and other ingredients. The apparent viscosity of the gels was measured using Chandler Model 5550 high-pressure/high-temperature (HP/HT) viscometers. The bottomhole temperature simulated in the experiments was approximately 140°F. The rheological effects of several parameters, including pH, salinity, and scaling tendencies, were evaluated. Other factors, including organics and suspended solids, are included in the discussion. In addition, a field test performed following the bench-scale experiments to validate the laboratory findings under the actual stimulation conditions is discussed. Results indicate that the fracturing treatment using high-TDS produced water successfully created a fracture network and transported sand into that fracture network.

is an open access repository that collects the work of Arts et Métiers ParisTech researchers and makes it freely available over the web where possible.This is an author-deposited version published in: http://sam.ensam.eu Handle

is an open access repository that collects the work of Arts et Métiers ParisTech researchers and makes it freely available over the web where possible. abstractA solar kiln with energy storage can be used for continuous drying. This kiln consisted of several units which were modeled to simulate it in operation. A model was proposed for each unit, and another based on laboratory tests for drying a wooden board by passing air across. These models were combined to produce a global model. Simulation results were then analyzed and showed that the use of storage was justified to reduce drying time. Moreover, with the judicious use of storage and air renewal, drying schedules could be produced for a better quality of dried wood.