# US 11,078,407 B2 · Method to hydraulically fracture a well

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 11,078,407 B2
- Document ID: US11078407B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/026,335
- Filed: 2018-07-03
- Published: 2019-05-23
- Granted: 2021-08-03
- Earliest claimed: 2017-11-20
- Assignees: Multi-Chem Group, LLC
- Applicants: Multi-Chem Group, LLC
- Inventors: Ian Wood Straffin; Howard Thomas Riley; Teddy Joel Dubois; James William Ogle
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11078407B2

## CPC

- C09K 8/68: containing organic compounds
- C09K 8/80: Compositions for reinforcing fractures, e.g. compositions of proppants used to keep the fractures open
- E21B 43/26: by forming crevices or fractures
- C09K 2208/28: Friction or drag reducing additives
- C09K: MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
- E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS

## Abstract

A method may comprise: determining a total dissolved solids (TDS) concentration of a water source; correlating the TDS concentration to an ion concentration; and selecting at least one friction reducing polymer for a hydraulic fracturing operation based at least in part on the ion concentration.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method comprising:
providing a historical database comprising a total dissolved solids (TDS) concentration, density, and an ion concentration of a plurality of water sources over time;
providing a sample of water taken from a water source selected from the plurality of water sources;
measuring a density of the sample of water;
correlating the density of the sample of water to the TDS concentration of the plurality of water sources;
referencing the historical database to correlate the TDS concentration of the plurality of water sources to the ion concentration of the plurality of water sources;
selecting at least one friction reducing polymer for a hydraulic fracturing operation based at least in part on the ion concentration; and
introducing a fracturing fluid comprising the selected at least one friction reducing polymer into a wellbore.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the step of measuring further comprises measuring a property selected from conductivity, reflected radiation, emitted radiation, or a combination thereof of the sample of water, and further correlating the property of the sample of water to the TDS concentration of the plurality of water sources.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the historical database comprises a trend of TDS concentration to ion concentration.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the ion concentration is a concentration of at least one Group(I) ion, at least one Group(II) ion, at least one metal ion, or a combination thereof.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the step of selecting at least one friction reducing polymer comprises using the historical database and correlating the ion concentration to friction reducing polymers that reduce friction at the ion concentration.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising adding the selected at least one friction reducing polymer to a hydraulic fracturing fluid comprising water from the water source.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising measuring a conductivity of the sample of water to determine the TDS concentration, wherein the step of correlating comprises correlating the TDS concentration using the historical database, the historical database comprising a trend of TDS concentration to ion concentration, and wherein the method further comprises adding the selected at least one friction reducing polymer to a hydraulic fracturing fluid comprising water from the water source.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting at least one friction reducing polymer is automatic.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting at least one friction reducing polymer is manually done by a user.

### Claim 10

A method comprising:
measuring a density of a water source of a wellbore and correlating the density of the water source to a cation concentration of the water source based at least in part on a historical database comprising a total dissolved solids (TDS) concentration, density, and a cation concentration of a plurality of water sources of hydraulic fracturing operations over time;
selecting at least one friction reducing polymer based at least in part on the cation concentration of the water source; and
introducing the selected at least one friction reducing polymer and water from the water source into a flow loop.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the step of measuring further comprises measuring a property selected from conductivity, reflected radiation, emitted radiation, or a combination thereof of the water source and correlating the measured property to a cation concentration of the water source.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the historical database comprises a trend of density to cation concentration.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the step of selecting at least one friction reducing polymer comprises using the historical database and correlating the cation concentration to friction reducing polymers that reduce friction at the cation concentration.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, further comprising adding the selected at least one friction reducing polymer to a hydraulic fracturing fluid comprising water from the water source.