The high-pressure fracturing simulator consists of a centrally located parallel-plate flow cell, representing the formation fracture, along with an inlet manifold and associated instrumentation (Fig. 1).
A high-pressure fracturing simulator enables research in an environment that closely simulates field conditions.
The simulator is at the Fracturing Fluid Characterization Facility (FFCF) at the University of Oklahoma, Norman.
Subhash N. Shah, director of the FFCF, says that during 1996, the simulator became available to petroleum companies for doing proprietary research. Since beginning operations in 1993, the FFCF simulator has been funded through the Gas Research Institute (GRI) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
The simulator is a vertical, variable-width, parallel-plate flow cell (Fig. 1) capable of operating at elevated temperature (250° F.) and pressure (1,200 psi). The internal dimensions are 7-ft high and 91/3-ft long.
The fluid enters and exits the simulator through a manifold having 22 adjustable perforations representing a well bore.
The fracture width can be dynamically adjusted from 0 to 1.25-in. with 12 hydraulically actuated platens. Each 28-in. by 28-in. platen surface can be covered with a replaceable 1-in. thick simulated rock facing having a user-defined permeability and texture.
In addition, the simulator includes a fiber optic system for flow visualization of proppant-laden fluids and a laser Doppler velocimeter for accurate rheological characterization of fluids.
Other equipment at the FFCF includes a heat exchanger, various lengths of coiled tubing, viscometers, computer simulators, fluid mixing and pumping equipment, and instrumentation. FFCF capabilities include:
- Fracturing/drilling fluid rheological characterization
- Wall slippage assessment for crosslinked fluids
- Foam fluid evaluation
- Dynamic fluid loss
- Perforation pressure loss measurements
- Proppant transport
- Coiled tubing applications (the FFCF has established a coiled tubing consortium for conducting research on coiled tubing applications).
The FFCF is an extension of the OU School of Petroleum & Geological Engineering, which operates it in conjunction with Sarkeys Energy Center.
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