Patent ID: 8997863
Filing Date: 2015-04-07
Classification: C02F,E21B

Abstract:
1. A method for recycling fracturing fluid at a well during a hydraulic fracturing operation, comprising the steps of: introducing a hydraulic fracturing fluid into a subterranean formation, the hydraulic fracturing fluid including a mixture of water and other fracturing components that include proppant particulates; capturing at least a portion of the hydraulic fracturing fluid from the subterranean formation after a fracturing operation, the captured hydraulic fracturing fluid having certain contaminants; introducing the captured hydraulic fracturing fluid to an electrocoagulation (“EC”) treatment process and using the EC treatment process to separate the water in the captured hydraulic fracturing fluid from other components in the captured hydraulic fracturing fluid; recycling the water separated via use of the EC treatment process to create a recycled hydraulic fracturing fluid, by directly mixing new proppant particulates into recycled water that is separated via the EC treatment process, and using the EC treatment process to reduce the viscosity of the mixture of recycled water and new proppant particulates; and reintroducing the recycled hydraulic fracturing fluid into the subterranean formation for a subsequent hydraulic fracturing operation, wherein the EC treatment process reduces the viscosity of the recycled hydraulic fracturing fluid during the fracturing operation.