This document discusses using high viscosity friction reducers (HVFR) in shale fracturing operations in Vaca Muerta, Argentina. It notes that HVFR can increase pumping efficiency and decrease treatment pressures. It also summarizes lab results showing that HVFR works effectively with flowback water from Vaca Muerta, maintaining viscosity and friction reduction properties even at high total dissolved solids levels. The document concludes by discussing potential applications of HVFR in Vaca Muerta operations, which currently face challenges with large volumes of produced flowback water requiring treatment and disposal.

1. FLOWBACK WATER AND HVFR IN
SHALE FRACTURING
A Solution to still optimizing fracturing ops in “Vaca
Muerta”
CALFRAC WELL SERVICES ARGENTINA
By: José Luis Morales
Technical Account Manager

2. UNCONVENTIONAL JOBS TODAY:
COVID-19
25% (+)
2021
 Pumping efficiency
- > 15 hr/day (Zipper Frac)
- SimulFrac or DualFrac
• ~ 20 hr/day
143 et/m
248 et/m
402 et/m
534 et/m
273 et/m
856 et/m
1012 et/m

3. WATER USED IN VACA MUERTA OP’s
Water required per Stage: +/- 1500 m³
 Solid and Liquid residual from:
- Drilling
- Completion and Workover
 Fluid Recovery between 20 and 50%
 Order 1483/12 (Environmental
Secretary)
 Reutilization (O&G Activity)
 Irrigation
 Disposal Wells > 80%
 Compliance with secretary of water
resources

4. WHAT ABOUT INDIRECT RESOURSES?
 Do we have capacity to maintain our
efficiency?
- Do we have enough water treaters?
- Do the water treaters have enough
capabilities?
- Do we have enough well disposals?
- What about extra cost for completion?
EFFICIENCY:
Today efficiency is related with:
Drilling Rigs, Wireline Velocity,
Stages per day, Sand Management,
Other tools
What about Water or flowback
fluids?
Indirect Resources like treaters
could be an issues for efficiency?

5. FRESH Vs FLOWBACK WATER
Rio Neuquén Water
Start 2 Weeks 1 Month
pH - In Situ mg/l 6.6 5.5 5.7 6.00 Solid Scales
CO₂ - In Situ mg/l 257.0 n/a 809.6
O2 Disuelto - In Situ mg/l - - -
Cloruros mg/l 68,000.0 90,800.0 98,971.2 25.00
Sulfatos mg/l 280.0 195.0 175.0 80.00 Drastically affect
Carbonatos mg/l - - - HFVR Properties
Calcio (Dureza) mg/l 15,631.2 23,246.4 25,651.2 n/d los HVFR
Magnesio (Dureza) mg/l 1,458.7 1,701.8 1,701.8 n/d
Sodio mg/l 22,383.0 29,130.7 30,416.9
Dureza Total (CO3Ca) mg/l 45,000.0 65,000.0 71,000.0 171.00
Hierro Total - In Lab mg/l 150.0 79.0 250.0 -
Bario mg/l 127.5 n/a 130.0
Potasio mg/l 2,095.0 n/a 2,195.0
Sólidos Totales Disueltos (Calc) mg/l 110,706.0 145,499.0 160,467.2 77.00
Solidos Totales Suspendidos mg/l 49.2 n/a 108.0
Alcalinidad @ 4.5 pH mg/l 476.2 n/a 800.3 100.00
Hidrocarburos Totales mg/l 26,896.6 n/a 722.2
Flowback Water

6. HVFR AND “VACA MUERTA”
 High Viscosity Friction Reducers (HVFR)
 Increase in Pumping Efficiency
 Pressure Treatment decrease
- 60 to more than 100 bpm in some cases
 Environmentally friendly
 Less “Footprint” – “Dry” Products
 Logistic Optimization
 Maintenance Improvement
 Low Screen Out Statistics
LOW COSTS, HIGH COMPETITIVITY = WELL COST
IMPROVEMNTS
XL Gel HVFR
XL GEL Vs HVFR

7. HVFR’s AND “VACA MUERTA”
 Is normally used today in Shale Op’s in
Argentina
 There have been a continuous optimization in
polymer concentration since start of application
of HFVR
 Flowback water is a challenge and HFVR could
be still a solution
 Higher TDS
 Proppant Transport is an issue?
HVFR
HVFR
HVFR
HVFR

8. HVFR Fluid Properties Summary

9. 0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
2 4 6 8 10
Viscosidad
cP
@
511s-1
Concentración L/m3 or GPT
200 K TDS Agua de Flowback
160 K TDS Agua de Flowback
CONCENTRATION AND VISCOSITY

10. HIDRATION RATE IN 162 K TDS PRODUCED WATER
HVFR
HVFR Flowback
HVFR Flowback
HVFR

11. REGAIN PERMEABILITY
HVFR HVFR
FLOWBACK
 30/50 “Proppant Pack”
 36 inch proppant pack length 1/4
inch tubing (.175” ID)
 Flow rate 1mL/min
 Test Temperature – BHT
 Measure pressure differential
across proppant pack
 Back pressure 150 psi

12. FRICTION REDUCTION
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
Friction
Reduction
(%)
Elapsed Time (seconds)
CTW 15,000 TDS
80,000 TDS 170,000 TDS
240,000 TDS 50% Friction Reduction

13. VISCOSITY BREAKING TEST
 Provides Clean breaks
 No signs of
insoluble residual polym
er
 Broken fluid 1-3 cP @
511s-1 at room
temperature.

