Fracturing systems and methods for a wellbore

Abstract

Systems, units, and methods usable to stimulate a formation include a first supply subsystem adapted to provide a first medium to the formation and a pressure subsystem that includes a pump in communication with the first medium to pressurize the first medium to a pressure sufficient to stimulate the formation. Usable media can include non-gelled liquid alkanes, halogenated hydrocarbons, foamed hydrocarbons, propylene carbonate, a fluidized solid proppant material that behaves as a liquid under threshold conditions, or a liquid material adapted to solidify under threshold conditions. A proppant can be supplied in addition to the first medium when performing fracturing operations. Usable proppant can include materials having a size or density adapted to facilitate buoyancy, hollow materials, composite materials, porous materials, or crystalline materials.

1 . A system for stimulating a formation, the system comprising:
 a first supply subsystem adapted to provide a first medium to the formation; and   a pressure subsystem comprising a pump in communication with the first medium for pressurizing the first medium to a pressure sufficient to stimulate the formation.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first medium comprises a liquid alkane. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the first medium comprises a non-gelled liquid alkane. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the non-gelled liquid alkane comprises from one to six carbon atoms. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first medium comprises a halogenated hydrocarbon. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the halogenated hydrocarbon comprises 1,1,1,3,3,3 hexafluoropropane; 1,1,1,2,3,3,3 heptafluoropropane; 1-methoxyheptafluoro propane; 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene; 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene; 1,1,1,2,2,3,4,5,5,5-decafluoro-3-methoxy-4-trifluoromethyl-pentane; 1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-butene-1-methoxy; 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane; or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the halogenated hydrocarbon comprises a halogenated alkene, a halogenated ether, a halongenated olefin, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the first medium further comprises a non-halogenated hydrocarbon, and wherein the halogenated hydrocarbon reduces a flammability of the first medium. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first medium comprises a fluidized solid proppant adapted to flow, substantially free of liquid, in the manner of a liquid at a threshold pressure and to function in the manner of a solid at pressures less than the threshold pressure. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the fluidized solid proppant comprises a mixture of solid particulate matter with a friction-reducing additive. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the friction-reducing additive comprises molybdenum disulfide, carbon black, graphite, fumed silica, epoxy matrix resin nanoparticles, glass bubbles, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the solid particulate matter comprises sand, ceramic, glass, clay, gravel, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the fluidized solid proppant comprises glass bubbles, microspheres, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the fluidized solid proppant comprises a solid material adapted to flow in the manner of a liquid when vibrated or pulsed. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising a pneumatic conveying system adapted to vibrate or pulse the solid material. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the fluidized solid proppant comprises a quantity of liquid insufficient to form a slurry with the fluidized solid proppant. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first medium comprises a hydrocarbon and a quantity of an inert gas sufficient to foam the hydrocarbon. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the first medium further comprises a fluorosurfactant. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first medium comprises a liquid material adapted to solidify at a threshold temperature. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the liquid material comprises a foam material. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first supply subsystem comprises a vessel having an inert gas and the first medium therein, wherein a pressure of the inert gas is adapted to drive the first medium from the vessel toward the formation. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first supply subsystem comprises a vessel having a separator and the first medium therein, wherein movement of the separator is adapted to drive the first medium from the vessel toward the formation. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the separator comprises a bladder, a piston, or combinations thereof, and wherein the separator is adapted to be moved using a pressurized fluid. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first supply subsystem comprises a vertically oriented vessel adapted to enable gravity, vapor pressure of the first medium, or combinations thereof to drive the first medium from the vertically oriented vessel toward the formation. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the vertically oriented vessel is adapted for transport in a horizontal orientation. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 24 , further comprising a booster pump associated with the vertically oriented vessel, wherein the booster pump drives the first medium from the vertically oriented vessel toward an additional pump adapted to drive the first medium toward the formation such that the booster pump prevents vaporization of the first medium by the additional pump. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first supply subsystem comprises a vessel having a plurality of outlets, wherein the plurality of outlets comprise a quantity of outlets adapted to flow the first medium from the vessel toward the formation at rate sufficient to perform a stimulation operation. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first fluid supply system comprises a pipeline in communication with a remote source having the first medium associated therewith, and wherein the pipeline is adapted to flow the first medium from the remote source to the formation. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first medium comprises a fracturing fluid, the system further comprising a second supply subsystem adapted to provide a second medium comprising a proppant to the formation. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the fracturing fluid comprises a non-gelled liquid alkane, and wherein the proppant comprises a size, a specific gravity, or combinations thereof adapted to provide the proppant with substantially neutral buoyancy or positive buoyancy in the non-gelled liquid alkane. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the proppant comprises a specific gravity of less than or equal to 1.5. 
     
