Hydraulic Fracturing Method and Fluid Including In-Situ Boron-Laden Produced Waters
A method of forming a fracturing fluid including mixing produced water or boron-containing oilfield water having an in-situ boron concentration greater than about 20 mg/L at the time of mixing with a hydratable boron crosslinkable polymer to form a fracturing fluid.
1 . A method of forming a fracturing fluid comprising:
mixing produced water or boron-containing oilfield water having an in-situ boron concentration greater than about 20 mg/L at the time of mixing with a hydratable boron crosslinkable polymer to form a fracturing fluid.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the in-situ boron is boric acid, an inorganic borate, an organic borate, or combinations thereof.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the in-situ boron content is between 20 mg/L and 2000 mg/L.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the in-situ boron content is between 20 mg/L and 660 mg/L.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the in-situ boron content is about 150 mg/L.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydratable crosslinkable polymer is selected from the group consisting of guar, hydroxyethylguar, hydroxypropylguar, carboxymethylguar, carboxymethylhydroxyethylguar, carboxymethylhydroxypropylguar and mixtures thereof.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the concentration of the boron in the fracturing fluid is from 20 mg/L to 500 mg/L.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the concentration of the boron in the fracturing fluid is from 100 mg/L to 200 mg/L.
9 . The method of claim 1 further comprises adding a boron compound to the fracturing fluid.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the boron compound is selected from the group consisting of boric acid, organic borates, inorganic borates, and mixtures thereof.
11 . A fracturing fluid comprising:
produced water or boron-containing oilfield water having an in-situ boron concentration greater than about 20 mg/L; and
a hydratable boron-crosslinkable polymer.
12 . The fracturing fluid of claim 11 further comprising an added boron compound.
13 . The fracturing fluid of claim 11 , wherein the concentration of the boron in the fracturing fluid is greater than 20 mg/L.
14 . The fracturing fluid of claim 13 , wherein the in-situ boron is boric acid, an inorganic borate, an organic borate, or combinations thereof.
15 . The fracturing fluid of claim 11 , wherein the hydratable crosslinkable polymer is selected from the group consisting of guar, hydroxyethylguar, hydroxypropylguar, carboxymethylguar, carboxymethylhydroxyethylguar, carboxymethylhydroxypropylguar and mixtures thereof.
16 . A method of manufacturing a fracturing fluid comprising:
determining the in-situ concentration of boron of produced water or boron-containing oilfield water having an in-situ boron concentration greater than about 20 mg/L;
mixing produced water or boron-containing oilfield water with a hydratable crosslinkable polymer, wherein the in-situ boron concentration of the produced water or boron-containing fresh water is greater than about 20 mg/L at the time of mixing to form a water/polymer mixture;
determining the difference between the concentration of boron in the produced water or boron containing fresh water and the desired boron concentration of the fracturing fluid; and
adding a boron compound to the water/polymer mixture to form a fracturing fluid.
17 . The method of claim 16 further comprising prior to the step of adding a boron compound to the water/polymer mixture the step of adjusting the pH of the water/polymer mixture to a pH of between 5.0 and 6.5.
18 . The method of claim 17 further comprising after the step of adding a boron compound to the water/polymer mixture the step of adjusting the pH of the fracturing fluid to a pH of between 8.5 and 12.
19 . The method of claim 16 further comprising before the step of mixing produced water or boron-containing oilfield water with a hydratable crosslinkable polymer the step of softening the produced water or boron-containing oilfield water.
20 . The method of hydraulically fracturing a subterranean formation comprising the steps of forming the fracturing fluid of claim 11 ; and
pumping the fracturing fluid into a well penetrating a subterranean formation with sufficient rate and pressure to form at least one fracture into the rock comprising the subterranean formation.
21 . A method of manufacturing a fracturing fluid comprising:
determining a desired performance characteristic for the fracturing fluid;
mixing produced water or boron-containing oilfield water having an in-situ boron concentration greater than about 20 mg/L with a hydratable crosslinkable polymer, wherein the in-situ boron concentration of the produced water or boron-containing fresh water is greater than about 20 mg/L at the time of mixing to form a water/polymer mixture; and
adding a boron compound to the water/polymer mixture to form a fracturing fluid with the desired performance characteristic.
22 . A method of manufacturing a fracturing fluid comprising:
determining the in-situ concentration of boron of produced water or boron-containing oilfield water having an in-situ boron concentration greater than about 20 mg/L;
mixing produced water or boron-containing oilfield water with a hydratable crosslinkable polymer, wherein the in-situ boron concentration of the produced water or boron-containing fresh water is greater than about 20 mg/L at the time of mixing to form a water/polymer mixture;
determining the difference between the concentration of boron in the produced water or boron containing fresh water and the desired boron concentration of the fracturing fluid;
forming a diluted produced water stream, wherein the diluted produced water stream has an in-situ boron concentration of great than about 20 mg/L; and
adding the diluted produced water stream to the water/polymer mixture to form a fracturing fluid.