DUAL-USE, DUAL-FUNCTION POLYACRYLAMIDE PROPPANT SUSPENDING AGENT FOR FLUID TRANSPORT OF HIGH CONCENTRATIONS OF PROPPANTSDUAL-USE, DUAL-FUNCTION POLYACRYLAMIDE PROPPANT SUSPENDING AGENT FOR FLUID TRANSPORT OF HIGH CONCENTRATIONS OF PROPPANTS

摘要

A dual-function polyacrylamide proppant suspending agent is prepared by blending polyacrylamide in a concentration range of 0.10% to 0.90% active polyacrylamide material in an aqueous solution by weight of the mix fluid. The proppant suspending agent can suspend granular materials commonly used as fracturing proppants. The polyacrylamide active material is used on the surface as proppant suspending agent to suspend proppants at very high proppant concentration levels. The polyacrylamide and proppant are both diluted by a supply of clean proppant free fluid to concentration ranges for proppant and friction reducer (FR) commonly used in Waterfrac treatments with the resulting slurry being injected into the wellbore, through the casing of the well and into the reservoir at high rates with lowered surface treating pressures. The polyacrylamide active material performs two different functions at two different times during the hydraulic fracturing process.