SUBTERRANEAN FRACTURING OPERATIONS

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for performing fracturing treatments in certain subterranean formations.

Wells in hydrocarbon-bearing subterranean formations may be stimulated to produce those hydrocarbons using hydraulic fracturing treatments. In hydraulic fracturing treatments, a viscous fluid (e. g. , fracturing fluid or pad fluid) is pumped into a subterranean formation at a sufficiently high rate and/or pressure {e.g., above the fracture gradient of the formation) such that one or more fractures are created or enhanced in the formation. These fractures provide conductive channels through which fluids in the formation such as oil and gas may flow to a well bore for production. In order to maintain sufficient conductivity through the fracture, it is often desirable that the formation surfaces within the fracture or“fracture faces” be able to resist erosion and/or migration to prevent the fracture from narrowing or fully closing. Typically, proppant particulates suspended in a portion of the fracturing fluid are also deposited in the fractures when the fracturing fluid is converted to a thin fluid to be returned to the surface. These proppant particulates serve to prevent the fractures from fully closing so that conductive channels are formed through which produced hydrocarbons can flow.

In some conventional fracturing treatments, large amounts of water or other fluids {e.g., an average of 1 million gallons per fracturing stage) are pumped at high rates and pressures in order provide sufficient energy downhole to form fractures in the formation of the desired geometries. To create fractures in certain types of formations {e.g., unconventional formations or low permeability formations) or to create complex fracture network in subterranean formations, operators may rely on the use of a low viscosity fluid {e.g., slickwater fluids) as the main fracturing fluid and small size proppant {e.g., lOO-mesh) as the proppant. Large amounts of proppant and fluid are often used in these operations. Providing the large amounts of pumping power, water, proppants, and fluid additives {e.g., friction reducers) for these operations, and the disposal of water flowing back out of the formation after these treatments, are often costly and time-consuming, and make fracturing operations economically impractical in many circumstances.

The pumps and other equipment used in pumping large volumes of low viscosity fracturing fluids carrying large amounts of proppant at high injection rates may make certain portions of that equipment susceptible to damage in the form of erosion, corrosion, wear and tear, and fatigue. Ultimately, such damage can cause rupturing or blowout of fracturing fluid under high pressure as a result of cracking of certain portions of the surface equipment during a hydraulic fracturing treatment. Erosion may decrease efficiencies or otherwise require the pump to be shut down more frequently and repaired or replaced altogether.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These drawings illustrate certain aspects of some of the embodiments of the present disclosure, and should not be used to limit or define the claims.

Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating a treatment system according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure.

Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating another treatment system according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure.

Figure 3 is a graph illustrating data from erosion testing of certain treatment fluids, including treatment fluids according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure.

Figure 4 is a graph illustrating data from erosion testing of certain treatment fluids, including treatment fluids according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure.

While embodiments of this disclosure have been depicted, such embodiments do not imply a limitation on the disclosure, and no such limitation should be inferred. The subject matter disclosed is capable of considerable modification, alteration, and equivalents in form and function, as will occur to those skilled in the pertinent art and having the benefit of this disclosure. The depicted and described embodiments of this disclosure are examples only, and not exhaustive of the scope of the disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for performing fracturing treatments in certain subterranean formations. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to systems and methods for treating proppant to mitigate erosion of equipment used in certain subterranean fracturing operations.

The present disclosure provides methods and systems for providing at least a partial coating of a hydratable polymer on a plurality of proppant particulates used in fracturing operations using slickwater fluids or other treatment fluids having a relatively low viscosity (e.g., about 25 cP or less, or alternatively, about 10 cP or less, or between 3 and 10 cP, or between 3 and 5 cP). In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the proppant particulates are contacted with an aqueous liquid concentrate of a hydratable polymer and at least partially coated with the hydratable polymer at a job site (e.g., a well site) where the fracturing operation is performed while conveying those proppant particulates into a blender at the job site. Such techniques of coating particulates are sometimes referred to as “on-the-fly” techniques. The proppant particulates coated in this manner are blended with an aqueous base fluid to form a treatment fluid, and the treatment fluid is then introduced into at least a portion of a subterranean formation and/or well bore.

