Hydraulic fracturing using super absorbent polymer having controlled particle size

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017190957-A1
Application number	US-201715398120-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 4, 2017
Priority date	Jan 5, 2016
Publication date	Jul 6, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A hydraulic fracturing process comprises combining an aqueous carrier with a superabsorbent polymer and a plurality of proppant particles to form a fracturing fluid; and disposing the fracturing fluid in a downhole environment. When the aqueous carrier has a total dissolved solid content of equal to or less than 400 parts per million and a hardness of less than 100 parts per million as calcium carbonate, the superabsorbent polymer comprises particles having a size of about 145 microns to about 600 microns. When the aqueous carrier has a total dissolved solid content of greater than 400 parts per million to less than 8,000 parts per million and a hardness of greater than 100 parts per million to less than 2,500 parts per million as calcium carbonate, the superabsorbent polymer comprises particles having a size of about 145 microns to about 300 microns.

First claim

1 . A hydraulic fracturing process characterized by:
combining an aqueous carrier with a superabsorbent polymer and a plurality of proppant particles to form a fracturing fluid; and disposing the fracturing fluid in a downhole environment, wherein one of the following conditions apply:
(i) the aqueous carrier has a total dissolved solid content of equal to or less than 400 parts per million and a hardness of less than 100 parts per million as calcium carbonate, and the superabsorbent polymer comprises particles having a size of about 145 microns to about 600 microns; or
(ii) the aqueous carrier has a total dissolved solid content of greater than 400 parts per million to less than 8,000 parts per million and a hardness of greater than 100 parts per million to less than 2,500 parts per million as calcium carbonate, and the superabsorbent polymer comprises particles having a size of about 145 microns to about 300 microns.

2 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the aqueous carrier has a total dissolved solid content of equal to or less than 400 parts per million and a hardness of less than 100 parts per million as calcium carbonate; and the superabsorbent polymer comprises particles having a size of about 145 microns to about 600 microns.

3 . The process of claim 2 , wherein the superabsorbent material comprises particles having a size of about 145 microns to about 425 microns.

4 . The process of claim 2 , wherein the superabsorbent polymer comprises a repeat unit derived from an acrylate, an acrylamide, a vinylpyrrolidone, a vinyl acetate, a vinyl alcohol, a saccharide, a 2-acrylamide-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid, a derivative thereof, or a combination thereof; and the superabsorbent polymer comprises a plurality of crosslinks.

5 . The process of claim 4 , wherein the crosslinks of the superabsorbent polymer are formed prior to combining the superabsorbent polymer with the aqueous carrier and the proppant particles.

6 . The process of claim 2 , wherein fracturing fluid comprises less than about 40 pounds of the superabsorbent polymer per one thousand gallons of the fracturing fluid.

7 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the fracturing fluid has a viscosity of greater than about 250 cps at 23° C. in about 3 to about 5 minutes after the aqueous carrier, the superabsorbent polymer, and the proppant particles are combined.

8 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the proppant particles have a size of about 200 microns to about 850 microns.

9 . The process of claim 1 , wherein greater than about 85 wt % of the superabsorbent polymer has a particle size of about 145 microns to about 600 microns, based on the total weight of the super absorbent polymer.

10 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the aqueous carrier has a total dissolved solid content of greater than 400 parts per million to less than 8,000 parts per million and a hardness of greater than 100 parts per million to less than 2,500 parts per million as calcium carbonate; and the superabsorbent polymer comprises particles having a size of about 145 microns to about 300 microns.

11 . The process of claim 10 , wherein the aqueous carrier has
a total dissolved solid content of greater than 1,000 parts per million to less than 5,000 parts per million; and a hardness of greater than 250 parts per million to about 2,000 parts per million as calcium carbonate.

12 . The process of claim 10 , wherein the aqueous carrier has
a total dissolved solid content of greater than 2,000 parts per million to less than 4,000 parts per million; and a hardness of greater than 500 parts per million to about 1,500 parts per million as calcium carbonate.

13 . The process of claim 10 , wherein the superabsorbent polymer comprises a repeat unit derived from an acrylate, an acrylamide, a vinylpyrrolidone, a vinyl acetate, a vinyl alcohol, a saccharide, a 2-acrylamide-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid, a derivative thereof, or a combination thereof; and the superabsorbent polymer comprises a plurality of crosslinks.

14 . The process of claim 13 , wherein the crosslinks of the superabsorbent polymer are formed prior to combining the superabsorbent polymer with the aqueous carrier and the proppant particles.

15 . The process of claim 10 , wherein fracturing fluid comprises less than about 60 pounds of the superabsorbent polymer per one thousand gallons of the fracturing fluid.

16 . The process of claim 10 , wherein greater than about 85 wt % of the super absorbent polymer has a size of about 145 microns to about 300 microns, based on the total weight of the super absorbent polymer.

17 . A method of improving the efficiency of a superabsorbent polymer to carry proppants in a fracturing fluid, the method characterized by:
providing a superabsorbent polymer; and combining the superabsorbent polymer with an aqueous carrier and a plurality of proppant particles; wherein one of the following conditions apply:
(i) greater than about 85 wt % of the superabsorbent polymer has a particle size of about 145 microns to about 600 microns based on the total weight of the superabsorbent polymer, and the aqueous carrier has a total dissolved solid content of equal to or less than 400 parts per million and a hardness of less than 100 parts per million as calcium carbonate; or
(ii) greater than about 85 wt % of the superabsorbent polymer has a particle size of about 145 microns to about 300 microns, based on the total weight of the superabsorbent polymer, and the aqueous fluid has a total dissolved solid content of greater than 400 parts per million to less than 8,000 parts per million and a hardness of greater than 100 parts per million to less than 2,500 parts per million as calcium carbonate.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the superabsorbent polymer comprises a repeat unit derived from an acrylate, an acrylamide, a vinylpyrrolidone, a vinyl acetate, a vinyl alcohol, a saccharide, a 2-acrylamide-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid, a derivative thereof, or a combination thereof; and the superabsorbent polymer comprises a plurality of crosslinks.

19 . A hydraulic fracturing fluid characterized by:
an aqueous carrier; a superabsorbent polymer; and a plurality of proppant particles, wherein one of the following conditions apply:
(i) the aqueous carrier has a total dissolved solid content of equal to or less than 400 parts per million and a hardness of less than 100 parts per million as calcium carbonate, and greater than about 85 wt % of the superabsorbent polymer has a particle size of about 145 microns to about 600 microns based on the total weight of the superabsorbent polymer; or
(ii) the aqueous carrier has a total dissolved solid content of greater than 400 parts per million to less than 8,000 parts per million and a hardness of greater than 100 parts per million to less than 2,500 parts per million as calcium carbonate, and greater than about 85% of the superabsorbent polymer has a particle size of about 145 microns to about 300 microns based on the total weight of the superabsorbent polymer.

Assignees

• Sun Hong
• Carman Paul S
• Volk Alyssa Michelle
• Chapman Johnny
• Baker Hughes Inc

Inventors

• Sun Hong
• Carman Paul S
• Volk Alyssa Michelle
• Chapman Johnny

Classifications

• C09K8/685 Primary

  containing cross-linking agents · CPC title

• C09K8/80

  Compositions for reinforcing fractures, e.g. compositions of proppants used to keep the fractures open · CPC title

• C09K8/88

  macromolecular compounds · CPC title

• C09K8/887

  containing cross-linking agents · CPC title