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.
Claims17
A method for controlled delivery of a fracturing fluid to a well bore comprising:
- (a) identifying a source of an aqueous base fluid for the fracturing fluid and providing predetermined physical and chemical characteristic data for the fracturing fluid;
- (b) transporting aqueous base fluid, obtained from the source of aqueous base fluid identified in step “a”, to a well site for fracturing operations;
- (c) during step “b” testing the aqueous base fluid being transported, and comparing the tested physical and chemical characteristic data to the predetermined physical and chemical characteristic data for the fracturing fluid;
- (d) during steps “b” and “c”, in the event of a failed comparison, introducing at least one additive to treat the aqueous base fluid being transported;
- (e) repeating steps “c” and “d” until the aqueous base fluid being transported achieves the predetermined physical and chemical characteristics;
- (f) after step “e”, transporting the treated aqueous base fluid to a fracturing system, the fracturing system including a fracturing pump;
- (g) after step “f”, formulating the fracturing fluid with the treated aqueous base 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 source of an aqueous base fluid for the fracturing fluid and providing predetermined physical and chemical characteristic data for the fracturing fluid;
- (b) testing the identified source of aqueous base fluid to determine the source's physical and chemical characteristics;
- (c) comparing the tested physical and chemical characteristic data of the identified source of aqueous base fluid to the predetermined physical and chemical characteristic data for the fracturing fluid to identify suitability of the identified source for fracturing operations;
- (d) after step “c”, if a favorable comparison is made to the predetermined physical and chemical characteristic data for the fracturing fluid, transporting aqueous base fluid, obtained from the source of aqueous base fluid identified in step “a”, to a well site for fracturing operations;
- (e) during step “d” testing the aqueous base fluid being transported, and comparing the tested physical and chemical characteristic data to the predetermined physical and chemical 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 base fluid being transported;
- (g) repeating steps “e” and “f” until the aqueous base fluid being transported achieves the predetermined physical and chemical characteristics;
- and
- (h) after step “g”, transporting the treated aqueous base fluid to a fracturing system, the fracturing system including a fracturing pump;
- (i) after step “h”, formulating the fracturing fluid with the treated aqueous base 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.