Settling of Spherical Particles in High Viscosity Friction Reducer Fracture Fluids
Investigating the key factors that impact fluid rheology and proppant static settling velocity in high viscosity friction reducers (HVFRs) is a critical aspect for successful proppant transport in hydraulic fracture treatment. In this study, the rheological properties of HVFRs were tested at various...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-04-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/9/2462 |
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| author | Ghith Biheri Abdulmohsin Imqam |
| author_facet | Ghith Biheri Abdulmohsin Imqam |
| author_sort | Ghith Biheri |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Investigating the key factors that impact fluid rheology and proppant static settling velocity in high viscosity friction reducers (HVFRs) is a critical aspect for successful proppant transport in hydraulic fracture treatment. In this study, the rheological properties of HVFRs were tested at various temperature ranges (i.e., 25, 50, 75, and 100 °C) and different HVFR concentrations (i.e., 1, 2, 4, and 8 gpt). Three sizes of spherical particle diameters (i.e., 2, 4, and 6 mm) were selected to measure the static settling velocity. The fracture fluid was tested in two fracture models: an unconfined glass model and a confined rectangular model with two fracture widths (7 and 10 mm). The settling velocity in the confined and unconfined models was measured using an advanced video camera. HVFR results exhibited acceptable thermal stability even at higher temperatures, also the viscosity and elasticity increased considerably with increasing concentration. Increasing the temperature cut the friction reducer efficiency to suspend the spherical particles for a significant time, and that was observed clearly at temperatures that reached 75 °C. Spherical particles freely settled in the unconfined model due to the absence of the wall effect, and the settling velocity decreased significantly as the HVFR concentration increased. Additionally, the fracture angularity substantially slowed the proppant settling velocity due to both the wall effect and several types of friction. This research provides insights into the rheological parameters of a high viscosity friction reducer as a fracturing fluid and its efficiency in transporting particles in bounded and unbounded fracture networks. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T11:57:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-751dd0bc67cc461f9feeee7756765cbc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T11:57:59Z |
| publishDate | 2021-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-751dd0bc67cc461f9feeee7756765cbc2023-11-21T17:10:27ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732021-04-01149246210.3390/en14092462Settling of Spherical Particles in High Viscosity Friction Reducer Fracture FluidsGhith Biheri0Abdulmohsin Imqam1Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO 65409, USAGeosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO 65409, USAInvestigating the key factors that impact fluid rheology and proppant static settling velocity in high viscosity friction reducers (HVFRs) is a critical aspect for successful proppant transport in hydraulic fracture treatment. In this study, the rheological properties of HVFRs were tested at various temperature ranges (i.e., 25, 50, 75, and 100 °C) and different HVFR concentrations (i.e., 1, 2, 4, and 8 gpt). Three sizes of spherical particle diameters (i.e., 2, 4, and 6 mm) were selected to measure the static settling velocity. The fracture fluid was tested in two fracture models: an unconfined glass model and a confined rectangular model with two fracture widths (7 and 10 mm). The settling velocity in the confined and unconfined models was measured using an advanced video camera. HVFR results exhibited acceptable thermal stability even at higher temperatures, also the viscosity and elasticity increased considerably with increasing concentration. Increasing the temperature cut the friction reducer efficiency to suspend the spherical particles for a significant time, and that was observed clearly at temperatures that reached 75 °C. Spherical particles freely settled in the unconfined model due to the absence of the wall effect, and the settling velocity decreased significantly as the HVFR concentration increased. Additionally, the fracture angularity substantially slowed the proppant settling velocity due to both the wall effect and several types of friction. This research provides insights into the rheological parameters of a high viscosity friction reducer as a fracturing fluid and its efficiency in transporting particles in bounded and unbounded fracture networks.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/9/2462fracture fluidhigh viscous fracture fluiddynamic programming |
| spellingShingle | Ghith Biheri Abdulmohsin Imqam Settling of Spherical Particles in High Viscosity Friction Reducer Fracture Fluids Energies fracture fluid high viscous fracture fluid dynamic programming |
| title | Settling of Spherical Particles in High Viscosity Friction Reducer Fracture Fluids |
| title_full | Settling of Spherical Particles in High Viscosity Friction Reducer Fracture Fluids |
| title_fullStr | Settling of Spherical Particles in High Viscosity Friction Reducer Fracture Fluids |
| title_full_unstemmed | Settling of Spherical Particles in High Viscosity Friction Reducer Fracture Fluids |
| title_short | Settling of Spherical Particles in High Viscosity Friction Reducer Fracture Fluids |
| title_sort | settling of spherical particles in high viscosity friction reducer fracture fluids |
| topic | fracture fluid high viscous fracture fluid dynamic programming |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/9/2462 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ghithbiheri settlingofsphericalparticlesinhighviscosityfrictionreducerfracturefluids AT abdulmohsinimqam settlingofsphericalparticlesinhighviscosityfrictionreducerfracturefluids |