On equivalence of thinning fluids used for hydraulic fracturing

TL;DR

This paper develops an analytical framework to compare non-Newtonian fluids used in hydraulic fracturing, establishing criteria for their mechanical equivalence based on fracture length and treatment time, applicable across different models.

Contribution

It introduces a criterion for fluid equivalence in hydraulic fracturing based on analytical solutions, linking fluid properties to fracture length and treatment time.

Findings

Fluid behavior indices similarly influence fracture length and propagation in PKN and KGD models.

Differences between thinning fluids are mechanically insignificant for fracture length.

Fluid choice should consider technological and economic factors if mechanical equivalence is established.

Abstract

The paper aims to answer the question: if and how non-Newtonian fluids may be compared in their mechanical action when used for hydraulic fracturing? By employing the modified formulation of the PKN problem we obtain its simple analytical solutions in the cases of perfectly plastic and Newtonian fluids. Since the results for shear thinning fluids are intermediate between those for these cases, the obtained equation for the fracture length suggests a criterion of the equivalence of various shear thinning fluids for the problem of hydraulic fractures. We assume fluids equivalent in their hydrofracturing action, when at a reference time they produce fractures of the same length. The equation for the fracture length translates the equivalence in terms of the hydraulic fracture length and treatment time into the equivalence in terms of the properties of a fracturing fluid (behavior and consistency indices). Analysis shows that the influence of the consistency and behavior indices on the fracture length, particle velocity and propagation speed is quite similar when considering the PKN and KGD models despite the models refer to different plain-strain states. It appears that from the mechanical point of view, the differences between thinning fluids are not significant; they may be taken into account when wishing to have some quantity to be greater (less) at small (large) time. We conclude that a choice of a fracturing fluid is to be made mostly from technological and/or economic considerations under the condition that the compared fluids are equivalent in their mechanical effect according to the suggested criterion.