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This paper was prepared for presentation at the 2000 SPE/CERI Gas Technology Symposium
held in Calgary, Alberta Canada, 3-5 April 2000.
This paper was selected for presentation by an SPE Program Committee following review of
information contained in an abstract submitted by the author(s). Contents of the paper, as
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correction by the author(s). The material, as presented, does not necessarily reflect any
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Abstract
In this study, the rheology of foams was investigated
using aqueous foams and gelled foams and employing a pipe
type viscometer. Water was used as the liquid phase for the
aqueous foams while guar was used as the gelling agent for
the gelled foams. Surfactant at 0.5% (vol.) concentration was
used as the foaming agent. The flow data showed that foams
behave like Herschel-Bulkley model fluids.
New empirical correlations have been developed
from the experimental data to predict foam fluid apparent
viscosity. These correlations are function of liquid phase
properties and foam quality and are applicable to the foam
systems tested in the wide range of shear rates and
temperatures investigated. The use of these new correlations
will provide more accurate estimation of the foam fluid
rheological properties.
Introduction
Currently, the use of foam fluids is increasing rapidly
in the petroleum industry because these fluids exhibit
properties that are desirable in many field operations1 . In
drilling, the reduced density of the foam fluids, their high
carrying capacity, and their minimum filtrate and circulation
losses are among the desirable properties of the drilling fluids
during underbalanced drilling operations. The use of foams as
a fracturing fluid also presents several advantages. The high
carrying capacity, the minimum amount of fluid placed in the
formation, and the excellent fluid recovery after treatment are
some of the advantages that foam fluids present when used
during fracturing operations. Although not limited to, foams
have also been used successfully in oil and gas fields in well
stimulation, clean up, and fishing operations.
Procedure
For the purpose of this investigation, foams were
prepared using water and gel as liquid phases, nitrogen as the
gas phase, and an anionic surfactant was used as the foaming
agent. Gels were prepared using Guar as the gelling agent at
concentrations of 20, 40, and 60 lb/Mgal of water. For all the
foam systems the foaming agent concentration used was 0.5%
(vol.). The supplier of this product recommends this
concentration at these test conditions.
SPE 59752
SPE 59752
MP
ZRT
(1)
L =
mw + mGuar
Vw + VGuar
(2)
V g ( T , P)
Q=
Vg (T , P ) + Vl (T , P )
x100
(3)
or,
Q=
L f
L N 2
x100
(4)
8v
d
(5)
d P
4L
(6)
a = 47880
(7)
SPE 59752
Development of Correlation
Some authors have modeled foam fluids as Bingham
Plastic 8 , 9, and others as either Power Law10 or HerschelBulkley11, 12, 13, 14 fluids. These models are expressed
mathematically as:
Bingham Plastic:
Power Law:
= o + p
= K n
Herschel-Bulkley:
= o + K n
(8)
(9)
(10)
o = e ( 7 .7414+ 8. 7414Q )
(11)
0 = 0.0002265e ( Q / 0 .1061)
(12)
SPE 59752
Kf
KL
= e (3 .4 Q + 2. 0965Q )
2
(13)
Kf
KL
2
= e (0 .5168Q + 4 .1224Q )
(14)
Kf
KL
2
= e (0 .01182Q + 2 .9396Q )
(15)
Kf
KL
2
= e ( 0 .0759Q + 3. 06Q )
(16)
Conclusions
The research presented in this investigation reasonably
supports the following conclusions:
Experimental correlations to predict the apparent viscosity
of foam fluids have been developed. They are functions of
the liquid phase properties and foam quality and
applicable to both the aqueous and guar base gelled
foams.
Foam fluids rheology can adequately be characterized by
the Herschel-Bulkley model.
Higher qualities produce higher shear stresses and higher
viscosities. At higher foam qualities apparent viscosity
increases exponentially with foam quality.
In general, the consistency index of the foam systems
investigated decreases as temperature increases at the
same quality and guar concentration. This means that
temperature has an adverse effect on foam stability.
More viscous liquid phase produces higher foam viscosity
at the same quality, shear rate and temperature.
There was no evidence of wall slip phenomenon present
for the foam systems investigated.
Acknowledgments
The authors express their appreciation to The University of
Oklahoma and The School of Petroleum and Geological
Engineering for the financial support and use of equipment
and facilities. We wish to recognize the assistance of the staff
= Consistency index
Kf
= Pipe Length
mf
= Mass of foam
mGuar
= Mass of guar
mL
= Mass of liquid
mN2
= Mass of nitrogen
mW
= Mass of water
n 75
nf
= Foam temperature, F
Vf
= Foam volume
VG
= Gas Volume
VGuar
= Guar Volume
Vl
= Liquid volume
VW
= Water Volume
= Compressibility factor
Greek Symbols
w
= Shear Stress at the wall, lb f/ft 2
w
= Plastic viscosity
N2
= Nitrogen density
= Liquid viscosity, cP
= Liquid density
Guar
= Guar density
= Foam viscosity, cP
= Foam density
= Apparent viscosity, cP
7.
= Shear stress
= Shear rate
8.
No.
