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.
Claims12
A method for controlled delivery of a fracturing fluid to a well bore comprising:
- (a) identifying at least one source of a fluid for the fracturing fluid and providing predetermined characteristic data for the fracturing fluid;
- (b) testing the at least one source of fluid to determine each source's characteristics;
- (c) comparing tested characteristic data of the at least one source of 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 compared to the predetermined characteristic data for the fracturing fluid, transporting fluid obtained from at least one of the sources identified in step “a” to a well site for fracturing operations;
- (e) during step “d” testing the 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 fluid being transported;
- (g) repeating steps “e” and “f” until the base fluid being transported achieves at least one predetermined characteristic in the predetermined characteristic data;
- and
- (h) after step “g”, transporting the treated fluid to a fracturing system, the fracturing system including a fracturing pump;
- and
- (i) after step “h”, formulating the fracturing fluid with the treated 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 a fluid for the fracturing fluid and providing predetermined characteristic data for the fracturing fluid;
- (b) testing the identified plurality of sources of fluid to determine each source's characteristics;
- (c) comparing the tested characteristic data of each source of 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”, for a second plurality of the sources that compared favorably in step “c” to the predetermined characteristic data for the fracturing fluid, commingling fluid from the second plurality of sources of fluid, and transporting the commingled fluid to a well site for fracturing operations;
- (e) during step “d” testing the commingled 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 fluid being transported;
- (g) repeating steps “e” and “f” until the commingled fluid being transported achieves at least one predetermined characteristic in the predetermined characteristic data;
- and
- (h) after step “g”, transporting the treated commingled fluid to a fracturing system,
- (i) after step “h”, formulating the fracturing fluid with the treated commingled 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.