Introduction of Novel Alternative to Guar-Based Fracturing Fluid for Russian Conventional Reservoirs
Authors: Loginov Arkadii , Pavlova Svetlana , Olennikova Olesya , Fedorov Andrey , Lomovskaya Irina , Yudina Kira , Danilevich Elena , Shalagina Anastasia , Radaev Vladimir 
Published: October 2019

Guar-based crosslinked fluids remained the prevalent choice of frac fluid for a long period of time, since massive hydraulic fracturing was started in Russia. Traditional frac fluid contains 2535 ppt of crosslinked guar, which results in very high fluid viscosity (min 400 cp at 100 sec-1 as rule of thumb) and low retained permeability of proppant pack - around 35%.

With recent move towards complex geology reservoirs in Russia, where wide propped frac is no longer an optimum solution, the need in review of current fracturing approaches emerged. In several last years local operators started to gradually move away from h igh-viscosity fluids via its partial replacement with cleaner guar-based low viscous linear gel. However, even in this case retained fracture conductivities are typically not higher than 60-70%, especially in cases when hybrid fluid systems are used - linear fluid combined with crosslinked gel. Goal to reach improved fracture conductivity opens a field for new discoveries. This study objective is to evaluate the applicability of novel clean frac fluid for conventional reservoirs in Russia.

Current study is focused on development of laboratory testing procedures and testing results analysis of novel synthetic polymer-based fracturing fluid in terms of its applicability on conventional reservoirs - tight sandstones. Viscous slickwater has already been widely used on shale reservoirs in North America, however was never applied for conditions of sandstones fracturing: in mili Darcy environment, in combination with ceramic proppant, pumping via tubing, utilizing pump rates less than 10 m3/min (60 bbl/min). Fluid rheology studies, leak-off behavior, regained conductivity of the proppant pack, regained permeability of the formation, dynamic proppant transport tests and dynamic fluid viscosity evaluation are described in the paper.

Elastic properties of viscous slickwater (H.Zhao, S.Danican, H.Torres, Y.Christianti, M.Nikolaev, S.Makarychev-Mikhailov, A.Bonnell, Schlumberger, 2018) provide improved dynamic proppant transport and static proppant settling, in comparison with low viscous fluid - linear guar-based gel, i.e. better horizontal and vertical proppant distribution inside the fracture. Ceramic proppant pack conductivity even with high loadings of High Viscosity Friction Reducer without breakers showed superior results - Regained conductivity reached 100%. Coreflow experiments using conventional (1-10 mD) sandstone cores demonstrated 100% regained phase permeability to hydrocarbon, proving that fluid is non-damaging to formation. As a result of numerous laboratory studies performed, Viscous slickwater was qualified as alternative fracturing fluid to conventionally used guar-based gel and has been approved for field testing campaign on conventional tight sandstones in Russia.

Field trials of novel frac fluid - Viscous slickwater demonstrated positive results both in terms of pumpability and well productivity on tight sandstones 0.5-3.0 mD This fluid has been recommended for further roll out to wider range of conventional oilfields.