Method of delivering frac fluid and additives
AssigneeTetra Technologies, Inc.
InventorsEnrico J. Termine, Robert I. Richie
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for the controlled delivery of a fracturing fluid to a well bore comprises formulating an aqueous base fluid such that it meets or exhibits desired physical and chemical characteristics for an optimal fracturing fluid. The formulation of the aqueous base fluid max involve commingling one or more sources of waste water with a source of fresh water followed by controlled injection of one or more additives. This process is substantially completed prior to delivering the aqueous base fluid to the well site. This allows the delivery of an optimal volume of the aqueous base fluid with homogeneously blended additives to the well bore.
Claims13
A method for controlled delivery of a fracturing fluid to a well bore comprising:
- (a) identifying a plurality of sources of an aqueous fluid for the fracturing fluid and providing predetermined characteristic data for the fracturing fluid;
- (b) testing the identified plurality of sources of aqueous fluid to determine each source's characteristics;
- (c) comparing tested characteristic data of each source of aqueous fluid identified in step “a” to the predetermined characteristic data for the fracturing fluid to identify suitability of each identified source for fracturing operations;
- (d) after step “c”, if a favorable comparison is made to the characteristic data for the fracturing fluid, transporting aqueous fluid obtained from their respective source identified in step “a” to a well site for fracturing operations at least one of the sources that compared favorably in step “c” to the predetermined characteristic data for the fracturing fluid;
- (e) during step “d” testing the aqueous fluid being transported, and comparing the now tested characteristic data to the predetermined characteristic data for the fracturing fluid;
- (f) during steps “d” and “e”, in the event of a failed comparison, introducing at least one additive to treat the aqueous fluid being transported;
- (g) repeating steps “e” and “f” until the aqueous base fluid being transported achieves at least one predetermined characteristic in the predetermined characteristic data;
- and
- (h) after step “g”, transporting the treated aqueous fluid to a fracturing system, the fracturing system including a fracturing pump;
- and
- (i) after step “h”, formulating the fracturing fluid with the treated aqueous fluid, and the pump of the fracturing system pumping the fracturing fluid into the wellbore for fracturing operations.
A method for controlled delivery of a fracturing fluid to a well bore comprising:
- (a) identifying a plurality of sources of an aqueous fluid for the fracturing fluid and providing predetermined characteristic data for the fracturing fluid;
- (b) testing the identified plurality of sources of aqueous fluid to determine each source's characteristics;
- (c) comparing the tested characteristic data of each source of aqueous fluid identified in step “a” to the predetermined characteristic data for the fracturing fluid to identify suitability of each identified source for fracturing operations;
- (d) after step “c”, if a favorable comparison is made to the predetermined characteristic data for the fracturing fluid, for a plurality of the sources that compared favorably in step “c” to the predetermined characteristic data for the fracturing fluid, commingling aqueous fluid from the plurality of sources of aqueous fluid, and transporting the commingled aqueous fluid to a well site for fracturing operations;
- (e) during step “d” testing the commingled aqueous fluid being transported, and comparing the characteristic data to the predetermined characteristic data for the fracturing fluid;
- (f) during steps “d” and “e”, in the event of a failed comparison, introducing at least one additive to treat the commingled aqueous fluid being transported;
- (g) repeating steps “e” and “f” until the commingled aqueous fluid being transported achieves at least one predetermined characteristic in the predetermined characteristic data;
- and
- (h) after step “g”, transporting the treated commingled aqueous fluid to a fracturing system, the fracturing system including a fracturing pump;
- and
- (i) after step “h”, formulating the fracturing fluid with the treated commingled aqueous fluid, and the pump of the fracturing system pumping the fracturing fluid into the wellbore for fracturing operations.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.