Among the many potential advantages to the methods and compositions of the present disclosure, only some of which are alluded to herein, the methods and systems of the present disclosure may reduce the degree to which equipment at a well site through which fracturing fluids flow (including pumps, blenders, valves, conduits, connecting elbows, and the like) may be eroded by the flow of proppant-carrying fluids therethrough, particularly when such fluids are pumped at relatively high rates. For example, the hydratable polymer may absorb water once in contact with aqueous fluids, which may cause it to swell and/or expand in size and form a cushion or shock-absorbing coating on the proppant particulates. Thus, the hydratable polymer coating may make the proppant particulates less abrasive and/or may lessen the impact of the proppant particulates on surfaces inside pumps or other fracturing equipment. In some embodiments, the methods and systems of the present disclosure also may facilitate the selfsuspension of proppant in a treatment fluid, enhancing proppant suspension and transport without the need for viscosifying agents or other additives in the fluid itself. In some embodiments, the methods and systems of the present disclosure also may reduce friction and/or pumping horsepower in the course of slickwater fracturing operations, in some instances, with lower concentrations of polymeric additives than conventionally-used concentrations of friction reducing agents. In some embodiments, the methods and systems of the present disclosure may provide one or more of these aforementioned benefits without adding significant cost or complexity to the operation, among other reasons, by using existing equipment already at the well site.

Techniques of at least partially coating the proppant particulates while conveying those proppant particulates into a blender at a job site (e.g ,“on-the-fly”) can include, for example, processes in which one stream is continuously introduced into another stream so that the streams are combined and mixed while continuing to flow as a single stream as part of an on-going treatment at the job site. One such on-the-fly coating method would involve conveying the dry proppant particulates and the liquid concentrate of the hydratable polymer into a blender, for example, via a vessel or conduit. Once inside the vessel or conduit, the proppant particulates would be contacted with the liquid concentrate of the hydratable polymer and coated with the hydratable polymer, after which the particulates move into a blender. In those embodiments, a device such as an auger, sand screw, or other similar device (or a combination of such devices) could be used both to aid in mixing the particulates with the liquid concentrate and to convey the coated particulates into the blender. In other embodiments, the proppant particulates may be coated“on the fly” by spraying the liquid concentrate of the hydratable polymer onto the dry proppant particulates as they move toward the blender (e.g., through a vessel or conduit, on a conveyer belt, or, for proppant particulates that are poured or otherwise dispensed from a storage container into the blender from above, falling into the blender unit via gravity). Such coating methods described in this paragraph are sometimes referred to as“dry coating” techniques. As is well understood by those skilled in the art, batch or partial batch mixing also may be used to accomplish such coating. In some embodiments, one or more of these techniques may be used in or near“real time” with the fracturing operation in which the treatment fluid is formed in the blender is introduced into a subterranean formation and/or well bore.

