Shale fracture flow simulation apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus having conduits, flattened tubing or pipes of varying widths, heights and/or lengths may simulate a network of fractures that may be used to experimentally evaluate the flow of treatment fluids (e.g. fracturing fluids) within narrow, shale-type fractures. The tubing or pipes each have an interior space with a height and a width, and in one non-limiting embodiment the ratio of height/width is at least 10. The conduits may be constructed of flattened tubing or constructed from components designed and engineered to have the correct height/width ratio. The apparatus may be used to empirically develop diversion principles, more precise numeric models and the parameter relationships that control fluid diversion, secondary fracture initiation and the development of complex fracture networks.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for modeling flow in subterranean fractures comprising:
 at least one primary conduit having an interior space with a height at least ten times its width, the at least one primary conduit comprising:
 a first end, 
 a second end, 
 a first side, and 
 a second side; 
   an entry pipe in fluid communication with the first end of the at least one primary conduit;   an exit pipe in fluid communication with the second end of the at least one primary conduit,   a pump in fluid communication with a pipe selected from the group consisting of the entry pipe, the exit pipe and combinations thereof; and   at least one data collection sensor in communication with the at least one primary conduit.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  where the at least one data collection sensor is a pressure transducer. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising at least one secondary conduit extending from and in fluid communication with the at least one primary conduit. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  where the inner widths of the at least one primary conduit and the at least one secondary conduit are less than 6 mm. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3  comprising a pressure rupture device adjacent where the at least one secondary conduit extends from the at least one primary conduit, where the pressure rupture device is configured so that for fluid to flow from the at least one primary conduit into the at least one secondary conduit the pressure rupture device must rupture. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 3  further comprising at least two secondary conduits extending from and in fluid communication with the at least one primary conduit, and where each secondary conduit comprises at least one data collection sensor therein. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  where the at least one primary conduit is constructed from an assembly selected from the group consisting of:
 an assembly of at least one fracture width spacer between two sealing gaskets, all of which define the interior space, and all assembled between two plates; 
 an assembly of at least one plate comprising the interior space, a sealing gasket covering and enclosing the interior space, and a plate on a side of the sealing gasket away from the at least one plate; and 
 combinations thereof. 
 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  where the at least one primary conduit is flattened tubing. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus for modeling flow in subterranean fractures comprising:
 at least one primary conduit having an interior space with a height at least ten times its width, the at least one primary conduit comprising:
 a first end, 
 a second end, 
 a first side, and 
 a second side; 
   an entry pipe in fluid communication with the first end of the at least one conduit;   an exit pipe in fluid communication with the second end of the at least one conduit,   a pump in fluid communication with a pipe selected from the group consisting of the entry pipe, the exit pipe and combinations thereof;   at least one secondary conduit extending from and in fluid communication with the at least one primary conduit; and   at least one data collection sensor in communication with a conduit selected from the group consisting of the at least one primary conduit, the at least one secondary conduit, and combinations thereof, which at least one data collection sensor is a pressure transducer.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  where the inner widths of the at least one primary conduit and the at least one secondary conduit are less than 6 mm. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9  comprising a pressure rupture device adjacent where the at least one secondary conduit extends from the at least one primary conduit, where the pressure rupture device is configured so that for fluid to flow from the at least one primary conduit into the at least one secondary conduit the pressure rupture device must rupture. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising at least two secondary conduits extending from and in fluid communication with the at least one primary conduit, and where each secondary conduit comprises at least one data collection sensor therein. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9  where the at least one primary conduit is constructed from an assembly selected from the group consisting of:
 an assembly of at least one fracture width spacer between two sealing gaskets, all of which define the interior space, and all assembled between two plates; 
 an assembly of at least one plate comprising the interior space, a sealing gasket covering and enclosing the interior space, and a plate on a side of the sealing gasket away from the at least one plate; and 
 combinations thereof. 
 
     
     
         14 . A method for modeling the behavior of materials injected into a subterranean fracture comprising:
 pumping a fluid through an apparatus, where the apparatus comprises:
 at least one primary conduit having an interior space with a height at least ten times its width, the at least one primary conduit comprising:
 a first end, 
 a second end, 
 a first side, and 
 a second side; 
 
 an entry pipe in fluid communication with the first end of the at least one conduit; 
 an exit pipe in fluid communication with the second end of the at least one conduit, 
 a pump in fluid communication with a pipe selected from the group consisting of the entry pipe, the exit pipe and combinations thereof; and 
 at least one data collection sensor in communication with the at least one primary conduit; 
   receiving data from the at least one data collection sensor.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  where the at least one data collection sensor is a pressure transducer and the data received is pressure data and where the method further comprises pumping the fluid through the apparatus at a pressure below 10,000 psi (69 MPa). 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  where the apparatus further comprises at least one secondary conduit extending from and in fluid communication with the at least one primary conduit, where the secondary conduit comprises at least one data collection sensor, where the method comprises receiving data from the at least two data collection sensors. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  where the apparatus further comprises a pressure rupture device adjacent where the at least one secondary conduit extends from the at least one primary conduit, configured so that for fluid to flow from the at least one primary conduit into the at least one secondary conduit the pressure rupture device must rupture. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14  where the apparatus further comprises at least two secondary conduits extending from and in fluid communication with the at least one primary conduit, and where each secondary conduit comprises at least one data collection sensor therein, where the method further comprises collecting data from the at least one data collection sensor in the at least one primary conduit and from each of the at least one data collection sensors in each of the secondary conduits. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14  where the fluid further comprises a gelling agent selected from the group consisting of at least one polymer, at least one crosslinked polymer, at least one viscoelastic surfactant, and a combination thereof, where the gelling agent is present in an amount effective to increase the viscosity of the fluid. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  where the fluid comprises a proppant.