1
2
3
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
0.4348
10
3
/8
0.3055
10
1/4
Liquid Phase
Water
20 lb/Mgal Guar
40 lb/Mgal Guar
60 lb/Mgal Guar
0.1824
SPE 59752
10
Total
Length (ft)
37.0
35.5
34.5
and 3 /8
and 3 /8
and 3 /8
SPE 59752
Table 4. Herschel-Bulkley Model Parameters for 20 and 40 Lb/Mgal Guar Gelled Foams
Liquid Phase
Parameters
n
o (lb f/ft 2 )
K (lb f.Sn /ft 2 )
R
n
o (lb f/ft 2 )
K (lb f.Sn /ft 2 )
R
n
o (lb f/ft 2 )
K (lb f.Sn /ft 2 )
R
n
o (lb f/ft 2 )
K (lb f.Sn /ft 2 )
R
n
o (lb f/ft 2 )
K (lb f.Sn /ft 2 )
R
n
o (lb f/ft 2 )
K (lb f.Sn /ft 2 )
R
0
0.77
0
0.0007
1
0.84
0
0.00021
1
0.49
0
0.0143
1
0.52
0
0.0088
1
0.6
0
0.0047
1
0.65
0
0.0029
0.99
QUALITY (%)
30
40
50
60
70
80
0.77
0.77
0.77
0.77
0.77
0.77
0.0030
0.009
0.025
0.065
0.166 0.426
0.0011 0.0015 0.0024 0.0043 0.0095 0.0148
1
1
1
0.99
1
0.96
0.84
0.84
0.84
0.84
0.84
0.84
0.0030
0.009
0.025
0.065
0.166 0.426
0.00032 0.00039 0.00055 0.00085 0.002 0.0024
1
0.99
0.98
0.93
0.96
0.8
0.49
0.49
0.49
0.49
0.49
0.49
0.0030
0.009
0.025
0.065
0.166 0.426
0.0177 0.0225 0.0297 0.0419 0.069 0.0946
0.99
0.99
0.98
0.98
1
0.97
0.52
0.52
0.52
0.52
0.0030
0.009
0.025
0.065
0.0141 0.0165
0.023
0.0291
0.99
0.99
0.99
0.98
0.6
0.6
0.6
0.6
0.0030
0.009
0.025
0.065
0.0072 0.0092 0.0126 0.0179
1
0.99
0.99
0.97
0.65
0.65
0.65
0.65
0.0030
0.009
0.025
0.065
0.0047 0.0057 0.0067
0.01
1
0.99
0.98
0.95
-
Parameters
n
o (lb f/ft 2 )
K (lb f.Sn /ft 2 )
R
n
o (lb f/ft 2 )
K (lb f.Sn /ft 2 )
R
n
o (lb f/ft 2 )
K (lb f.Sn /ft 2 )
R
n
o (lb f/ft 2 )
K (lb f.Sn /ft 2 )
R
0
0.35
0
0.0589
1
0.37
0
0.0522
1
0.4
0
0.039
1
0.44
0
0.0246
1
30
0.35
0.0000
0.0825
1
0.37
0.0000
0.064
1
0.4
0.0000
0.0496
0.99
0.44
0.0000
0.0314
0.96
QUALITY (%)
40
50
0.35
0.35
0.000
0.000
0.0979 0.1211
0.99
0.98
0.37
0.37
0.000
0.000
0.0779 0.0962
0.99
0.99
0.4
0.4
0.000
0.000
0.059
0.0717
0.99
0.99
0.44
0.44
0.000
0.000
0.037
0.0463
0.95
0.98
60
0.35
0.000
0.1646
0.99
0.37
0.000
0.1293
0.99
0.44
0.000
0.0652
0.96
70
0.35
0.000
0.252
0.98
-
SPE 59752
PDI
1/2 OD
3/8 OD
1/4 OD
Inj. Port
Mixer
20-gal Tank
Triplex Pump
Pressure Regulator
Nitrogen Tank
Gear Pump
Choke
SUMP
Sight Glass
B. P. Regulator
10
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
0.1
0.01
10
100
1000
SPE 59752
1
0%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
0.1
0.01
10
100
1000
0%
30%
40%
50%
60%
0.1
0.01
10
100
1000
10
SPE 59752
0%
30%
40%
50%
60%
0.1
10
100
1000
10
1/2"
3/8"
0.1
10
100
1000
10000
SPE 59752
11
10
20 lb/Mgal
40 lb/Mgal
60 lb/Mgal
0.1
10
100
1000
100
125
150
175
F
F
F
F
0.1
10
100
1000
Figure 8. Rheograms for 40 lb/Mgal Guar Foams at 50% Quality. Effect of Temperature.
12
SPE 59752
0.8
Exptal. Data
0.7
Trendline
Yield Point, lb
f/ft
0.6
o =e (-7.7414+8.7414Q)
0.5
R2=0.98
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
Quality, fraction
Figure 9. Yield Stress for Aqueous Foams as a Function of Quality
0.8
Exptal. Data
0.7
Trendline
Yield Point, lb
f/ft
0.6
o =0.0002265e (Q/0.1061)
0.5
R2=0.95
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
Quality, fraction
Figure 10. Yield Stress as a Function of Quality for 20 lb/Mgal and 40 lb/Mgal Guar Foams at Various Temperatures
SPE 59752
13
80
Exptal. Data
70
Trendline
KFoam /K Liq
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Quality, %
26
100 F
125 F
Trendline
KFoam/K Liq
21
16
11
1
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Quality, %
Figure 12. Consistency Index Ratio for 20 lb/Mgal Guar Foams at Various Temperatures
14
SPE 59752
7
100 F
6
125 F
150 F
KFoam/K Liq
175 F
Trendline
1
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Quality, %
Figure 13. Consistency Index Ratio for 40 lb/Mgal Guar Foams at Various Temperatures
7
100 F
125 F
150 F
KFoam/K Liq
175 F
Trendline
1
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Quality, %
Figure 14. Consistency Index Ratio for 60 lb/Mgal Guar Foams at Various Temperatures