In some embodiments, the hydratable polymer coating may be disposed on the proppant particulates only temporarily and/or for a limited period of time (e.g., for less than about 60 seconds, or alternatively, less than about 30 seconds, 20 seconds, or 15 seconds). Among other reasons, the hydratable polymer coating may be made temporary in this way because the coating need only be present on the proppant particulates while the treatment fluid carrying those particulates passes through pumps, wellheads, and/or other equipment at the well site that may be eroded by the flow of proppant particulates therethrough. In at least some embodiments, the treatment fluid comprising the proppant particulates is pumped into the well bore at a relatively high rate such that the time required for the fluid to travel from the blender tub to the well bore is a relatively short period of time (e.g., less than about 30 seconds). Once the treatment fluid comprising the proppant particulates is downstream of such equipment, the hydratable polymer coating may no longer be useful or needed for mitigating erosion of that equipment. Moreover, for a variety of reasons, it may be desirable for the hydratable polymer to be removed from the proppant particulates soon after they enter the wellbore, allowing the hydratable polymer to disperse in the aqueous based fluid, thereby providing its friction reduction performance. In some embodiments, it may be desirable for the hydratable polymer to be removed from the proppant particulates before those particulates penetrate one or more fractures in the subterranean formation. For example, in some embodiments, if the hydratable polymer coating on the proppant particulates were permanent, this coating could potentially hinder its complete removal from the proppant particulates as a result of forming a tight proppant pack in the open space of fracture, and/or may induce permeability damage therein. For at least these reasons, in some embodiments, the methods of the present disclosure may not include allowing the hydratable polymer coating on the proppant particulates to stand and/or cure for a significant period of time before the particulates are conveyed into the blender and/or introduced into the formation.

In some embodiments, the hydratable polymer coating thus may become detached from the proppant particulates after the treatment fluid carrying those particulates has passed through a pump, wellhead, and/or other equipment at the well site through which treatment fluid passes before entering the well bore or formation. This may be accomplished, among other ways, by the addition of a breaker, chelator, surfactant, or other additive that causes the hydratable polymer coating to detach from the proppant particulates, or due to shear forces on the proppant particulate in the treatment fluid. In these embodiments, the hydratable polymer may become dispersed in the treatment fluid and, among other things, serve as a friction reducer for the treatment fluid as it passes through tubing or conduits in the well bore and/or the well bore itself.

The proppant particulates used in the methods and systems of the present disclosure may comprise any proppant particulate suitable for use in a subterranean fracturing operation. A particulate for use as a proppant particulate may be selected based on the characteristics of size range, crush strength, and solid stability in the types of fluids that are encountered or used in wells. Examples of proppant particulate materials that may be suitable in certain embodiments include, without limitation, sand, gravel, bauxite, ceramic materials, glass materials, polymer materials, wood, plant and vegetable matter, nut hulls, walnut hulls, cottonseed hulls, cured cement, fly ash, fibrous materials, composite particulates, hollow spheres or porous particulate. Mixtures of different kinds or sizes of proppant particulate can be used as well. The proppant particulate may be selected to be an appropriate size to prop open the fracture and bridge the fracture width expected to be created by the fracturing conditions and the fracturing fluid. In certain embodiments, appropriate sizes of particulate for use as a proppant particulate may range from about 8 to about 600 U.S. Standard Mesh. In certain embodiments, a proppant particulate may be sand-sized, which geologically is defined as having a largest dimension ranging from about 0.1 microns up to about 2 millimeters (mm). In certain embodiments, the proppant particulates may comprise particulates of smaller sizes, including microparticles, nanoparticles, or any combinations thereof. According to certain embodiments of the present disclosure, the concentration of proppant particulate in the treatment fluid may depend upon factors such as the nature of the subterranean formation. In some embodiments, the concentration of proppant particulate in the treatment fluid may be in the range of from about 0.1 pounds of proppant per gallon of treatment fluid (lb/gal) to about 5 lb/gal.

The hydratable polymers used in the methods and systems of the present disclosure may comprise any linear ( e.g . , not cross-linked) polymer that may swell or otherwise hydrate in the presence of an aqueous fluid and form a film or coating on a solid surface. In certain embodiments, the hydratable polymer may be a synthetic polymer. Additionally, for example, the hydratable polymer may be an anionic polymer or a cationic polymer, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. By way of example, synthetic polymers may comprise any of a variety of monomeric units, including acrylamide, acrylic acid, 2-acrylamido-2- methylpropane sulfonic acid, N,N- dimethylacrylamide, vinyl sulfonic acid, N-vinyl acetamide, N-vinyl formamide, itaconic acid, methacrylic acid, acrylic acid esters, methacrylic acid esters and combinations thereof.