     
         32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the proppant comprises particles having a diameter of less than or equal to 105 microns. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the proppant comprises a hollow material. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the hollow material comprises glass bubbles, cenospheres, microspheres, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the proppant comprises a composite material. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the composite material comprises a syntactic foam. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the proppant comprises a porous material. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein the porous material comprises a resin coated pumice, a cylinder-shaped material, a ceramic foam, a foamed material, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the proppant comprises crystalline materials. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein the crystalline materials comprise zircon. 
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the proppant comprises a mixture of solid particulate matter with a friction-reducing additive, and wherein the friction-reducing additive adapts the proppant to flow, substantially free of liquid, in the manner of a liquid at a threshold pressure and to function in the manner of a solid at pressures less than the threshold pressure. 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 42 , wherein the friction-reducing additive comprises molybdenum disulfide, carbon black, graphite, fumed silica, epoxy matrix resin nanoparticles, glass bubbles, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the second supply subsystem comprises a vertically oriented vessel adapted to enable gravity, a weight of the proppant, or combinations thereof, to drive the proppant from the vertically oriented vessel toward the formation. 
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 44 , wherein the second supply subsystem comprises a positive displacement pump, a centrifugal pump, or combinations thereof, adapted to move proppant toward the formation. 
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein the positive displacement pump is associated with the vertically oriented vessel in a non-horizontal orientation to facilitate intake of the second medium into the positive displacement pump. 
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the second supply subsystem comprises a vessel having an inert gas and the second medium therein, wherein a pressure of the inert gas is adapted to drive the second medium from the vessel toward the formation. 
     
     
         48 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the second supply subsystem comprises a vessel having a separator and the second medium therein, wherein movement of the separator is adapted to drive the second medium from the vessel toward the formation. 
     
     
         49 . The system of  claim 48 , wherein the separator comprises a bladder, a piston, or combinations thereof, and wherein the separator is adapted to be moved using a pressurized fluid. 
     
     
         50 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the second supply subsystem comprises a venturi nozzle positioned in communication with a flowpath of the fracturing fluid for reducing a pressure thereof such that proppant from the second supply subsystem is drawn into the flowpath of the fracturing fluid. 
     
     
         51 . The system of  claim 50 , wherein the venturi nozzle comprises an elastomeric nozzle adapted to adjust a size thereof to provide a substantially constant pressure drop across the elastomeric nozzle. 
     
