Filtration of Frac Fluids

Filtration of frac fluids for optimal productivity of your oil well

Frac Fluids are typically composed of water, sand or other proppants, and various chemicals. It is important to control the size of these particles

Filtration is an essential step in preparing frac fluids to ensure they meet the required specifications and perform optimally during the fracturing process.

Requirements of the customer

  • Reduce waste water, also known as produced water
  • Reduce costs of production process
  • Reduce downtime to repair equipment
  • No interruption of the production process
  • High HSE standards

Solution

  • A wide variety of cartridge or bag filterhousings
  • Dual vessel filter units, cartridge, bag or combi
  • Media filters
  • Hydrocyclones

Dutch Filtration will give you:

  • The knowledge to improve your processes
  • Save costs on filtration consumables
  • Increase the life span of filter cartridges
  • Standard and custom build filter equipment
  • Turn Key filtration projects
  • In house design and production
  • (Onsite) testing to obtain process data
  • Large stock on filter cartridges, bags and filter vessels
  • 24/7 customer service, personal and quick response

PRODUCTS FOR FRAC FLUIDS FILTRATION

PLEATED FILTER CARTRIDGES

DUAL VESSEL CARTRIDGE UNIT

DUAL VESSEL COMBI FILTER UNIT

DUAL VESSEL CARTRIDGE FILTER UNIT

MELTBLOWN/

SPUNBONDED

HYDROCYCLONE

STRING WOUND

FILTER BAGS

HIGH FLOW FILTER CARTRIDGES

FILTER PRESS

We also provide the following products and services

  • Media filters
  • Hydro cyclones
  • Training and Start-up
  • Spare parts
  • Rentals

Why is Frac Fluids Filtration important

Control of particle size: Frac fluids typically contain proppants such as sand or ceramic beads that are used to prop open the fractures in the rock. It is important to control the size of these particles to ensure they are not too large or small, which can lead to ineffective fracturing or blockages in the fractures. Filtration can remove any oversized particles and ensure consistent proppant size.

Protection of equipment:
Frac fluids are pumped at high pressures and velocities which can cause damagement on equipment.
Filtration removes solid particles that can damage pumps and valves, extending equipment life and reducing maintenance costs. 

Preservation of fluid properties:
Frac fluids are designed with specific properties such as viscosity and fluid loss to ensure effective fracking. Solid particles in a liquid can change these properties and reduce the effectiveness of the liquid. Filtration removes solids that can change the properties of the liquid, ensuring consistent performance. 

What are Frac Fluids used for?

A Frac fluid (an abbreviation for fracturing fluid) is a fluid used in hydraulic fracturing. This is a process used in oil and gas well drilling to extract hydrocarbons from rock formations. These fluids are typically composed of water, sand or other proppants, and various chemicals. 

The main purpose of frac fluids is to create fissures in rock formations to facilitate the flow of hydrocarbons into the wellbore for eventual extraction. The fluid is pumped into the borehole at high pressure, creating enough force to break the rock. 

In addition to proppant, frac fluids may contain chemicals that serve a variety of purposes, such as:  Reduce friction, prevent bacterial growth and adjust liquid viscosity. The composition of the fluid will vary depending on the particular well and formation of interest. 

Frac liquids are a controversial topic. People are concerned about the environmental effects, a lot of water is consumed and a lot of chemicals. They are still widely used in the oil and gas industry because they greatly increase the productivity of an oil well.

What are the challenges with frac fluids?

There are several challenges associated with frac fluids:

Environmental problems: As previously reported, frac fluids contain many chemicals, these can be harmful to the environment. In addition, large amounts of water are consumed. If there is not much water supply locally, this can cause problems. A good alternative for fresh water is seawater intake. 

 Disposal of Produced Water: The fluids returned to the surface during oil and gas extraction, also known as produced water, may contain high concentrations of salt, heavy metals and other contaminants. One must properly dispose of this water. Dutch Filtration offers filtration solutions for reuse or discharge of produced water read more.

Compatibility with reservoir formations: It is possible that the chemical composition of frac fluids can affect reservoir performance. For example, certain chemicals can damage the rock formation, reducing its permeability and ultimately reducing rather than increasing production yield.

Cost: Frac fluids can be expensive to produce and transport. The cost can vary depending on the of the well the composition of the fluid is determined.

Although frac fluids effectively increase oil and gas production, it is important to address these issues to ensure the sustainable and responsible use of these fluids in the future.

What types of filtration equipment can be used for filtration of Frac Fluids?

Different types of filtration equipment can be used with frac fluids depending on the specific needs of the operation. Common types of filtration equipment used with flack liquids include:   

Media Filters: Media filters are commonly used in frac fluid filtration systems. They are designed to remove larger particulates, such as sand or debris, from the fluid stream using a multi-layer filtration media. Media filters are often used in the initial stages of the filtration process.

Cartridge filter: Cartridge filters are typically used as secondary or tertiary filters infiltration systems. Small particles such as silt and clay that pass through the sand filter can be removed. Cartridge filters are often disposable and can be replaced when clogged. 

Bag filters: Bag filters are similar to cartridge filters and are used to remove small particles from a liquid stream. Often used in applications where high flow is required. 

Centrifugal Separators: A centrifugal separator uses centrifugal force to separate particles from a liquid stream. They are particularly effective at removing large particles such as sand and gravel and are often used in the early stages of the filtration process. Dutch Filtration offers hydrocyclones. Hydrocyclones are a type of centrifugal separator that use the principle of centrifugal force to separate particles from a fluid stream. They work by creating a vortex within the fluid, which causes particles to be pushed towards the outer edges of the cyclone. One advantage of using hydrocyclones is that they can operate at high flow rates, making them suitable for use in large-scale frac fluid operations. They are also relatively easy to maintain and can be cleaned by simply flushing them with water.

Filter press: Filter presses are commonly used for filtering fluids with a high solid content, such as slurries or muds, and can be effective at removing a wide range of particulate sizes, including both larger and smaller particles.

However, there are some considerations when using filter presses for frac fluids filtration. One of the main challenges is the high viscosity of the fluid, which can make it difficult to maintain the flow rate through the filter press. The high pressure required to force the fluid through the filter plates can also increase the risk of equipment failure or maintenance issues.

Additionally, filter presses can be more expensive and require more maintenance than other types of filtration equipment, such as sand filters or cartridge filters.

Overall, filter presses can be an effective option for frac fluids filtration, but their suitability will depend on the specific needs of the operation, including the type of particulates that need to be removed and the flow rate required. 

The choice of filtration equipment for frac fluids depends on the type of particles to be removed, the flow rates required and other specific needs.

Experience & Innovation

Interested in working with us?