A Comprehensive Review of Formation Damage Caused by High-Viscosity Friction Reducers: Wolfcamp Case Study

Abstract

Abstract The success of hydraulic fracture treatment can be evaluated by measuring fracture conductivity and regained permeability. However, selecting the suitable fracture fluid system plays an essential role to minimize or eliminate the formation damage. To address the potential formation damage during fracturing treatment, this research presents a comprehensive review of a good number of published papers that are carefully reviewed and summarized including experimental research, case studies, and simulation work on recent improvements of using HVFR to carry the proppant and capture the optimum design in fracturing operations. This paper also provides formation damage mechanisms such as chemical, mechanical, biological, and thermal. Moreover, the research explains the fracture damage categories including damage inside fracture and damage inside the reservoir. The advantages of using HVFRs are also fully explained. Experimental rheological characterization was studied to investigate the viscoelastic property of HVFRs on proppant transport. The successful implication of utilizing HVFRs in the Wolfcamp formation, Permian Basin was discussed. The findings of this research are analyzed to reach conclusions on how HVFRs can be an alternative fracture fluid system of many unconventional reservoirs. Comparing to the traditional hydraulic fracture fluids system, the research shows the many potential advantages that HVFR fluids offer, including superior proppant transport capability, almost 100% retained conductivity, around 30% cost reduction, and logistics, such as minimizing chemicals usage by 50% and operation equipment on location, reduce water consumption by 30%, and environmental benefits. Finally, this comprehensive review addresses up-to-date challenges and emphasizes necessities for using high viscosity friction reducers as alternative fracture fluids.