In some embodiments, the hydratable polymer(s) included in the treatment fluid may have a molecular weight sufficient to provide a desired level of friction reduction once they become detached from the surface of the proppant particulate. By way of example, the average molecular weight of suitable hydratable polymers may be at least about 2,500,000, as determined using intrinsic viscosities. In certain embodiments, the average molecular weight of suitable hydratable polymers may be in the range of from about 7,500,000 to about 20,000,000. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that hydratable polymers having molecular weights outside the listed range still may provide some degree of friction reduction.

One example of a anionic hydratable polymer that may be suitable in certain embodiments of the present disclosure is a polymer comprising acrylamide and acrylic acid. The acrylamide and acrylic acid may be present in the polymer in any suitable concentration. An example of a suitable anionic hydratable polymer may comprise acrylamide in an amount in the range of from about 5% to about 95% and acrylic acid in an amount in the range of from about 5% to about 95%. Another example of a suitable anionic hydratable polymer may comprise acrylamide in an amount in the range of from about 60% to about 90% by weight and acrylic acid in an amount in the range of from about 10% to about 40% by weight. Another example of a suitable anionic hydratable polymer may comprise acrylamide in an amount in the range of from about 80% to about 90% by weight and acrylic acid in an amount in the range of from about 10% to about 20% by weight. Yet another example of a suitable anionic hydratable polymer may comprise acrylamide in an amount of about 85% by weight and acrylic acid in an amount of about 15% by weight. As previously mentioned, one or more additional monomers may be included in the anionic hydratable polymer comprising acrylamide and acrylic acid. By way of example, the additional monomer(s) may be present in the anionic friction reducing polymer in an amount up to about 20% by weight of the polymer.

Suitable hydratable polymers may be provided in an acid form or in a salt form. As will be appreciated, a variety of salts may be prepared, for example, by neutralizing the acid form of the acrylic acid monomer or the 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid monomer. In addition, the acid form of the polymer may be neutralized by ions present in the treatment fluid. Indeed, as used herein, the term“polymer” is intended to refer to the acid form of the hydratable polymer, as well as its various salts. As will be appreciated, the hydratable polymer suitable for use in the methods and systems of the present disclosure may be prepared by any suitable technique. For example, the anionic hydratable polymer comprising acrylamide and acrylic acid may be prepared through polymerization of acrylamide and acrylic acid or through hydrolysis of polyacrylamide (e.g., partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide). In some embodiments, the hydratable polymer may be a salt of a swellable polymer selected from the group consisting of salts of carboxyalkyl starch, salts of carboxymethyl starch, salts of carboxymethyl cellulose, salts of crosslinked carboxyalkyl polysaccharide, or any combination thereof.

In addition, the hydratable polymers suitable for use in embodiments of the present disclosure may be initially provided in any suitable form that can be used to form an aqueous liquid concentrate. By way of example, the hydratable polymers may be provided in an aqueous solution or may be provided in dry form and then combined with a small amount of water. As used herein, the term“aqueous liquid concentrate” refers to a composition comprising the hydratable polymer in a more concentrated form than in the final treatment fluid that will be used in the subterranean treatment. By way of example, the aqueous liquid concentrate may comprise the hydratable polymer in an amount in the range of about 5% to about 100% by weight of the concentrate, alternatively, in an amount in the range of about 15% to about 60% by weight of the concentrate, and, alternatively, in an amount in the range of about 25% to about 45% by weight of concentrate. An example of hydratable polymer dispersed in an aqueous continuous phase is provided by Halliburton Energy Services, Inc., under the name FR-76™. One of ordinary skill in the art will be able to select an appropriate form for the hydratable polymer for a particular application based on a number of factors, including handling, ease of dissolution to a dilute polymer system, cost, performance and environmental factors, among others.

