Water Management for Tight and Shale Reservoir: A Review of What Has Been Learned and What Should Be Considered for Development in Argentina

Bonapace, Juan Carlos

doi:10.2118/174119-ms

Cited by 5 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 26 publications

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“…In the initial stages of hydraulic fracturing within the Vaca Muerta formation, traditional fluid systems such as linear and crosslinked guar-based polymers were commonly employed [65]. However, the industry has recently shifted towards the use of Polyacrylamide-based viscosifying friction reducers (VFR) in specific regions of the Neuquén Basin, including the Aguada Pichana Oeste and Lindero Atravesado blocks [66].…”

Section: Fracturing Fluidsmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Overview of Recent Developments and Understandings of Unconventionals in the Vaca Muerta Formation, Argentina

Lu,

Li,

Han

et al. 2024

Applied Sciences

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In this article, we comprehensively reviewed Argentina’s Vaca Muerta formation, which encompasses a geological overview, advances in extraction technologies, the potential environmental impact, and economic analysis. Detailed geological analysis is discussed, emphasizing the stratigraphy, lithology, and depositional environments of the formation, which is crucial for understanding the distribution and quality of hydrocarbon resources. The latest advancements in hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling are explored, which have significantly improved efficiency and increased recoverable resources. The environmental implications of these extraction methods are critically examined. This includes a discussion of the necessity of sustainable practices in hydrocarbon extraction, highlighting the balance between resource development and environmental stewardship. The economic viability of the Vaca Muerta formation is analyzed, with a focus on cost-effectiveness, market trends, and investment patterns. This section assesses the formation’s potential as a profitable venture and its impact on the global energy market. Finally, the review anticipates future technological and policy developments. The strategic importance of the Vaca Muerta formation in the global energy sector is underscored, and its potential role in shaping future hydrocarbon exploration and production strategies is examined. In short, this essay not only presents data and findings, but also contextualizes them within the broader scope of energy production, environmental sustainability, and economic viability. This comprehensive approach provides a multi-faceted understanding of the Vaca Muerta formation’s significance in the global energy landscape.

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Section: Fracturing Fluidsmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Overview of Recent Developments and Understandings of Unconventionals in the Vaca Muerta Formation, Argentina

Lu,

Li,

Han

et al. 2024

Applied Sciences

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Nanomaterials-Enhanced High-Temperature Fracturing Fluids Prepared with Untreated Seawater

Al-Muntasheri

Liang

2016

Day 1 Mon, September 26, 2016

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Demand for water used in hydraulic fracturing is increasing continuously due to the implementation of oilfield technologies such as horizontal wells and multistage hydraulic fracturing. The rising cost of fresh water has motivated services and production companies to try to prepare fracturing fluids with less ideal water sources such as produced water and seawater. Technically it is not too difficult to make fracturing fluids for medium-to-low temperature applications using salt water like produced water or seawater. However at high temperatures of, for example, 300°F or more, it is much more challenging to formulate stable fluids directly with untreated salt water due to the damages related to the high levels of salinity and hardness in the water. With innovative approaches and careful selections of fluid additives in our tests, potential fluid issues caused by low water quality and harsh downhole temperatures were resolved or mitigated. A novel high-temperature fracturing fluid system was invented recently that could be prepared with untreated seawater having a TDS of, for example, about 57,000 mg/L. The fluids comprised of metal-crosslinked polysaccharide polymers, and remained stable at high temperatures of 300°F or more. In a typical test, the fluid viscosity stayed above 500cP (at 40/s shear rate) for at least 60 minutes at 300°F. The fluid stability could be further enhanced with the addition of a number of selected nanomaterials. For instance, when one of the nanomaterials was added to the above fluids at a dose of 0.02% by weight or less, the lifetime of the fluid viscosity above 500cP was extended by at least 30%. Tests also showed that, with the addition of the nanomaterials, the viscosity lifetime could remain the same even when the polymer loading was reduced. The fracturing fluids also consistently showed over 90% regained permeability in both coreflow and proppant pack conductivity tests. Overall, the novel seawater-based fluid system shows excellent high-temperature stability, minimum formation and proppant pack damage, and intrinsically low scaling tendency. The synergetic behaviors among the fluid additives and the nanomaterials in the high-temperature fracturing fluids prepared with the untreated seawater will be discussed, and the field-related laboratory test results will be presented in detail.

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High-TDS Produced Water-Based, Low-Damaging Fracturing Fluids for Applications at 300°F or Higher

Saini

Mai

2018

Day 2 Tue, September 25, 2018

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Water usage in hydraulic fracturing jobs has been increasing continuously, mostly due to multistage hydraulic fracturing of horizontal wells in unconventional reservoirs. Meanwhile, nearly 100 billion barrels of produced water, often with total dissolved solids (TDS) higher than seawater, is being generated every year from oilfield operations. Operating cost could be lowered if produced water is used in place of fresh water in fracturing activities, due to the reduced fresh water consumption and produced water disposal cost. Formulating slickwater or linear fracturing fluids with high-TDS produced water is a common practice. Crosslinked fluids have also been prepared with salt and hard produced water for medium and low temperature applications. At elevated temperatures above 250°F, it becomes much more challenging to make stable crosslinked fluids with untreated produced water due to the damage caused by the high water salinity and hardness. Without resorting to scale inhibitors and/or high fluid pH, fracturing fluids prepared with untreated high-TDS produced water have so far shown stability at around 275°F. With careful selections of the fluid additives, a new high-temperature fracturing fluid system was recently formulated with untreated produced water having TDS at or above 295,000 mg/L. Made up of metal-crosslinked polysaccharides, the fluids were stable at high temperatures of 300°F or more. In representative tests, the fluid viscosity stayed above 100 cP (at 100 s−1 shear rate) for 2 hours at 300°F. To reduce the scaling tendency and enhance the gel cleanup, the fluid pH was suppressed to 7.2 or below as measured at surface temperature, resulting in a regained permeability of 77% in the conductivity test. Overall, the new produced water-based fluid system showed satisfactory performances at 300°F in fluid viscosity and stability, regained conductivity, and scaling tendency. The key roles played by the additives to render the fluid stability at 300°F will be discussed for the high-temperature fracturing fluids prepared with high-TDS produced water, and the laboratory test results will be presented in detail.

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Water Management for Tight and Shale Reservoir: A Review of What Has Been Learned and What Should Be Considered for Development in Argentina

Cited by 5 publications

References 26 publications

An Overview of Recent Developments and Understandings of Unconventionals in the Vaca Muerta Formation, Argentina

An Overview of Recent Developments and Understandings of Unconventionals in the Vaca Muerta Formation, Argentina

Nanomaterials-Enhanced High-Temperature Fracturing Fluids Prepared with Untreated Seawater

High-TDS Produced Water-Based, Low-Damaging Fracturing Fluids for Applications at 300°F or Higher

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