A NEW SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING THE CORSSLINKING

RATE OF BORATE FRACTURING FLUIDS

K.E. CAWLIZEL J.L. ELBEL

this article begins on the next page

PETROLEUM SOCIETY OF CIM/SOCIETY OF PETROLEUM ENGINEERS PAPER NO. CIM/SPE 90-91 THIS IS A PREPRINT - SUBJECT ToCORRECnON A NEW SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING THE CROSSLINKING RATE OF BORATE FRACTURING FLUIDS BY K.E Cawlezel J.L. Elbel Domil ScMumbwgor PUBUCATION RIGHTS RESERVED
THIS PAPER IS TO BE PRESENTED AT THE INTERNATIONAL TECHNICAL MEETING JOINTLY HOSTED BY THE PETROLEUM SOCIETY OF CIM AND THE SOCIETY OF PETROLEUM ENGINEERS IN CALGARY, JUNE 10 TO 13,1990.
DISCUSSION OF THIS PAPER IS INVITED. SUCH DISCLOSSION MAY BE PRESENTED AT THE MEETING AND WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR PUBLICATION IN CIM
AND SPE JOURNALS IF FILED IN WRITING WITH THE TECHNICAL PROGRAM CHAIRMAN PRIOR'RO THE CONCLUSION OF THE MEETING. ABSTRACT for field optimization of 'crosslink times'. Using this technique,
delayed borate crosslinked fluids can be custom designed tor Borate crosslinked fracturing fluids have boon suocessftilly each iridmdual well configuration. utilized In fracturing operations for several years. These fluids provide exoslient rheological, fluid loss, and fracture conductivity properties over fluid temperatures up to 225OF
[1070C]. The mechanism of bomte crosslinking Is an equilibrium process which can produce very high fluid viscosities under conditions of low shear. While thls property Is very desirable once the fluid enters the fracture, lt can cause high fdcuonal pressure to be developed system has been developed which allows the crosslinking rate of these fluids to be rewly and easily controlled. Using this system, crosslinking rates can be controlled to give low tricuon pressure in the wellbore and yet maximum viscosity in the fracture for improved proppant transport.
Field case histories
demonstrate the successful use of the delayed borate crosslinked fluids and include results of an injecuon procedure used to determine @on pressure at different pump rates. The tdcbon pressure data also profiles the changes that occur as the fluid Is crosslinking at different stages In the tubing. Results indicate that different crosslinking rates can be recognized by their 'friction pressure signature' and that the crosslinking rate can be easily altered during a treatment to reduce total treating pressure. This technique with its resulting friction pressure profiki has proven to be an
extremely useful tool References and lllustratons at end of paper. 91-1
Data from laboratory development, full scale friction tests, and fracturing treatments are Included which illustrate the properties of the fluid and the ability to couple fluid performance with treatment design. in the tubulars under certain flow oondrdons. A crosslink acbvator INTRODUCTION
Field usage of borate crosslinked fbilds has been limited in some tubing/pump rate situations due to the large frictional pressure developed in the wellbore prior to entry into the fracture.
A reliable method to delay
the crosslinking of these fluids would have the advantages of providing 1) low friction pressure In the wellbore, 2) increased fluid efficiency, and 3) maximum viscosity in the fracbjre for improved proppant transport capabilities.
A slurried delayed borate crosslink activator system has been developed that will predictably crosslink borate fluids in the 0.5 to 4 min range. The crosslinking rate is vaded by changing the conoentrabon of acbvalor in the fluid. This is accomplished in field operations by changing the metering rate of the acbvator. As the concentration of crosslink
activator slurry is increased the crosslinking rate increases.
Crosslinking rate can be custom designed to conform to a specified 'crosslink time' or individual well configuration.

