IP Library Granted Patent US 10,988,675
Granted Patent B2
US 10,988,675 · App. 16/234,178 · Granted Apr 27, 2021

Method to hydraulically fracture a well

Inventors: Howard Thomas Riley (Jefferson Hills, PA); Teddy Joel Dubois (Canonsburg, PA); James William Ogle (Livingston, TX)
Assignee: Multi-Chem Group, LLC
C09K8/68B01F3/0803B01F15/00227B01F15/00233B01F15/00344G01N33/182B01F2215/0081C09K2208/28
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,988,675
App. No.
16/234,178
Granted
Apr 27, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method may include: determining a total dissolved solids (TDS) concentration of a water source; correlating the TDS concentration to an ion concentration; and selecting at least one friction reducing polymer for a hydraulic fracturing operation based at least in part on the ion concentration.

Claims (31)

1. A method comprising:

providing a fracturing fluid having a viscosity requirement measuring at least one of a conductivity or a density of a water source and measuring at least one of a temperature or a viscosity of the water source;

correlating at least one of the conductivity or the density of a water source to a total dissolved solids (TDS) concentration of the water source;

correlating the TDS concentration of the water source to an ion concentration of the water source; and

selecting at least one species and concentration of friction reducing polymer based at least in part on the fracturing fluid viscosity requirement and at least one of the ion concentration, the temperature, or the viscosity of the water source; and

preparing a fracturing fluid comprising an aqueous base fluid and the at least one species and concentration of friction reducing polymer.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of measuring further comprises measuring a reflected radiation, an emitted radiation, an oxidation reduction potential or a combination thereof.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the steps of correlating comprise correlating the TDS concentration of the water source using a historical database, the historical database comprising a trend of density, conductivity or both to TDS concentration of the water source and TDS concentration of the water source to ion concentration of the water source.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the historical database is an operational database, wherein the operational database comprises operational limits of friction reducing polymers.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the ion concentration of the water source is a concentration of at least one Group(I) ion, at least one Group(II) ion, at least one metal ion, or a combination thereof.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of selecting at least one species and concentration of friction reducing polymer comprises using a historical database and correlating the ion concentration of the water source to friction reducing polymers that reduce friction at the measured ion concentration of the water source.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of preparing comprises adding the selected at least one friction reducing polymer to a blender tub comprising water from the water source.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising measuring a conductivity of the water source to determine the TDS concentration, wherein the step of correlating comprises correlating the TDS concentration using a historical database, the historical database comprising a trend of TDS concentration to ion concentration, and wherein the method further comprises adding the selected at least one friction reducing polymer to a hydraulic fracturing fluid comprising water from the water source.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the selecting at least one friction reducing polymer is automatic.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the selecting at least one friction reducing polymer is manually done by a user.

11. A method comprising:

providing a fracturing fluid having a viscosity requirement;

measuring at least one of a conductivity or a density of a water source and measuring at least one of a temperature or a viscosity of the water source;

correlating at least one of the conductivity or the density of a water source to a total dissolved solids (TDS) concentration of the water source;

correlating the TDS concentration of the water source to an ion concentration of the water source; and

selecting at least one species and concentration of friction reducing polymer based at least in part on the fracturing fluid viscosity requirement and at least one of the ion concentration, the temperature, or the viscosity of the water source; and

introducing the at least one friction reducing polymer and water from the water source into a flow loop.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of measuring further comprises measuring a reflected radiation, and emitted radiation, an oxidation reduction potential or a combination thereof.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the steps of correlating comprise correlating the TDS concentration of the water source using a historical database, the historical database comprising a trend of density, conductivity or both to TDS concentration of the water source and TDS concentration of the water source to ion concentration of the water source.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of selecting at least one species and concentration of friction reducing polymer comprises using a historical database and correlating the ion concentration of the water source to friction reducing polymers that reduce friction at the measured ion concentration of the water source.

15. The method of claim 11 further comprising comprises adding the selected at least one friction reducing polymer to a blender tub comprising water from the water source.

16. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining the ion concentration of the water source based in part with an equilibrium equation, wherein the equilibrium equation calculates ion concentration of the water source to the conductivity or density of the water source.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the TDS concentration of the water source changes over a period of time between and during hydraulic fracturing stages.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one ion concentration is calcium ion, iron ion, or a combination thereof.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein the viscosity requirement is a function of an initial viscosity of the aqueous base fluid and a viscosity contribution of at least one friction reducing polymer.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein the correlating the TDS concentration of the water source to an ion concentration of the water source uses a calibration curve based in part on an input signal from water testing equipment.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 10, 2021
From: MULTI-CHEM GROUP, LLC
To: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 056681/0849 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNEE NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 048458 FRAME 0541. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT, Recorded May 24, 2019
From: RILEY, HOWARD THOMAS; DUBOIS, TEDDY JOEL; OGLE, JAMES WILLIAM
To: MULTI-CHEM GROUP, LLC
Reel/Frame 049286/0551 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 27, 2019
From: RILEY, HOWARD THOMAS; DUBOIS, TEDDY JOEL; OGLE, JAMES WILLIAM
To: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 048459/0541 →