FIG. 1 STUDIED BOICIDES’ CHEMISTRY
Chlorine
dioxide
Hypochlorus
acid
Hydantoin 2,2-dibromo-
3-nithrilopropionamide
BIOCIDE TESTING, BACTERIA-BROTH BOTTLES FIG. 2
APB
anaerobic
Thioglycolate
anaerobic
API SRB
anaerobic
Phenol red
aerobic
API aerobic
Bacteria bottles
Control
100
1,00
0C
FU
80
60
40
20
0
100 ppm hypochlorous acid biocide
200 ppm hypochlorous acid biocide
100 ppm hydantoin derivative biocide
200 ppm hydantoin derivative biocide
100 ppm 2,2-dibromo-3-nitrilopropionamide biocide
400 ppm 2,2-dibromo-3-nitrilopropionamide biocide
Robert Fowles
Kenneth Worsley
Weatherford International PLC
Edmonton
Clayton Smith
Weatherford International PLC
Houston
Fresh water used in hydraulic fracturing contains microbes that can proliferate in storage tanks under the right
conditions. 1 These microbes degrade
guar-based fracing fluids, creating biofilms that can lead to formation damage and lower production. This article
looks at the effects of biocides on fracing fluid to mitigate potential formation damage and address environmental concerns.
Microbial formation damage
Hydraulic fracturing fluids are mostly
water-based, though oil and emulsion-based fluids are also used. The success of a fracturing program depends
on its design, including using a fluid
that matches the requirements of the
formation.
Guar-based fracing fluids’ (where a
guar bean powder is added to water to
form a gel) low cost and ease of handling makes them preferred, but managing fluid degradation and environmental clean-up may be difficult. 2
Fresh-water microbes are a ma-
DRILLING &
PRODUCTION
Biocides in fracing fluid mitigate formation damage