PETROLEUM SOCIETY OF CIM/SOCIETY OF PETROLEUM ENGINEERS

PAPER NO. CIMISPE 90-91

.. ,".:-'
THIS IS A PREPRINT - SUBJECT TO CORRECTION

A NEW SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING

THE CROSSLINKING RATE OF BORATE
FRACTURING FLUIDS

'. ~:

BY

K.E. Cawlazel
J.L. Elbal
Dowell Schlumb.rglilr

PUBLICATION RIGHTS RESERVED

THIS PAPER IS TO BE PRESENTED AT THE INTERNATIONAL TECHNICAL MEETING JOINTLY HOSTED BY THE
PETROLEUM SOCIETY OF CIM AND THE SOCIETY OF PETROLEUM ENGINEERS IN CALGARY, JUNE 10 TO 13, 1990.
DISCUSSION OF THIS PAPER IS INVITED. SUCH DISCUSSION MAY BE PRESENTED AT THE MEETING AND WILL BE
CONSIDERED FOR PUBUCA1l0N IN CIM AND SPE JOURNALS IF FILED IN WRITING WITH THE TECHNICAL PROGRAM
CHAIRMAN PRIOR TO THE CONCLUSION OF THE MEETING.

for field optimization or "crosslink times. Using this technique,

delayed borate crosslinked fluIds can be custom designed for
Borate crosslinked fractUring rlurds have been successfully 8ach Individual well configuration.
ulilized in fracturing operations for several years. These fluids
provide excellent rheological, fluid loss, and fracture conductivity
Data from laboratory development, full scale rriction tests.
propartias ovar fluid tamparaluras up to 225F [107C]. Tha and fracturing treatments are Included which illustrate the
mechanism of borate crosslinking is an eqUilibrium process which propertlas of tha lIuld and Ihe ability to coupla fluid performance
can produce very hIgh fluid Viscosities under condlllons of low with b"eatment design.
shear. While this property is very desirable once the "wId enters
the fracbJre, It can cause high fricUonal pressure to be developed
in the tubulars under certain now condftions. A crosslink activator INTRODUCTION
system has been developed which allows the crossllnking rate of
these nuids to be reliably and easIly controlled. Uslng this system,
FIeld usage of borate crosslinked fluIds has been limited in
crossllnklng rates can be controlled to give low friction pressure In some tubing/pump rate situations due to the large frictional
the wellbore and yet maxImum viscosity in the fracture for pressure developed in the wellbore prior to entry Into the fracture.
A reliable method to delay the crosslinklng of these fluids would
improved proppant transport.
have the advantages of providing 1) low friction pressure in the
Field case hIstories demonstrate the successful use of the wellbore, 2) increased fluid efficIency, and 3) maxImum viscosity
delayed borate crosslinked fluids and include results of an in the fracture for improved proppant transport capabilities.
Injection procedure used to determine friction pressure at diHerent
pump rates. The friction pressure data also profiles the changes
A slurried delayed borate crosslink activator system has
that occur as the rluid Is crossllnking at different stages In the been developed that will predictably crosslink borate fluids in the
tubing. Results indicate that different crosslinklng rates can be 0.5 to 4 min range. The crossllnking rate is varied by changing the
recognized by their -friction pressure sIgnature- and that the concentration of activator in the fluid. This is accomplished in field
crossllnking rate can be easily altered during a treatment to operatrons by changing the metering rate of lhe activator. As the
reduce total treating pressure. This technique with its resulting concentration of crosslink activator slurry is increased the
friction pressure profile has proven to be an extremely useful tool
crosslinking rate increases.
ABSTHACT

, .,.

.~

References and Illustrations at end of DaDElr.

Crosslinking rate can be custom designed to conform lo a

soecified -crosslink time- or Individual well confiauration.

91-1

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Laboratory development 01 the delayed borate crosslinked Crussllnklng Rate