In some embodiments, the proppant particulates optionally may be contacted and/or coated with a functionalizing agent, such as a silane coupling agent, among other purposes, to help the hydratable polymer attach or adhere to the surface of the proppant particulate. In some embodiments, the functionalizing agent may be applied as a liquid additive to the surface of the dry proppant particulates“on-the-fly” as the proppant particulates are being conveyed to a blender, using any of the aforementioned coating techniques discussed with regard to the hydratable polymer. For example, in some embodiments, a liquid solution or concentrate of the functionalizing agent may be mixed with the proppant particulate using a device such as a sand screw or auger upstream of the location where the hydratable polymer is added and mixed using that same device. In some embodiments, the functionalizing agent may be used in an amount of about 0.05% to about 0.2% (w/w) of the proppant particulates.

The aqueous base fluid used to form the treatment fluids used in the methods and systems of the present disclosure may comprise water from any source. The term“base fluid” refers to the major component of the fluid (as opposed to components dissolved and/or suspended therein), and does not indicate any particular condition or property of that fluids such as its mass, amount, pH, etc. Aqueous fluids that may be suitable include fresh water, salt water (e.g. , water containing one or more salts dissolved therein), brine (e.g , saturated salt water), seawater, or any combination thereof. In certain embodiments of the present disclosure, the aqueous fluids comprise one or more ionic species, such as those formed by salts dissolved in water. For example, seawater and/or produced water may comprise a variety of divalent cationic species dissolved therein. In certain embodiments, the density of the aqueous fluid can be adjusted, among other purposes, to provide additional particulate transport and suspension in the compositions of the present disclosure. In certain embodiments, the pH of the aqueous fluid may be adjusted (e.g., by a buffer or other pH adjusting agent) to a specific level, which may depend on, among other factors, the types of viscosifying agents, acids, and other additives included in the fluid. One of ordinary skill in the art, with the benefit of this disclosure, will recognize when such density and/or pH adjustments are appropriate. In certain embodiments, the treatment fluids used in the methods and systems of the present disclosure optionally may comprise a breaker additive, among other purposes, to degrade the hydratable polymer and/or friction reducers in the fluid and/or facilitate removal of any filter cake left by the treatment fluid in the subterranean formation. Breaker additives that may be suitable for use in certain embodiments of the present disclosure include, but are not limited to, oxidizers, enzymes, acids, acid-releasing materials, chelators, and any combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the breaker additive may be encapsulated or otherwise formulated to delay its reaction with other components in the treatment fluid.

In certain embodiments, the treatment fluids used in the methods and systems of the present disclosure optionally may comprise any number of additional additives. Examples of such additional additives include, but are not limited to, salts, surfactants, acids, diverting agents, fluid loss control additives, gas, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, surface modifying agents, tackifying agents, foamers, corrosion inhibitors, scale inhibitors, catalysts, clay control agents, biocides, friction reducers, antifoam agents, bridging agents, flocculants, H ₂ S scavengers, C0 ₂ scavengers, oxygen scavengers, hydrate inhibitors, lubricants, weighting agents, relative permeability modifiers, resins, wetting agents, coating enhancement agents, filter cake removal agents, antifreeze agents (e.g., ethylene glycol), and the like. A person skilled in the art, with the benefit of this disclosure, will recognize the types of additives that may be included in the fluids of the present disclosure for a particular application.

The treatment fluids of the present disclosure can be used in a variety of subterranean treatment operations, including but not limited to fracturing operations. As used herein, the terms “treat,” “treatment,” “treating,” and grammatical equivalents thereof refer to any subterranean operation that uses a fluid in conjunction with achieving a desired function and/or for a desired purpose. Use of these terms does not imply any particular action by the treatment fluid. In some embodiments, the fracturing operations of the present disclosure may comprise injecting or otherwise introducing into a subterranean formation and/or well bore a pad fluid that does not comprise a substantial amount of proppant particulates (e.g. , less than 0.01 pounds per gallon (ppg)) at a pressure sufficient to initiate, create, or enhance at least one fracture in the subterranean formation. In these embodiments, the pad fluid may be followed by a treatment fluid that comprises proppant particulates that are at least partially coated with a hydratable polymer in accordance with the present disclosure. In certain embodiments, a treatment fluid that comprises proppant particulates that are at least partially coated with a hydratable polymer in accordance with the present disclosure may be injected or otherwise introduced into the well bore and/or subterranean formation at a pressure sufficient to initiate, create, or enhance at least one fracture in the subterranean formation, with or without a preceding pad fluid. In some embodiments, the fracturing operations of the present disclosure may further comprise isolating and/or perforating an interval in the well bore corresponding to a portion of the subterranean formation where one or more fractures are to be created and/or enhanced.

