Kemira’s set of most useful-in-class friction reducers (FR’s) will bring methods to the most common experienced by oilfield workers in hydraulic fracturing. But selecting the most appropriate FR is not always simple. Luckily, professionals eg Roopa Tellakula, Elderly Research Scientist, RD and you may Technical, work tirelessly so you’re able to demystify this cutting-edge field to have customers. “FR’s is actually polyacrylamide ingredients one dump friction forces and you may turbulence in pipelines, coming down hp request and allowing liquids to help you circulate better,” shows you Roopa, starting from the principles. “Decreasing the rubbing decreases the number of opportunity necessary, lengthens the maintenance duration, and you may protects products.”
Creativity never stops
In spite of the current unsure markets situation, Roopa keenly highlights you to browse continues. “Whilst sector conditions are challenging, research goes on long lasting. Customers are a great deal more sensitive to will set you back, but sustainability desires remain. Finding the best choice to these contending challenges demands specialist search, and you will Kemira is well known in the market towards quality of the situations, in the lead when you look at the FR development,” she says.
“Whenever development the new FR technology, all of our lookup process begins because of the consolidating markets cleverness with buyers cooperation to be sure we’re truly reacting the requirements of brand new business,” explains Roopa. “You to definitely sector pattern is really clear: we need to use reduced freshwater as time goes by. Freshwater is usually are substituted for put liquids that is addressed and then used again, hence normally need an excellent FR which is extremely knowledgeable so you’re able to total mixed solids (TDS). I have increased chemistries that actually work really well in the large-salinity liquid, that can boost recyclability and reduce the expense of liquid medication otherwise discretion. All of our ultimate goal is to develop a common high-viscosity FR one to stimulates a good friction cures and stimulates mature dating viscosity whichever the brand new standards are, however, up until we make that happen goal, we are going to match all of the customers off to the right FR considering its specific app criteria.”
Researching dead and h2o polymers
Another field development could have been brand new get off h2o emulsions. “Most of the FR’s had previously been liquid emulsions, however, has just we’ve got viewed a huge development towards playing with dry powders, many of which are located in slurry mode,” Roopa shares. “Emulsions is a commonly then followed technology and simple to apply, even so they can also be separate in the a lot of time-term stores otherwise freeze at reasonable temperatures, while deceased FR’s do not have these restrictions. Dead FR’s keeps a long bookshelf-lifestyle and much higher polymer craft profile than just emulsion points. Using inactive FR’s can also express logistics and reduce trucking can cost you.”
“Although not, lifeless FR’s possess limits of one’s own,” Roopa points out. “It establish a dirt chances and require become combined into an answer around, increasing the operation’s carbon dioxide impact by the demanding the fresh new hydration devices to the webpages. Show off emulsions is advisable when put next anywhere between dead and you may water FR’s to the the same activity base, so it’s crucial that you be aware of their additional professionals and you may disadvantages.”
All application is novel
“With over 100 years regarding biochemistry sense, we are able to establish options for everybody kinds of problematic points,” Roopa notes. “Each of our FR’s features for the yet another method, instance strengthening viscosity inside the water, in the water with high TDS stuff, or perhaps in drinking water with high salinities. The source liquid to possess a great frac occupations can alter not simply from region to part, and in addition from day to day. As a result of this i create products each inevitability, application, and you can standing, off water so you’re able to one hundred% put drinking water, and additionally they all of the would also around because they perform throughout the laboratory.”
“And because h2o chemistry usually alterations in the field, we construction our very own FR’s getting flexible,” demonstrates to you Roopa. “Such as, each and every time h2o are used again otherwise recycled, brand new salinity expands and there much more mixed solids over the years. Since our items provides a bigger operating screen, even if the TDS goes up because of the several thousand ppm, our very own activities usually however would. I collaborate having people so you’re able to suggest ideal unit having its standards and then advice about investigations to make certain they obtain the most from it. ”
Collaborating to find the best overall performance
Finding the best FR for certain conditions takes an abundance of options, so cooperating with Kemira takes away any guesswork. “Rubbing prevention numbers usually do not give the complete story and total mixed solids aren’t usually a good indication of equipment performance,” demonstrates to you Roopa. “Drinking water chemistry performs a huge role, and there’s no industry basic having move loops – things are tailor-made and you may created by the for each laboratory. Such as for example, our limitation means 68% rubbing avoidance, however, there are loops that generate 80%. With a high-viscosity FR’s, viscosity gets in the newest equation. Inside large salinity liquid the latest viscosity are lowest, in freshwater the fresh new viscosity is fairly large. This can to change the disperse career on the tubing and alter the outcome if your intensity of brand new FR isn’t adjusted. Just looking at the an item brochure won’t inform you that it, so you need to pay attention to brand new loop build, the fresh dosage cost, and also the h2o biochemistry observe so what can performed for the industry. From the details, i always manage our people to explain the fresh lab efficiency and you may just what it means for the software.”
And this focus on cooperation will not prevent which have birth. “We are always communicating with our very own users to determine what is going in the field, after that adjusting and you can optimizing our chemistries where expected,” states Roopa. “So it increased exposure of working together, together with highest tool quality and you may constant invention is the reason why Kemira be noticeable. We just meet the customers’ requires, but we surpass her or him. Well, that is what encourages us to last to the functions day-after-day!”