Friction Reducer

in Slick Water Applications

Overview


Hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking, relies heavily on slickwater well stimulation. The most critical additive for getting the most performance out of the process is the friction reducer.

What Is Friction Reducer and Why Is It Needed?


In slickwater well stimulations, vast amounts of hydraulic fracturing fluid – anywhere from 60 to 100 barrels per minute – are pumped at extremely high pressure down a wellbore with the designed goal of hydraulically fracturing the underground rock where oil and natural gas are trapped. As you can imagine, pumping that much fluid down a wellbore – thousands of feet deep below the surface – presents many challenges to the team responsible for performing the well stimulation. One of the biggest challenges facing the team is friction.

Hydraulic Fracturing Fluid


Hydraulic fracturing fluid, also known as fracking fluid, comprises water that's mixed with sand and then topped off with a few additives that improve the performance of the fluid. The sand is known as proppant in the drilling world, and its job is to keep small fissures created by the hydraulic fracturing operation from collapsing when the oil well moves into the production phase. As you can imagine, pumping this mixture – or slurry, as it's better known – down the wellbore creates friction between the fracking fluid and the well's piping. This increased friction leads to more wear and tear on pumps and other drilling equipment. That's why friction reducer additives are so crucial to the whole well stimulation operation.

Friction Reducer in Oilfield

Friction Reducer Makes Water Slicker


Friction reducers help make the hydraulic fracturing fluid slicker – hence the name "slickwater" given to the entire process. Formulations for friction reducer additives usually contain polyacrylamide, a water-soluble polymer that reduces friction while also boosting the hydraulic fluid's viscosity. The reduced friction increases pump efficiency, and the increased density helps keep proppant in suspension and evenly distributed throughout the fluid. In addition to polyacrylamide, a friction reducer additive might contain petroleum distillates, surfactants, or other substances used to increase the additive's performance or compatibility with other additives in the hydraulic fracturing fluid.

Friction Reducer Products


MaxPure® PD


MaxPure PD petroleum distillates are used extensively in the oil & gas industry to provide consistent, reliable performance in friction reducers, guar suspensions, and xanthan suspensions. MaxPure PD products are cost-effective, 'BTEX Pass' formulations that can be custom-tailored to meet specific needs and requirements.

View MaxPure PD Products

Friction Reducer Applications


  • Well stimulation
  • Hydraulic fracturing (fracking)
  • Viscosity builder
  • Suspension / Invert Emulsion

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