An Experimental Study on the Impact of Total Dissolved Solids and Total Suspended Solids on Friction Reducers for the Reuse of Flowbac

The objective of this study is to experimentally look at the impact of total dissolved solids (TDS) and total suspended solids (TSS) on friction reducers (FR) for the reuse of flowback (FB). Hydraulic tests were performed on three different commercial FRs: anionic FR-A, cationic FR-B, and cationic FR-C to observe their performance. FRs were varied in concentration and allowed to hydrate. Sodium chloride and calcium chloride were added to simulate TDS and calcium carbonate was added to simulate TSS found in FB. Rheological tests were performed to observe the effects salinity had on the properties of slickwater. Hydraulic tests show after TDS were added to FR-A and FR-C solutions, an increase in friction reduction by 20% at 300,000 Reynolds number when compared to fresh water hydrated solutions at the same Reynolds number. This is because the fluids containing TDS have less apparent viscosity due to the salt thinning the solution, allowing the turbulent drag reduction component to have an increased effect on percent friction reduction (%FR) and the viscosity to have less of effect. FR-B does not benefit from the thinning effect of the salinity due to its rheology. When TSS were introduced to the FR solutions there was minimal effect on performance. The method used in this study for mixing FB into fracturing fluids could improve the performance of some FRs in slickwater jobs and thus reducing the cost on well stimulation and disposal of FB.