Technology for carrying out hydraulic fracturing using a new material 'nitinol'

The paper examines the causes of proppant backflow from a fracture to a well, and presents the main technologies for proppant control. The consequences of the removal of the fracture filler into the wellbore are determined. It has been noted that proppant backflow is most damaging to wells operated by electric centrifugal pumps. Existing methods of hydraulic fracturing are investigated, their disadvantages are indicated. A method has been developed for hydraulic fracturing with injection of compressed springs made of metal with the effect of 'memory' and restoring their shape under reservoir temperature stress. In the first stage, the remote section of the crack is filled with a fine fraction of ceramic proppant, and at the final stage of crack attachment, compressed springs made of nitinol material are fed. Using of material with a shape memory will allow the proppant packing to be compacted and the proppant to be 'locked' in the fracture. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd