American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2019 - 113

improves well performance enough to
justify the extra investment, Grottenthaler
assesses. He says the laboratories and
equipment needed to conduct the necessary
tests also give chemical providers powerful
tools for research and development.
"Through that research, we are producing more effective microemulsions,
surfactants and clay control additives,"
he reports. "However, the advancement
I'm most excited about is a nanodispersion
FR that viscosifies the frac fluid to improve
proppant transport while significantly reducing friction."
As a dispersion, the friction reducer
has a higher charge density, molecular
weight and solids concentration than the
emulsion-based FRs traditionally used,
allowing it to activate more quickly and
effectively, Grottenthaler says. "The extra
lubricity means frac crews can achieve
the desired pump rate-whether it is 100
or 105 barrels a minute-at much lower
pressures, which minimizes formation
damage. It also significantly reduces
dosage rates and total chemical costs,"
he says.
Because of their reduced formation
damage and better proppant placement,
wells completed with the nanodispersion
generally produce 10-30 percent more
than offsets, Grottenthaler reports. While
the improvement varies widely from well
to well based on the geology and frac design, he says it is significant and consistent
enough that the nanodispersion quickly
has become the FR for 30-40 percent of
Marcellus and Utica wells.
"Many of those jobs are completed
with 100 percent produced water, which
emulsions struggle in because it contains
calcium and dissolved or ferrous iron,"
he mentions. "The calcium hardness can
stop the emulsion's inverting surfactant
from uncoiling and building the polymer
chain needed to provide lubricity, while
the ferrous iron cuts the chain like a
Ginsu knife."
The nanodispersions are more resilient,
Grottenthaler assures, in part because of
how quickly they spread through the
water and activate. "The chemistries are
formulated to hydrate rapidly. In fact,
they achieve maximum lubricity and begin
building viscosity within three or four
seconds," he says.
Chemstream is looking for partners
to take the FR into other regions, including the Mid-Continent and the Rocky
Mountains, Grottenthaler mentions. "We
are tweaking the formularies and experimenting with our manufacturing
process to develop next-generation dispersions that offer even better performance," he concludes.
❒

AUGUST 2019
The "Better Business" Publication Serving the Exploration / Drilling / Production Industry
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Ken White
Chairman KIOGA
"We need to continue
to work hard toward
evolving the
association to meet the
needs of its members."
Page 125

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Paul Ulrich
Chairman PAW
"Hopefully, by early
next year we will have
a rule that modifies
first-to-file and allows
operators who want to
drill the opportunity
to do just that."
Page 135

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Rob Eberhart
President EKOGA
"Huge strides have
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Blu Hulsey
Chairman NDPC
"The Bakken remains
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play but industry must
work together to
ensure sufficient
infrastructure to fully
develop the resource."
Page 143

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