14. FIELD APPLICATIONS

15.  Completion Type:
 Annular Frac
 Canada (2 wells, 43 stages
p/ well
 HVFR with Flowback Water
– 4 l/m3
 Temperature: 85°C
 Rate: ~ 24 bpm
 Pressure: ~ 8700 psi
 Max Sand Conc: 4 ppa
 Proppant: 50/140 y 40/70 =
65 Ton p/ Stage (1430 sx)
 Salinity ~ 21%
Presión (MPa)
Caudal (m³/min)
Conc. Arena Superficie (kg/m³)
Conc. Arena Fondo (kg/m³)
Conc HVFR (l/m³)
FIELD CASE # 1

16. Presión (MPa)
Caudal (m³/min)
Conc HVFR (l/m³)
Conc. Arena Superficie (kg/m³)
Conc. Arena Fondo (kg/m³)
 Completion Type:
 Ball Drop Sleeves
 Canada (2 wells, 30 stages
p/ well)
 HVFR w/ Flowback Water –
3.7 l/m3
 Temperature: 105°C
 Rate: ~ 38 bpm
 Pressure: ~ 7500 psi
 Max Sand Conc: 3.3 ppa
 Proppant: M-100 y 40/70 =
60 Ton p/ Stage(1323 sx)
 Salinity ~ 21%
FIELD CASE # 2

17.  Completion Type:
 Ball Drop Sleeves
 Canada (3 wells, 36 stages
p/ well)
 HVFR w/ Flowback Water –
3.8 l/m3
 Temperature: 90°C
 Rate: ~ 63 bpm
 Pressure: ~ 8000 psi
 Max Sand Conc: 3.3 ppa
 Proppant: 50/140, 40/70,
30/70 = 60 Ton p/Stage
(1323 sx)
 Salinity ~ 20%
Presión (MPa)
Caudal (m³/min)
Conc. Arena Superficie (kg/m³)
Conc. Arena Fondo (kg/m³)
Conc HVFR (l/m³)
FIELD CASE # 3

18. LAB RESULTS
“VACA MUERTA” FLOWBACK WATER

19. HVFR
HVFR
HVFR
HVFR FLOWBACK
VISCOSITY PROFILE Vs POLIMER LOAD

20. HVFR HVFR FLOWBACK
FRICTION REDUCCION CAPACITY

21. HVFR
HVFR
HVFR
HVFR
HVFR
HVFR
HVFR FLOWBACK
HVFR FLOWBACK
VISCOELASTIC PROPERTIES

22. SUMMARY
 Successful results with120 K mg/l de TDS Flowback water
 Good Hydration rate
 Good Viscosity profile
 Good Friction reduction capacity
 Same Regain Conductivity compared with HFVR for fresh water
 Could be used as Slickwater, MVFR o HVFR

23. APLICATIONS IN “VACA MUERTA”

24. FLOWBACK WATER IN “VACA MUERTA”
Water required per stage in Vaca Muerta op’s is near +/- 1500 m³
1012 et/m
9113 et
2,750 K M³
(Fluid Recover = 20%)
1,830
ETAPAS
~203 et/m

25. FLOWBACK WATER IN “VACA MUERTA” TODAY:
 Cost of Flowback Water treaters
 Capacity?
 If 80% of flowback water today is send to well
disposal:
 Do we have enough disposal wells?
 It is allowed to drill more disposals?
 Logistic Cost to move Flowback water to treaters?
 Environmental Factor? Water as a Human
resource?
 Legal requirements in Argentina
 Provincial regulations?

26. FLOWBACK WATER IN “VACA MUERTA” TODAY
(Assuming a recover of 20% = 300 m³ x Stage)
 Regulation N° 578/21 ($ 41,81), “el m³ final extraído o concesionado de aguas públicas con fines industriales
tipificado en el uso U.3.1 para los consumos realizados a partir del 1° de enero de 2022 y hasta el 31 de
diciembre de 2022”
 Logistics are not included in final disposal
 Environmental impact may be reduced drastically
ÍTEM Unitary Cost Vol per Stage # Stages Total Cost
River Water 4 U$D/m³ 1500 m³ 1012 U$D 6,072,000.0
FB to well disposal 15 U$D/m³ 300 m³ 1012 U$D 4,554,000.0
Treaters 95 U$D/m3
300 m³ 1012 U$D 28,842,000.0
TOTAL COST U$D 39,468,000.0

27. TANK YOU!