Surfactants are Ineffective for Reducing Imbibition of Water-Based Fracturing Fluids in Deep Gas Reservoirs

Minimizing loss of injected hydraulic fracturing fluids into shale along fracture-matrix boundaries is desired because imbibed water restricts gas production and wastes valuable resources. This problem has motivated the addition surfactants water-based in order to reduce capillary driving force for imbibition. Here, we show that reduction interfacial tension wettability alteration negligible ability imbibition deep reservoirs. The effectiveness altering forces acting at wetting front also depends on injection pressure boundary. interface between fracture matrix constrained reservoir pore formation (rock pressure, known as breakdown rock) increases with depth magnitudes greatly exceed pressures. analyses presented here even maximum properties result strongly hydrophobic interactions fluid rock incapable significantly reducing Instead using surfactants, this analysis points decreases wellbore shut-in pressures times practical options losses fluids.