What Is A Friction Reducer and Why Is It Needed?

Traditional emulsion-based friction reducers have long been a pillar in the market as a critical component in slickwater applications.

During the drilling and stimulation processes in unconventional reservoirs such as coal beds and shale, friction reducers aim to minimize the friction in the wellbore. The large volumes of water pumped, and high rates required, result in high friction pressures from turbulent fluid flow. Cationic or anionic friction reducers reduce turbulence and prevent friction losses.

However, these polyacrylamide-based liquid invert emulsions (friction reducers) become limited by poor water quality tolerance, limited proppant carrying capacity, and escalating costs. That is, until now.

Hydraulic fracturing fluid, also known as fracking fluid, is comprised primarily of water mixed with sand and then topped off with a few additives that improve the fluid’s performance. The sand is known as proppant in the drilling world. Its job is to keep small fissures created by the hydraulic fracturing operation from collapsing when the oil well moves into the production phase. Pumping this mixture – or slurry, as its better known – down the wellbore creates friction between the fracking fluid and the well’s piping. This increased friction leads to more wear and tear on pumps and other drilling equipment. That is why friction reducer additives are so crucial to the whole well stimulation operation.

Friction reducers are purposed to help make the hydraulic fracturing fluid slicker – hence the name “slickwater” given to the entire process. Formulations for friction reducer additives usually contain polyacrylamide, a water-soluble polymer that reduces friction and boosts the viscosity of the hydraulic fluid. The reduced friction increases pump efficiency, and the increased viscosity helps keep proppant in suspension and evenly distributed throughout the fluid. In addition to polyacrylamide, a friction reducer additive might contain petroleum distillates, surfactants, or other substances. The purpose of these substances is to increase the additive’s performance or compatibility with other additives in the hydraulic fracturing fluid.

JJTAMEZ offers a wide range of proprietary formula liquid or dry friction reducers specifically designed to deliver lower pumping pressures using less product in less time. Our superior performance has been proven time and again in slickwater fracturing.

At JJTAMEZ, we focused on emulsion chemistry intending to have its application deliver far more than merely reduced friction. We aim to meet the customer needs with industry-leading features and benefits, including:

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