Experimental assessment of the stability and impact of water-based fracturing fluid with and without Triethanolamine (TEA)

Background

This study develops a novel water-based fracturing fluid to address challenges of high water consumption, poor thermal stability, and inadequate proppant transport in conventional hydraulic fracturing fluids. Current fluids face limitations due to thermal degradation and environmental impact. To optimize performance, experimental analyses were conducted using water as the base fluid, with added gas condensate and various additives. Key assessments included viscosity measurements, stability tests across temperature ranges, and proppant fall rate evaluations.

Methods

The optimized formulation features a linear fluid with 45 cp viscosity and a crosslinked fluid enhanced to 135 cp through boric acid and a cross-linker. The addition of triethanolamine (TEA) further stabilized the fluid, reducing viscosity loss at higher temperatures. Comparative tests showed a 134 % viscosity increase in the crosslinked fluid, boosting proppant transport, while TEA addition decreased the proppant fall rate by 6.8 %.

Findings

Results confirm that the new fluid meets API standards, offering improved thermal stability and proppant transport efficiency, addressing key environmental concerns. This formulation represents a promising alternative for more effective and sustainable hydraulic fracturing.