Title: The Determination of Dynamic Proppant
Concentration Field in Slot Flow in the FFCF
Author(s): Ronnie Beason and John Fagan, The
University of Oklahoma
Presentation: SPE Annual Conference and
Exhibition
Location: Dallas, Texas USA
Date: October 22-25, 1995
Abstract: This paper presents a methodology for the
determination of dynamic proppant concentration mapping in
slot flow in the Fracturing Fluid Characterization Facility
(FFCF). The technique presented here is used in the FFCF for
the purpose o monitoring and mapping proppant concentration
as a function of time for clear slot flow and flow in the
High Pressure Simulator (HPS) at FFCF. The methodology
allows the FFCF user, for the first time to determine the
instantaneous spacial proppant concentration during slot
flow of slurries. The use of video has long been used
extensively to record the complex fluid dynamics phenomena
associated with the movement of fracturing fluids and its
associated proppant. However, the actual quantification of
this video data, for the purposes of determination of fluid
and proppant behavior study, has only recently become
possible at the FFCF on the University of Oklahoma campus.
Video tape taken of both linear and cross-linked slurries
flowing in a transparent slot can be processed and, the
quantification of proppant image processing. The research
technique involves digitizing black and white video images
frame by frame (up to 30 frames per second) and performing a
group of mathematical transformations to create contour maps
of the images' gray scales. The technique uses a method of
measuring spacial light attenuation through the slot flow
and a mapping of the light intensity using of a calibrated
standard to proppant concentration. The method makes use of
video technology and the real time digitizing, quantifying,
and mapping of real time video. The paper will present the
overall software and hardware scheme used to accomplish this
visualization task, snapshots of the real videos produced by
the technique, and how the technique is used in the
FFCF.