An example of a system that may be used to prepare treatment fluids in accordance with the present disclosure is illustrated in Figure 1. Referring now to Figure 1, system 100 includes a proppant source 110 from which proppant particulates such as sand are supplied. In some embodiments, proppant source 1 10 may comprise a container, vehicle, or vessel containing proppant particulates, or may comprise a conduit through which proppant particulates may be dispensed. In the embodiment shown, a ramp or conveyer belt 115 may be positioned to facilitate the movement of proppant particulates out of the proppant source 110 and into a hopper 120. The hopper 120 may comprise a funnel-shaped vessel and/or other equipment to facilitate the metering and/or transfer of the desired quantities of proppant particulates into a blender 140. Proppant particulates may be conveyed from the hopper 120 to the blender 140 via a sand screw 130 having one end coupled to an outlet of the hopper 120 and another end coupled to an inlet of the blender 140. As noted above, in other embodiments, sand screw 130 may be replaced with other devices such as augers, conveyer belts, or other devices suitable for conveying proppant particulates and/or mixing them with a liquid substance ( e.g . , the liquid concentrate of the hydratable polymer).

A liquid hydratable polymer source 150 (e.g., container, conduit or other such device) may be provided to dispense the liquid concentrate comprising the hydratable polymer into the sand screw 130 so that the liquid concentrate may be mixed with and contact the proppant particulates as they move along the sand screw 130. The liquid hydratable polymer source 150 may be equipped with a liquid additive pump 155 to control the flow of the liquid concentrate into the sand screw 130. In the embodiment shown the liquid additive pump 155 is disposed adjacent to a point along the sand screw that is closer to the hopper 120 than it is to the blender 140. However, it is contemplated that the liquid concentrate may be dispensed into the sand screw (or other device used to convey the proppant particulate to the blender) at any point along its length. For example, in other embodiments, the liquid additive pump 155 is disposed adjacent to a point along the sand screw that is closer to the blender 140 than it is to the hopper 120.

As shown, a breaker additive source 160 and an aqueous base fluid source 170 are provided to dispense breaker additives or aqueous base fluids, respectively into the blender 140. As shown, those devices are also each equipped with a liquid additive pump 165 or 175 to control the flow of aqueous base fluid or breaker additives into the blender 140. The blender 140 blends the aqueous base fluid, the breaker additive, and the coated proppant particulates from sand screw 130 together to form a treatment fluid. Optionally, other additive sources (not shown) may be provided that dispense additional additives into the blender 140 for blending into the treatment fluid. Once the treatment fluid is formed, its flow out of the blender 140 may be controlled via displacement pump 145. The treatment fluid may flow into additional surface equipment 180, that may be used to pressurize or pump the treatment fluid into the wellhead 190 and into the formation (not shown) at the desired rate and pressure. Such equipment 180 may include any number of pumps, missile assemblies, fracturing manifolds, and the like, and the flow of treatment fluid out of that equipment to wellhead 190 may be further controlled by valve 185. As mentioned previously, the presence of the hydratable polymer coating on the surface of the proppant particulates may mitigate or prevent the erosion of internal surfaces in, for example, blender 140 and/or equipment 180 as the treatment fluid is blended and flows therein. Once the treatment fluids of the present disclosure have flown through the wellhead 190 and into the formation (not shown), the hydratable polymer coated onto the proppant particulates may detach from the proppant particulates, among other reasons, to serve as a friction reducing agent in the treatment fluid as it is pumped through casing, tubing, or other equipment in the well bore.

