Rheology and Settling Dynamics of a Particle Filled Aqueous Polymer Gel for Hydraulic Fracturing Fluid Systems
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Date
2015-05
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The Ohio State University
Abstract
Hydraulic fracturing, more commonly known as fracking, is a hydrocarbon capturing method that uses a high pressure fluid to fracture layers of shale, which then releases the hydrocarbons which flow to the surface for capture. In order to keep the fractures open, special sands called proppants are carried in with the fracking fluid. This functions by keeping the fracture open, while allowing natural gas to flow through the fracture. Hydroxypropyl Guar (HPG) is a high molecular weight, water soluble polymer used in the food industry as a viscosifier of water based foods, and in the petroleum industry as an additive in hydraulic fracturing fluids. The fracking fluid is further modified via addition of a cross linker, which causes the fluid to become a gel, making it extremely viscous.
Once the proppant is suspended in the fracture, a breaker is added to the solution which allows the fluid to flow again, while retaining the structure of the fracture. Unfortunately, some of the current fluid components used in industry are hazardous and present health risks upon unanticipated exposure.
This research aims to maintain, or surpass, current fluid standards by developing potential substitutes for the presently used components. To do this, a full factorial experimental design has been conducted with cross linker concentration and chopped nylon fiber concentration as exploratory variables. It is observed that the addition of the chopped fibers significantly decreases the settling velocity of suspended proppant particles, while not significantly affecting the fluid viscosity, thus allowing for a decrease in the toxic cross linker concentration for a given required settling velocity. Further, with rheological information, theoretical models will be developed for predicting settling velocities in a hypothetical fluid system.
Description
Outstanding Undergraduate Award for Research Excellence 2013
Outstanding Undergraduate Award for Research Excellence 2015
Outstanding Undergraduate Award for Research Excellence 2015
Keywords
Hydraulic Fracturing Fracking Rheology Settling Dynamics