Process and process line for the preparation of hydraulic fracturing fluid
AssigneeEnCana Corporation
InventorsGrant DeFosse, Lois McCorriston
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process and process line is provided for preparing a friction-reduced hydraulic fracturing fluid at a central location which can be readily transported to an oil or gas well in a formation at a well site, comprising: preparing a mixture of polymer and water at the central location by shearing the polymer in the water in a high shear environment to create the friction-reduced hydraulic fracturing fluid; pumping the friction-reduced hydraulic fracturing fluid through a series of pumps and pipelines to the well site; and injecting the hydraulic fracturing fluid into the oil or gas well at a pressure sufficient to cause fracturing of the formation.
Claims16
A process for preparing a friction-reduced hydraulic fracturing fluid at a central location which can be readily transported to an oil or gas well in a formation at a well site, comprising:
- preparing a mixture of polymer and water at the central location by shearing the polymer in the water in a high shear environment to create the friction-reduced hydraulic fracturing fluid;
- pumping the friction-reduced hydraulic fracturing fluid through a series of pumps and pipelines to the well site;
- and
- injecting the hydraulic fracturing fluid into the gas well at a pressure sufficient to cause fracturing of the formation.
A process line for preparing a friction-reduced hydraulic fracturing fluid at a central location for transport to an oil or gas well at a well site, comprising:
- a water plant site having:
- a water supply;
- a bulk polymer storage tank containing a supply of polymer and a conveyer/auger at one end;
- a shearing mixer operably associated with both the bulk polymer storage tank and the water supply for receiving the polymer and mixing the polymer with sufficient water to form a friction-reduced hydraulic fracturing fluid;
- at least one pump for pumping the friction-reduced hydraulic fracturing fluid though at least one pipeline to the well site;
- and
- at least one fracturing pump located at the remote well site for receiving the friction-reduced hydraulic fracturing fluid and pumping it down the oil or gas well located at the well site.
A mobile hydraulic fracturing fluid preparation unit for preparing hydraulic fracturing fluid for fracturing an oil or gas well formation at a well site, comprising:
- a mobile trailer or skid having situated thereon:
- a shearing mixer for receiving a polymer from a bulk polymer storage tank and for receiving water from a water source, said shearing mixer operable to mix the polymer with sufficient water to hydrate the polymer;
- at least one pump for receiving the hydrated polymer and additional water from the water source to form the hydraulic fracturing fluid;
- and
- a static mixer for receiving the hydraulic fracturing fluid to ensure complete hydration of the polymer prior to fracturing the formation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.