Referring now to Figure 2, another example of a system that may be used to prepare treatment fluids in accordance with the present disclosure is illustrated. Referring now to Figure 2, system 200 includes several of the same components that were described with regard to the system shown in Figure 1, including a proppant source 210, ramp or conveyer belt 215, hopper 220, sand screw 230, blender 240, displacement pump 245, breaker additive source 260 (and associated liquid additive pump 265), aqueous base fluid source 270 (and associated liquid additive pump 275), equipment 280, valve 285, and wellhead 290. Like system 100 in Figure 1, system 200 also includes a liquid hydratable polymer source 250 ( e.g container, conduit or other such device) equipped with a liquid additive pump 255 to dispense the liquid concentrate comprising the hydratable polymer into the sand screw 230 so that the liquid concentrate may be mixed with and contact the proppant particulates as they move along the sand screw 230. System 200 also includes a functionalizing agent source 257 (e.g., container, conduit or other such device) from which a functionalizing agent such as an organosilane may be dispensed into the sand screw 230 so that the functionalizing agent may be mixed with and contact the proppant particulates as they move along the sand screw 230. The functionalizing agent source 257 may be equipped with a liquid additive pump 258 to control the flow of the functionalizing agent into the sand screw 230. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the liquid additive pump 255 for dispensing the liquid concentrate of hydratable polymer is disposed adjacent to a point along the sand screw 230 between the valve 258 and the blender 140, in other words, downstream of liquid additive pump 258 where the functionalizing agent is dispensed. Among other benefits, this arrangement may allow for the functionalizing agent to contact the surface of the proppant particulates and treat those surfaces so that the hydratable polymer will more readily form a coating on the proppant particulates. As a person of skill in the art will recognize with the benefit of this disclosure, this relative arrangement of devices for applying the functionalizing agent and hydratable polymer may be used with devices or techniques for conveying the proppant to a blender other than a sand screw, including those referenced in the above discussion of“on-the-fly” coating techniques.

To facilitate a better understanding of the present disclosure, the following examples of certain aspects of certain embodiments are given. The following examples are not the only examples that could be given according to the present disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure or claims.

EXAMPLES EXAMPLE 1

Three samples of treatment fluids were each prepared and tested as follows. Control #1 and Control #2 were each prepared by adding 24 grams of lOO-mesh sand to 1-L Waring blenders containing 200 mL of deionized (DI) water (i.e., 1 ppg concentration of sand). Additionally, 0.2 mL of FR-76™, an anionic hydratable polymer additive provided by Halliburton Energy Services, Inc., was added to the Control #2 sample (i.e., 1 gal / Mgal concentration of the FR-76™ additive). Test #1 sample was prepared by dry coating 0.2 mL of FR-76™ additive onto 24 grams of lOO-mesh sand, and the coated sand was added to a l -L Waring blender containing 200 mL of DI water.

Each of the three samples was blended in the Waring blender for 45 minutes at 3,000 rpm using a flat metal blade of a known mass. Each blade was weighed before and after blending to determine its decrease in mass during the blending process. The amounts of the decreases in the mass of each blade after blending each sample are shown in Figure 3. As demonstrated by this data, while the presence of the hydratable polymer dispersed in the fluid reduced the erosion of the blender blade to some degree, dry coating the same amount of the hydratable polymer onto the sand reduced the erosion of the blender blade even further. EXAMPLE 2

Additional samples of treatment fluids were each prepared by separately adding the components listed in Table 1 to l-L Waring blenders. The SandWedge® NT used in the Comparative sample is a polymeric resin provided by Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.