fluids locused on developing an activator system which could
reliably controllhe crossllnklng rate in tubulars and also produce
Crosslinking rates were obtained using a Waring blender
excellent rheological properties under the temperature and shear litted with a 1-liter [1 dm~ blender jar. The appropriate volume 01
conditions found in the fracture.
lIuid containing the crosslinker was added to the jar and the
blender speed controlled at 1800 rpm. The activator was then
added to the inner edge of the vortex and mIxed for one minute.
Full scale field tests were performed to determine the The fluid was then transferred to a Fann 35 vlscometer(R1/B1).
friction pressure of the delayed borate crosslinked fluid at different The apparent viscosity was measured at 100 rpm. Viscosity
pump rates and to compare changes In Irlclion pressure that increase with elapsed time was recorded.
occurred in the the tubing to crosslink limes" determined by
sampling fluid al the missile.
Figure 2 shows the crosslinking rate dependence on
activator concentration. Results show that crossllnk time
decreases wtth increasing activator concentration and that for 2-4
EXPERIMENTAL
min "crosslink times the viSttlslty remains low for this Urne period
and then Increases sharply to greater than 500 cps [0.5 Pa-s]
rather than showing very gradual viscostty increases wlih tlme_
Chemlslry
The guar/borate Ion crosslinking mechanism consists of
three steps. Initially boric add dissociates In water producing the RheoloQY
borate ion. Then, In alkaline media, the borate Ion reacts with a
Reciprocating Capillary Viscometers 1 were used lor
cis-hydroxyl group on guar to form a monodlol complex (diester
boric acid) which further reacts with a cis-hydroxyl group from rheological characterization, because attempts to measure the
another guar molecule to form the 3-dimensional diol complex, properties of these thick fluids using rotational vlscometers were
and thus the crossnnked guar fluid.
not successful due to the "Weissenberg Effect. Reciprocating
capillary viscometers allow long lime, high temperabJre viscosity
data to be collected using capillary tubes as the measurement
device. The basic principle of operation involves reciprocating a
portion of the test fluid back and forth inside a capillary tube and
HO
0
OH
measuring the resultant pressure drop as a function of flow rate,
B(OH)" +
R~R / ' 8/
+ 2H 2 0
temperature and time_ By knowing pressure drop, 1I0w rate. and
/'
tubing dimensions, the shear stress/shear rate data can be
HO
a
OH
determined.

. "

a
/

'- 8 /

'-/'-

oH

'-a/ '- oH

Rheological data indicated that the fluid behavior Index n'

and the flow consistency Index K' change dramatically for borate
crosslinlted fluids depending on shear rate range tested. The
shear rate range over which the Power Law coefficients were
determined was 40160 sec- 1 . This is reported 2 to be Ihe range

The rate of crosslinking can be controlled by delaying Ihe

rate at which the pH or the system is increased. A crosslink
activator slurry was developed which delays the onset 0 f
crosslinking by slow solubilization 01 an alkaline compound_
Figure 1 shows the increase in fluid pH that occurs as the
concentration of the actlvator is increased,

01 actual shear rate to which the fracturing nuid Is exposed when

moving through the rracture. Constant shear belween shear
ramps was 80 sec 1 . Apparent viscosity data lor a delayed
borate fully crosslinked fluid as a function of rluld temperatures
are given in Figure 3.

FIELD TEST METHODS

LABORATORY TESTS
"CroJsllnk TIme" Detennlnatlon
The materials used in laboratory testing were base fluids,
borate crosslinker, and crosslink activator slurry. All base fluids
consisled of 40 Ibm hyd,orypropyl gua' (HPG)/l ,000 gal 2% KC I
wale' [4.8 kg/m 3 ] or 40 Ibm gua,/l,OOO gal 2% KCI water [4.8
kglm 3 j. The borate crosslinker was used at 1 Ibm 10 4 Ibm/1000
gal [0.12 to 0.48 kg/m~ fluid depending on the base fluid. The
activator slurry concentrations used were from 0.5 gal to 8
gaVl ,000 gal [0.5 dm 3 10 8 dm 3Jm 3 ] base fluid depending on Ihe
crosslin king rate desired.
Laboratory testing concentrated on determining the
crosslinking rate and the meological properties of delayed borate
fluids. The effects of the type of gelling agent, gelling agent
concentration, temperature, mixing energy, and pH on
crosslinking rates and meological properties were studied.

Relating crosslink tims" of fluid samples taken allhe surface to

increases in friction pressure or nuid performance in the fracture is
often unsuccessful because shear effecls during crosslinking can
dramatically change fluid Viscosity. In the case 01 borate
crosslinked fluids, shear degradation in tubulars is not a problem
even with fast crosslinking systems, but because the viscosity 01
the Iluid is highly dependent on Ihe effective shear in the tubing,
crosslink times predicted from surface tesls should be used as a
starting place to sel activator concenlralions. Final concentrations
can be adjusted depending on the resuhant friction pressures.

91-2