     
         52 . A method for stimulating a formation, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a first medium from a first supply subsystem to the formation; and   pressurizing the first medium to a pressure sufficient to stimulate the formation using a pressure subsystem comprising a pump in communication with the first medium.   
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the step of providing the first medium comprises providing a liquid alkane to the formation. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the step of providing the liquid alkane comprises providing a non-gelled liquid alkane to the formation. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein the step of providing the non-gelled liquid alkane comprises providing a non-gelled liquid alkane having from one to six carbon atoms to the formation. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the step of providing the first medium comprises providing a halogenated hydrocarbon to the formation. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein the step of providing the halogenated hydrocarbon comprises providing 1,1,1,3,3,3 hexafluoropropane; 1,1,1,2,3,3,3 heptafluoropropane; 1-methoxyheptafluoro propane; 2,3,3,3-tetraflurorpropene; 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene; 1,1,1,2,2,3,4,5,5,5-decafluoro-3-methoxy-4-trifluoromethyl-pentane; 1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-butene-1-methoxy; 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane; or combinations thereof to the formation. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein the step of providing the halogenated hydrocarbon comprises providing a halogenated alkene, a halogenated ether, a halogenated olefin, or combinations thereof to the formation. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein the step of providing the first medium comprises providing a non-halogenated hydrocarbon mixed with the halogenated hydrocarbon, wherein the halogenated hydrocarbon reduces a flammability of the first medium. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the step of providing the first medium comprises flowing a fluidized solid proppant toward the formation at a threshold pressure, wherein the fluidized solid proppant is adapted to flow, substantially free of liquid, in the manner of a liquid at the threshold pressure and to function in the manner of a solid at pressures less than the threshold pressure. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 60 , further comprising the step of mixing a solid particulate matter with a friction-reducing additive to form the fluidized solid proppant. 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the step of mixing the solid particulate matter with the friction-reducing additive comprises mixing molybdenum disulfide, carbon black, graphite, fumed silica, epoxy matrix resin nanoparticles, glass bubbles, or combinations thereof with the solid particulate matter. 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein the step of mixing the solid particulate matter with the friction-reducing additive comprises mixing sand, ceramic, glass, clay, gravel, or combinations thereof with the friction-reducing additive. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein the step of flowing the fluidized solid proppant comprises flowing glass bubbles, microspheres, or combinations thereof toward the formation. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein the step of flowing the fluidized solid proppant comprises vibrating the fluidized solid proppant, pulsing the fluidized solid proppant, or combinations thereof, and wherein the fluidized solid proppant comprises a solid material adapted to flow in the manner of a liquid when vibrated or pulsed. 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 65 , wherein the step of vibrating the fluidized solid proppant, pulsing the fluidized solid proppant, or combinations thereof comprises using a pneumatic conveying system to vibrate or pulse the proppant. 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 60 , further comprising the step of mixing the fluidized solid proppant with a quantity of liquid insufficient to form a slurry with the fluidized solid proppant. 
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the step of providing the first medium comprises providing a hydrocarbon mixed with a quantity of inert gas sufficient to foam the hydrocarbon toward the formation. 
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein the step of providing the first medium further comprises providing a fluorosurfactant mixed with the hydrocarbon. 
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the step of providing the first medium comprises providing a liquid material adapted to solidify at a threshold temperature to the formation and subjecting the liquid material to the threshold temperature, the threshold pressure, or combinations thereof to solidify the liquid material within fractures in the formation. 
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 70 , wherein the step of providing liquid material comprises providing a foam material to the formation. 
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the step of providing the first medium comprises applying a pressure to the first medium using an inert gas to drive the first medium from a vessel having the inert gas and the first medium therein toward the formation. 
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the step of providing the first medium comprises applying a force to the first medium using a separator to drive the first medium from a vessel having the separator and the first medium therein toward the formation. 
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 73 , wherein the step of applying the force to the first medium using the separator comprises using a pressurized fluid to move a bladder, a piston, or combinations thereof toward the first medium. 
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the step of providing the first medium comprises using gravity, vapor pressure of the first medium, or combinations thereof, to drive the first medium from a vertically oriented vessel toward the formation. 
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 75 , wherein the step of providing the first medium further comprises using a booster pump to drive the first medium from the vertically oriented vessel toward an additional pump adapted to drive the first medium toward the formation, and wherein the booster pump prevents vaporization of the first medium by the additional pump. 
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 75 , further comprising the step of transporting, in a horizontal orientation, the vertically oriented vessel to a location associated with the formation. 
     
     
         78 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the step of providing the first medium comprises flowing the first medium through a quantity of outlets in a vessel adapted to flow the first medium from the vessel toward the formation at rate sufficient to perform a stimulation operation. 
     
     
         79 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the step of providing the first medium comprises flowing the first medium to the formation using a pipeline in communication with a remote source having the first medium associated therewith. 
     
     
         80 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the step of providing the first medium comprises providing a fracturing fluid to the formation, the method further comprising the step of providing a second medium comprising a proppant from a second supply subsystem to the formation. 
     
