Efficient Hydraulic Fracturing Treatments Using Produced Formation Water in Western Siberia

Fedorov, Andrey; Fu, De Liang; Mullen, Kevin D.; Kochmar, Larisa; Lungwitz, Bernhard R.; Dessinges, Marie-Noelle

doi:10.2118/131729-ms

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 3 publications

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“…Implementation of polymers being able to rapidly develop viscosity in cold water is very tempting in this conditions. Various methods mentioned above were used in Arctic regions, including utilization of originally pre-heated water from Cenomanian formation in Western Siberia (Fedorov et al 2010) to enhance rate of guar hydration. Another important problem imposed by low temperature of water used in linear gel preparation is uncontrollable growth of crosslinking time between gel and currently widely used delayed crosslinkers.…”

Section: Guar Viscosity Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Opportunities for Implementing Cold Water for Fracturing Services in Western Siberia

et al. 2015

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Hydraulic fracturing is one of the major techniques in modern well stimulation practices. The purpose of the current contribution is to gain novel insights on utilization of cold water for fracturing services in Western Siberia aiming to reduce non-productive time and price while maintaining excellent quality of service delivery. The study covers the hydration of non-modified guar gum and borate crosslinking in cold water conditions, the associated risks and plausible benefits are also considered.Among all fracturing services, conventional borate crosslinked guar gum fluids remain the most widely utilized due to their economical profitability, availability, ease of viscosifying and handling. The reduced temperature of water affects the guar swelling and hydration during linear gel preparation and influences the crosslinking reaction rate for delayed borate systems. One of the obvious drawbacks of the guar-based fracturing fluids is the necessity for a water heat-up process, especially during winter period. Within the scope of present study we are discussing the opportunities and perspectives of non-modified guar fluids for cold water fracturing applications.This original research details the comprehensive laboratory evaluation and thorough theoretical study, which presents a variety of fracturing fluids available to hydrate and crosslink in water temperatures starting from 5 degrees Celsius. It was revealed that the hydration of guar polymer (loading 3.6 kg/m3) in water varies between 82-88% at 5 degrees Celsius. The optimized borate-crosslinked fluids provide viscosity greater than 400 cP at 96 degrees Celsius. The versatility of proposed fracturing fluids was proven by exceptional viscosity recovery to 400 cP in less than one minute after high shear regime in the range of 10-50 degrees Celsius, simulating the fluid behavior in near-wellbore area at ambient temperature.The scope of work included the development of cold water implementation criteria and evaluation of possible associated risks, e.g. the additional cooling effect upon contact with proppant. The results presented in the current work pave the way for implementation of conventional borate-crosslinked guar gum fluids for cold water fracturing. Without significant price increase the proposed approach allows to decrease 30% of non-productive time and reduce heating expenses. The approach is significantly beneficial in areas exposed to cold winter conditions like Russia, Alaska or Canada.

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Section: Guar Viscosity Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Opportunities for Implementing Cold Water for Fracturing Services in Western Siberia

et al. 2015

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First 100% Reuse of Bakken Produced Water in Hybrid Treatments Using Inexpensive Polysaccharide Gelling Agents

McMahon

Mirakyan

2015

Day 2 Tue, April 14, 2015

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The modern horizontal multistage well is a main contributor to the recent transformation of North American oil and gas production. The large fracturing stage volume that defines unconventional wells, crossed against the increasing numbers of stages and laterals per pad, has dramatically increased the demand for fracturing materials such as sand, friction reducers, and gelling agents, and most especially water. At the same time, operators face increasing accumulations of produced water, which presents as water cut from more mature assets. It is therefore natural to propose using produced water as mixwater for fracturing fluids in new completions, but in practice this plan has met with two major barriers: first, regulatory and logistical hurdles concerning the storage, handling, and potential environmental impacts of the volume of produced water required to complete a modern well (millions of gallons per lateral), and second, technology gaps in the applied chemistry of completion fluids, particularly in crosslinked gels. This paper reports the completion of a two-lateral well in the Williston Basin where produced water, filtered but otherwise untreated, was used throughout the slickwater and crosslinked components of about sixty hydraulic fracturing stages. Proppant was successfully placed in all perforated zones in the Bakken and Three Forks formations, using a “hybrid” design that employed seven million gallons of water (of which 2.2 million gallons were crosslinked). Production figures for the well are satisfactory, and this is discussed in the context of fluid-related completion quality. This paper will concentrate on the development and implementation of a metal crosslinked fracturing fluid that shows excellent stability at typical Bakken conditions. We will present a comparison to conventional guar-borate systems. The promise of this approach has many potential benefits. First, completion costs are decreased as freshwater sourcing and produced water disposal charges cancel each other. Second, far fewer truck trips are necessary to transport water. Third, the industry no longer requires fresh water sources or disposal wells where this technique is employed.

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Laboratory Study on Using Produced Water in High pH Borate Gels Used in Hydraulic Fracturing

2016

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Fracturing fluids are commonly formulated with fresh water to ensure reliable rheology. However, fresh water is becoming more costly, and in some areas, it is difficult to obtain. Therefore, using produced water in hydraulic fracturing has received increased attention in the last few years. A major challenge, however, is its high total dissolved solids (TDS) content, which could cause formation damage and negatively affect fracturing fluid rheology. The objective of this study is to investigate the feasibility of using produced water to formulate crosslinked-gel-based fracturing fluid. This paper focuses on the compatibility of water with the fracturing fluid system and the effect of salts on the fluid rheology. Produced water samples were analyzed to determine different ion concentrations. Solutions of synthetic water with different amounts of salts were prepared. The fracturing fluid system consisted of natural guar polymer, borate-based crosslinker, biocide, surfactant, clay controller, scale inhibitor, and pH buffer. Compatibility tests of the fluid system were conducted at different cation concentrations. Apparent viscosity of the fracturing fluid was measured using a high-pressure high-temperature rotational rheometer. All rheology tests were conducted at a temperature of 180°F and were conducted according to API 13m procedure with a three-hour test duration. Fluid breaking test was also performed to ensure high fracture and proppant pack conductivity. Produced water analysis showed a TDS content of 125,000 ppm, including Na, Ca, K, and Mg ion concentrations of 36,000, 10,500, 1,700, and 700 ppm, respectively. Results indicated the potential of produced water to cause formation damage. Therefore, produced water was diluted with fresh water and directly used to formulate the fracturing fluid. Divalent cations were found to be the main source of precipitation, and the reduced amounts of each ion were determined to prevent precipitation. The separate and combined effects of Na, K, Ca, and Mg ions on the viscosity of the fracturing fluid were also studied. Fluid viscosity was found to be significantly affected by the concentrations of divalent cations regardless of the concentrations of monovalent cations. Monovalent cations reduced the viscosity of fracturing fluid only in the absence of divalent cations, and showed no effect in the presence of Ca and Mg ions. Water with reduced concentrations of monovalent and divalent cations showed the most suitable environment for polymer hydration and crosslinking. This paper contributes to the understanding of the main factors that enable the use of produced water for hydraulic fracturing operations. Maximizing the use of produced water could reduce its disposal costs, mitigate environmental impacts, and solve fresh water acquisition challenges.

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Efficient Hydraulic Fracturing Treatments Using Produced Formation Water in Western Siberia

Cited by 4 publications

References 3 publications

Opportunities for Implementing Cold Water for Fracturing Services in Western Siberia

Opportunities for Implementing Cold Water for Fracturing Services in Western Siberia

First 100% Reuse of Bakken Produced Water in Hybrid Treatments Using Inexpensive Polysaccharide Gelling Agents

Laboratory Study on Using Produced Water in High pH Borate Gels Used in Hydraulic Fracturing

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