KCl substitute or Clay stabilizer

Annie Chemie Pvt. Ltd, is a pioneer manufacturer and exporter of Specialty chemicals, oil field shale gas fracking or hydraulic fracturing chemicals, Located at Dahej in Gujarat, India. Annie Chemie Pvt. Ltd, has manufacturing facilities and associates spread across USA, Canada, Russia, Europe, UAE, Nigeria, Algeria, Turkey, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Australia, Dubai etc.

Two mechanisms are responsible for the swelling and migration of clays, surface hydration and osmotic swelling.

Surface Hydration show little visible signs of swelling, however the pressure greater than 60,000 psi is required to desorb surface hydration moisture.

Swelling and softening of clays due to Osmotic differences is a bigger problem. This occurs when concentration of Ions (like Na+, Ca++, Cl-, etc) in the clay at the wellbore walls is higher than that of the drilling fluid. Due to this difference in ion concentrations (aka osmotic pressure), water moves toward the clay surface causing swelling. The amount of swelling depends up on the concentration of salts in the clay relative to the salts in the fluid.

Hence the objective is to keep a sufficiently high ion concentration in the fluid to prevent swelling.

Clay Stabilizers work on the principle of Cation Ion Exchange, similar to water softeners resins. Water softeners can be regenerated using Salt, KCl, and many other cations. Similarly, Clay’s can be stabilized using a variety of cations.

Using sacks of KCl is a difficult approach, especially with the increased fluid volumes used in fracturing. Handling, mixing and disposal costs related to sacks of KCl are prohibitive. Herein, we will discuss a few potential Clay Stabilizers, compare their performance and economics.

Several options are available as KCl replacements or Clay Stabilizers:

1. TMAC 50% (Tetramethylammonium Chloride 50%): This cheap and easy to apply quat gives a lower performance than that of 2% KCl. However, TMAC is toxic. Hence its use is dwindling
2. Choline Chloride 75%: Also know as (2-hydroxyethyl) trimethylammonium chloride is very similar in structure to TMAC. It costs slightly more than TMAC, and its performance better than that TMAC but lower than that of 2% KCl. Its used in feed additives and vitamin pills, is safe & biodegradable. This is becoming the product of choice in the industry due to its safety features.
3. Choline Chloride 50%: Used in preference to Choline Chloride 75% due to easier handling. On a per unit of Choline the 50% is marginally more expensive; but the added expense is more than recovered in the better handling and dosing performance.
4. Clay Ste Adv™ is a blend of Choline Chloride, Cations and Conditioners. It is cheaper than all of the above, and performs similar to neat Choline Chloride 75% due to presence of various additional ions. The Tetramethylammonium and (2-hydroxyethyl) trimethylammonium are relatively large ions. Also, both these are monovalent. Clay Ste Adv™ contains other smaller sized monovalent, divalent and trivalent ions which help in a faster ion exchange and the conditioners help in preparing the surface of the clay for a better interaction with the cations present.

Comparison of CST Times for various Clay Stabilizers*

Product	CST Filtration Time secs
Clay Ste ADV™ - 2 gpt	220
2%KCl	205
50% Choline Chloride - 2 gpt	307
50% Choline Chloride - 2.8 gpt	219
75% Choline Chloride - 2 gpt	220
TMAC - 2 gpt	297
DI Water	535

Clay Stabilizer STE Adv is extensively used in frac jobs or oil well drilling, fracturing or fracking.

Clay Ste Adv™ is a liquid product designed specifically for use as a replacement for solid potassium chloride (KCl). Clay Ste Adv™ is biodegradable.

Compatibility with brine, calcium chloride, KCl solutions as well as all known fracturing fluids, cross-linkers and breakers.

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