An oilfield company has to work in a challenging environment. The work involves finding the right place for wellbore, digging thousands kilometer in the earth crust and maintains the workflow of extracting oil. Various types of technologies are used along with chemicals. During drilling and stimulation processes in unconventional reservoirs like shales and coal beds, friction reducers are used in order to reduce the friction in the wellbore. A friction reducer is a chemical which is used during stimulation or completion of oil/gas wells. There are many different types of fracturing chemicals used on a frac location. They may or may not include gelling agents. Let's know about different types of friction reducers offered by a chemical plant for friction reducer fracking.

Buffers

The composition plays a prominent role to gain predictable and stable results. Buffers are a type of additive to manage the pH of the fracture fluid. Fracturing fluid properties like gelling agent hydration rate, break time and crosslink time depend on proper fluid pH. Some common buffers are sodium bicarbonate, sodium acetate, potassium carbonate and sodium hydroxide. With the laboratory testing, chemical engineers come to know which type of buffer can perform best with fluid design.

Breakers

To control or lower the viscosity of fracture fluid, breakers are preferred to use in a wellbore. During the fracture treatment, the stimulation fluid should return to a low viscosity fluid state after the proppant is placed. It reduces the return of proppants and maximizes the return of fluids to the surface. They are a particular type of chemicals to break the polymers and crosslinkers in the frac fluid.

Biocides

The oilfield industry has to deal with bacterial contamination that occurs naturally in the hydrocarbons. How to counter such contamination? In this situation, biocides are recommended which can control sulfate-reducing bacteria, iron-oxidizing bacteria, slime-forming bacteria and bacteria attracting polymers. While hiring a chemical plant for friction reducer, make sure the company offers top quality biocides that have been tested for quality.

Acids

Acidizing is one of the oldest methods of friction reducer fracking. The prime aim of using acids is to increase production in both new and older wells. It helps to enhance permeability in production by clearing the damaged particles resulting from drilling applications.

Apart from these friction reducers, clay stabilizer, corrosion inhibitors and viscosifiers are friction reducers used by oilfield agencies with an aim to increase their production. Consult a chemical plant to get a suitable friction reducer.