In the arid landscapes of China’s Sulige Gasfield, a groundbreaking solution to a longstanding problem in the energy sector is emerging from the lab of Yan Liang at the Engineering Technology Research Institute, CNPC Western Drilling Engineering Co., LTD. Liang and his team have developed an innovative anti-salt associative thickener (AAT) that could revolutionize the way hydraulic fracturing is conducted, particularly in regions where water is scarce or expensive to treat.
Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is a critical process in the extraction of oil and gas, but it requires vast amounts of water. Traditionally, the water used in fracking is fresh, but the industry is increasingly looking for ways to reuse the saline flowback fluid and produced water that returns to the surface after the fracturing process. This water is typically high in salinity and contains high-valent ions, making it challenging to reuse without extensive and costly treatment.
Liang’s research, published in Petroleum, addresses this challenge head-on. The team synthesized an AAT using free radical copolymerization and demonstrated its molecular structure using FTIR and 1H-NMR. The results were striking. “Under the conditions of an average salinity of 34,428 mg/L and an average high-valent ion content of 4967 mg/L, AAT can present good thickening capacity, temperature and shear resistance, drag reduction efficiency, sand-carrying ability, gel-breaking property and high-effective crosslinking capacity with organic zirconium crosslinker at high salinity,” Liang explained. This means that the AAT can effectively prepare fracturing fluid using high-salinity flowback fluid and produced water without the need for further treatment.
The implications for the energy sector are profound. The ability to reuse high-salinity water without treatment could significantly reduce the environmental impact of fracking and lower operational costs. This is particularly relevant in water-scarce regions where the availability of fresh water is a major constraint. “The possible mechanisms of the associative thickener to achieve high-effective drag reduction and sand-carrying might be the existence of reversible supramolecular structures and the significant increase of viscoelasticity by shear stretching in turbulent state,” Liang elaborated. This suggests that the AAT not only solves a practical problem but also offers deeper insights into the physics of fluid behavior under extreme conditions.
The commercial impact of this research could be transformative. Companies operating in areas with limited water resources could see significant cost savings and operational efficiencies. Moreover, the reduced need for water treatment facilities could lead to lower capital expenditures and environmental footprints. As the energy sector continues to evolve, innovations like Liang’s AAT will be crucial in balancing the need for energy with environmental sustainability.
The potential for this technology extends beyond China. As global energy demands rise, so does the need for efficient and sustainable extraction methods. Liang’s work provides a blueprint for how the industry can adapt to these challenges, paving the way for future developments in fracturing fluid design and water reutilization. The findings from this research could inspire further innovations, driving the industry towards a more sustainable and cost-effective future.