     
         81 . The method of  claim 80 , wherein the step of providing the fracturing fluid comprises providing comprises a non-gelled liquid alkane to the formation, and wherein the step of providing the second medium comprises providing proppant particles having a size, a specific gravity, or combinations thereof adapted to provide the proppant with substantially neutral buoyancy or positive buoyancy in the non-gelled liquid alkane. 
     
     
         82 . The method of  claim 80 , wherein the step of providing the second medium comprises providing proppant particles having a specific gravity of less than or equal to 1.5. 
     
     
         83 . (canceled) 
     
     
         84 . The method of  claim 80 , wherein the step of providing the second medium comprises providing proppant particles having a diameter of less than or equal to 105 microns. 
     
     
         85 . The method of  claim 80 , wherein the step of providing the second medium comprises providing proppant comprising a hollow material to the formation. 
     
     
         86 . The method of  claim 85 , wherein the step of providing proppant comprising the hollow material comprises providing glass bubbles, microspheres, or combinations thereof to the formation. 
     
     
         87 . The method of  claim 80 , wherein the step of providing the second medium comprises providing proppant comprising a composite material to the formation. 
     
     
         88 . The method of  claim 87 , wherein the step of providing proppant comprising the composite material comprises providing a syntactic foam to the formation. 
     
     
         89 . The method of  claim 80 , wherein the step of providing the second medium comprises providing proppant comprising a porous material to the formation. 
     
     
         90 . The method of  claim 89 , wherein the step of providing proppant comprising the porous material comprises providing a resin-coated pumice, a cylinder-shaped material, a ceramic foam, a foamed material, or combinations thereof to the formation. 
     
     
         91 . The method of  claim 80 , wherein the step of providing the second medium comprises providing proppant comprising crystalline materials to the formation. 
     
     
         92 . The method of  claim 91 , wherein the step of providing proppant comprising crystalline materials comprises providing zircon to the formation. 
     
     
         93 . The method of  claim 80 , further comprising the step of mixing the proppant with a friction-reducing additive, wherein the friction-reducing additive adapts the proppant to flow, substantially free of liquid, in the manner of a liquid at a threshold pressure and to function in the manner of a solid at pressures less than the threshold pressure. 
     
     
         94 . The method of  claim 93 , wherein the step of mixing the proppant with the friction-reducing additive comprises mixing the proppant with molybdenum disulfide, carbon black, graphite, fumed silica, epoxy matrix resin nanoparticles, glass bubbles, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         95 . The method of  claim 80 , wherein the step of providing the second medium comprises using gravity, a weight of the proppant, or combinations thereof to drive the proppant from a vertically oriented vessel toward the formation. 
     
     
         96 . The method of  claim 95 , wherein the step of providing the second medium comprises using a positive displacement pump, a centrifugal pump, or combinations thereof to move proppant toward the formation. 
     
     
         97 . The method of  claim 96 , wherein the step of using the positive displacement pump comprises positioning the positive displacement pump in a non-horizontal orientation to facilitate intake of proppant from the vertically oriented vessel. 
     
     
         98 . The method of  claim 80 , wherein the step of providing the second medium comprises applying a pressure to the proppant using an inert gas to drive the proppant from a vessel having the inert gas and the proppant therein toward the formation. 
     
     
         99 . The method of  claim 80 , wherein the step of providing the second medium comprises applying a force to the proppant using a separator to drive proppant from a vessel having the separator and the proppant therein toward the formation. 
     
     
         100 . The method of  claim 99 , wherein the step of applying the force to the proppant using the separator comprises using a pressurized fluid to move a bladder, a piston, or combinations thereof toward the proppant. 
     
     
         101 . The method of  claim 80 , wherein the step of providing the second medium comprises flowing the fracturing fluid through a venturi nozzle to reduce a pressure thereof such that proppant from the second supply subsystem is drawn into a flowpath of the fracturing fluid. 
     
     
         102 . The method of  claim 101 , wherein the step of flowing the fracturing fluid through the venturi nozzle comprises flowing the fracturing fluid through an elastomeric nozzle adapted to adjust a size thereof to provide a substantially constant pressure drop across the elastomeric nozzle.