How do you select the best hydraulic fracturing fluid?

1 Reservoir characteristics

The first factor to consider when choosing a fracking fluid is the nature of the reservoir you are targeting. Different types of rock formations have different porosity, permeability, stress, temperature, pressure, and mineralogy, which affect how they respond to fracking and how they interact with the fluid. For example, shale reservoirs tend to have low permeability and high clay content, which means they require more fluid volume and pressure to fracture, and they can swell or shrink when exposed to water-based fluids. Therefore, you may want to use a slickwater fluid, which is a water-based fluid with friction reducers and minimal additives, or a non-aqueous fluid, such as liquefied petroleum gas or carbon dioxide, which can reduce clay swelling and improve gas recovery.

2 Fluid properties

The second factor to consider when choosing a fracking fluid is the properties of the fluid itself, such as viscosity, density, rheology, compatibility, and stability. These properties affect how the fluid flows through the fractures, how it transports the proppants, how it breaks down after the treatment, and how it interacts with the reservoir fluids and the wellbore equipment. For example, you may want to use a high-viscosity fluid, such as a gel or a foam, if you need to create wide and complex fractures, or if you need to carry large or heavy proppants. However, you also need to ensure that the fluid can be easily pumped, mixed, and recovered, and that it does not cause formation damage, corrosion, scaling, or plugging.

3 Operational constraints

The third factor to consider when choosing a fracking fluid is the operational constraints of your project, such as the availability, cost, and quality of water and other materials, the equipment and personnel requirements, the well design and completion, and the injection schedule and duration. These constraints affect how feasible, efficient, and economical your fracking operation will be, and how much risk you are willing to take. For example, you may want to use a water-based fluid if you have access to abundant and cheap water sources, or if you have limited or expensive alternatives. However, you also need to consider the challenges of sourcing, transporting, storing, treating, and disposing of large volumes of water, and the potential impacts on the local communities and ecosystems.

4 Environmental regulations

The fourth factor to consider when choosing a fracking fluid is the environmental regulations of your project location, such as the standards, permits, and disclosures that apply to your fluid composition, usage, and disposal. These regulations affect how compliant, transparent, and responsible your fracking operation will be, and how much public trust and acceptance you can gain. For example, you may want to use a green fluid, which is a fluid that uses biodegradable, non-toxic, and renewable materials, or a minimal fluid, which is a fluid that uses the least amount of additives and proppants possible. However, you also need to balance the environmental benefits with the technical performance and the economic viability of your fluid choice.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?