Preparation and Performance Evaluation of a Self-Crosslinking Emulsion-Type Fracturing Fluid for Quasi-Dry CO₂...

Quasi-dry CO₂ fracturing technology is a new CO₂ fracturing technology that combines liquid CO₂ fracturing (dry CO₂ fracturing) and water-based fracturing. It uses a liquid CO₂ system containing a small amount of water-based fracturing fluid to carry sand, and it is characterized by sand blending at normal pressure, convenient preparation, the integrated application of resistance reduction and sand carrying, and no dedicated closed sand blender requirement. We developed a self-crosslinking emulsion-type water-based fracturing fluid (ZJL-1), which contained ionic bonds, hydrogen bonds, van der Waals forces, and hydrophobic associations, for quasi-dry CO₂ fracturing, and the comprehensive properties of the ZJL-1 fracturing fluid were evaluated. The results showed that the ZJL-1 fracturing fluid had obvious viscoelastic characteristics, a heat loss rate of less than 10% at 200 °C, a good thermal stability, sufficient rheology under high temperature and high shear conditions, and a good thermal stability. The resistance reduction rate reached 70%, which demonstrates a good resistance reduction performance. Compared with conventional guar fracturing fluid, ZJL-1 can carry more sand and has a lower core damage rate. The on-site use of quasi-dry fracturing showed that optimizing the mixing ratio of liquid CO₂ fracturing fluid and ZJL-1 fracturing fluid effectively enhanced oil and gas recovery. This can be used to optimize quasi-dry fracturing and can be used as a reference.