Abstract
After successful implementation for more than 6 decades by the oil and gas industry, hydraulic fracturing remains the pioneer well stimulation method to date. Polymers are one of the additives in fracturing fluids that play a significant role. Polymers are used as friction reducers and viscosifiers to provide a transport medium for proppants in fracturing fluids. There are many polymer-based fracturing fluid systems, but choosing the most appropriate type and system depends on the type of application and a wide range of parameters. Currently, there is no complete review study that gives a reference and hence a perspective for researchers on the use of polymers in hydraulic fracturing. This paper summarizes the published literature on polymers used in fracturing fluids and discusses the current research issues, efforts, and trends in the field, aiming to provide an overview of the polymer applications in slick-water and cross-linked gel systems. The mechanism and limitation of polymer use such as polymer degradation, fracture conductivity reduction, and polymer adsorption are also reviewed in this paper. The reviewed literature suggested that polymers are important additives in fracturing fluids not only to provide adequate transportation of proppants but also to determine the width of the fracture whereby higher viscosities yield wider fractures. The development of synthetic polymers and associative polymers in fracturing fluids showed a remarkable potential to improve the stability of fracturing fluids in unconventional reservoirs under reservoir conditions, which makes it an interesting topic for future studies.
Highlights
The first industrial oil well was drilled in Pennsylvania, USA, in 1859.1 Since exploration and development slowly and gradually increased until a significant increase in oil and gas production was observed in 1920
This paper presents a perspective review of polymers as drag reducers and transport media in water-based fracturing fluids
This paper aims to provide a comprehensive reference for researchers investigating the polymers in fracturing fluids and field practitioners designing a fracturing fluid for their project
Summary
The first industrial oil well was drilled in Pennsylvania, USA, in 1859.1 Since exploration and development slowly and gradually increased until a significant increase in oil and gas production was observed in 1920. The advancement of multistage horizontal drilling and the decline in conventional hydrocarbon reserves led to progress in unconventional oil and gas exploration and development This resulted in an increased hydrocarbon production of approximately 8 × 109 tons by 2020. The remaining fluid in the fracture starts to leak off into the formation, which depletes the pressure inside the fracture This results in the closure of the fractures on the settled proppant, which creates a conductive path for the hydrocarbon to flow. Various chemical compositions and types of fracturing fluids have been reported in the literature such as foam fluids, carbon dioxide, nitrogen gas, gelled oils, aqueous solutions of polymers with or without cross-linkers, viscoelastic surfactant (VES) solutions, slick water, and emulsions. Both methods use polymers for either a drag/ frictional pressure reduction or improving fluid viscosity to increase the fluid’s ability to suspend and transport the proppants
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