Electromechanical Tuning Fork Resonator for Enhanced Fracturing Fluid Quality Assessment

Abstract The efficiency of a hydraulic fracturing operation is intricately tied to the quality of the fracturing fluid employed. The characteristics of this fluid are notably specific, dependent upon multitude of factors. Viscosity of the fracturing fluid is an important parameter for its performance in proppant transportation and fracture propagation. The quality assurance of fluid design characteristics emerges as essential for the stimulation efficiency or economic development of the target reservoir. In contemporary hydraulic fracturing endeavors, operations unfold dynamically, with the hydraulic fracturing fluid undergoing processes like hydration, crosslinking, and proppant loading, all executed continuously downhole. Among these operational details, there are limited options for assessing fluid quality promptly and efficiently. Current practices often involve periodic sampling of the fluid, subsequently subjecting it to testing in a field lab utilizing standard laboratory-type rheometers. Viscosity/density measurements, adhering to API standards, are conventionally conducted by collecting samples from mixing tanks, a process occurring intermittently based on the current stage of the fracturing operation. Once collected, the fracturing fluid undergoes apparent viscosity measurement using a standard field rheometer. This procedure can preserve around 5% of water consumption in the iterative quest to find the optimal fluid quality. This paper presents a groundbreaking approach: the utilization of an electromechanical tuning fork resonator "frac fork" as a viscosity/density sensor to appraise fracturing fluids in-tank and in real time. A fully designed, assembled, and lab-tested standalone platform was developed, validated across various fracturing fluids, including cross-linked variants. Crucially, the platform was optimized for high measurement rates, ensuring the acquisition of related data in flowing conditions. This innovative solution offers a paradigm shift in the assessment of fracturing fluid quality, promising efficiency gains and enhanced real-time insights into the fluid dynamics critical for successful hydraulic fracturing operations.