Table 1

Each of the samples above was blended in the Waring blender for 20, 60, and 180 second at 3,000 rpm using a flat metal blade of a known mass. (The Control #3 sample was run twice.) Each blade was weighed before and after blending to determine its decrease in mass during the blending process. The amounts of the decreases in the mass of each blade after blending each sample are shown in Figure 4. As demonstrated by this data, while the presence of the hydratable polymer dispersed in the fluid reduced the erosion of the blender blade to some degree, dry coating the hydratable polymer onto the sand reduced the erosion of the blender blade even further, even using smaller amounts of the hydratable polymer. This data also demonstrates that at least the polymeric coating of SandWedge® NT tested in this example did not reduce erosion of the blade to the extent accomplished by the hydratable polymer coatings of the present disclosure.

An embodiment of the present disclosure is a method comprising: conveying a plurality of proppant particulates into a blender at a job site; while conveying the plurality of proppant particulates into the blender, contacting a plurality of proppant particulates with an aqueous liquid concentrate comprising a hydratable polymer to at least partially coat one or more of the proppant particulates with the hydratable polymer, thereby forming coated proppant particulates; blending the plurality of proppant particulates comprising the coated proppant particulates with an aqueous base fluid in the blender to form a treatment fluid, the treatment fluid having a viscosity of about 25 cP or less; and introducing the treatment fluid from the blender into at least a portion of a subterranean formation that includes at least one fracture.

Another embodiment of the present disclosure is a method comprising: introducing an aqueous fracturing fluid into a well bore penetrating at least a portion of a subterranean formation at or above a pressure sufficient to create or enhance at least one fracture in the subterranean formation, the aqueous fracturing fluid having a viscosity of about 25 cP or less; conveying a plurality of proppant particulates from a storage container into a blender at a job site where the well bore is located; while conveying the plurality of proppant particulates into the blender, contacting the plurality of proppant particulates with an aqueous liquid concentrate comprising a hydratable polymer to at least partially coat a portion of the proppant particulates with the hydratable polymer, thereby forming coated proppant particulates; blending the plurality of proppant particulates comprising the coated proppant particulates with an aqueous base fluid in the blender to form a treatment fluid, the treatment fluid having a viscosity of about 25 cP or less; and introducing the treatment fluid from the blender into the well bore.

Another embodiment of the present disclosure is a method comprising: introducing an aqueous fracturing fluid into a well bore penetrating at least a portion of a subterranean formation at or above a pressure sufficient to create or enhance at least one fracture in the subterranean formation, the aqueous fracturing fluid having a viscosity of about 25 cP or less; using an auger, a sand screw, or a combination thereof to convey a plurality of proppant particulates from a storage container into a blender at a job site where the well bore is located; while conveying the plurality of proppant particulates into the blender, contacting the plurality of proppant particulates with a functionalizing agent, and contacting the plurality of proppant particulates with an aqueous liquid concentrate comprising a hydratable polymer to at least partially coat a portion of the proppant particulates with the hydratable polymer, thereby forming coated proppant particulates; blending the plurality of proppant particulates comprising the coated proppant particulates with an aqueous base fluid in the blender to form a treatment fluid, the treatment fluid having a viscosity of about 25 cP or less; and introducing the treatment fluid from the blender into the well bore.

Therefore, the present disclosure is well adapted to attain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as those that are inherent therein. The particular embodiments disclosed above are illustrative only, as the present disclosure may be modified and practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein. While numerous changes may be made by those skilled in the art, such changes are encompassed within the spirit of the subject matter defined by the appended claims. Furthermore, no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown, other than as described in the claims below. It is therefore evident that the particular illustrative embodiments disclosed above may be altered or modified and all such variations are considered within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. In particular, every range of values (e.g., “from about a to about b,” or, equivalently,“from approximately a to b,” or, equivalently,“from approximately a-b”) disclosed herein is to be understood as referring to the power set (the set of all subsets) of the respective range of values. The terms in the claims have their plain, ordinary meaning unless otherwise explicitly and clearly defined by the patentee.