Recovery and treatment of fracturing flowback fluids in the Sulige Gasfield, Ordos Basin

Abstract

Centralized and group well deployment and factory-like fracturing techniques are adopted for low-permeability tight sandstone reservoirs in the Sulige Gasfield, Ordos Basin, so as to realize its efficient and economic development. However, environmental protection is faced with grim situations because fluid delivery rises abruptly on site in a short time due to centralized fracturing of the well group. Based on the characteristics of gas testing after fracturing in this gas field, a fracturing flowback fluid recovery and treatment method suitable for the Sulige Gasfield has been developed with the landform features of this area taken into account. Firstly, a high-efficiency well-to-well fracturing flowback fluid recovery and reutilization technique was developed with multi-effect surfactant polymer recoverable fracturing fluid system as the core, and in virtue of this technique, the treatment efficiency of conventional guar gum fracturing fluid system is increased. Secondly, for recovering and treating the end fluids on the well sites, a fine fracturing flowback fluid recovery and treatment technique has been worked out with “coagulation and precipitation, filtration and disinfection, and sludge dewatering” as the main part. Owing to the application of this method, the on-site water resource utilization ratio has been increased and environmental protection pressure concerned with fracturing operation has been relieved. In 2014, field tests were performed in 62 wells of 10 well groups, with 32980 m3 cumulative treated flowback fluid, 17160 m3 reutilization volume and reutilization ratio over 70%. Obviously, remarkable social and economical benefits are thus realized.