Standards Development

Scope

This document specifies the requirements, sampling methods, testing methods, inspection rules, packaging, storage and transportation of drag reducers for slick water in shale gas exploration and development.

This document is applicable to the inspection, acceptance, and quality control of drag reducers for slick water during the process of shale gas exploration and development. 

Purpose

Global shale gas resources are abundant and distributed extensively across North America, South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. According to the latest data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, global recoverable shale gas reserves amount to 206.68 trillion cubic meters. Currently, countries including the United States, Canada, China, Argentina, and Brazil have achieved commercial shale gas development, with an increasing frequency of international cooperation. In large-scale shale gas development operations, slick water hydraulic fracturing is one of the core technologies employed. This method primarily utilizes drag reducers to minimize frictional resistance during pumping, enhance liquid transport efficiency, reduce equipment energy consumption, ensure the continuity and stability of fracturing operations, and facilitate reservoir development. At present, countries such as China, the United States, Canada, Argentina, and Brazil are investing significantly in the research and development of drag reducers for slick water applications. Prominent institutions, including Texas A&M University, Moscow State University of Oil and Gas, the U.S. Department of Energy, and China University of Petroleum, are heavily involved in the R&D of these drag reducers. Additionally, international oil companies like ExxonMobil, Shell, Halliburton, SNF, and BP are actively engaged in research on slick water drag reducers. In the international trade market, well-known chemical companies such as BASF, Dow Chemical, and AkzoNobel are focused on the production and sale of drag reducer products. Currently, international performance requirements for drag reducers in slick water mainly include drag reduction, drag reduction variation, solid content, dissolution time, and residue content. These performance standards have played a positive role in shale gas development across nations such as the United States, Canada, China, Argentina, and Brazil. Despite extensive research into performance testing conducted by various institutions, there is still a lack of unified standards for drag reducers used in slick water applications. This absence of standardization may lead to disagreements regarding the appropriate usage of products in cross-border cooperative projects, potentially impacting reservoir development efficacy and diminishing the efficiency of international collaborations. Therefore, it is crucial to establish international standards for slick water drag reducers that include clear performance requirements for stakeholders, including government regulatory bodies, petroleum exploration and production companies, and oil field service providers. This standardization would ensure product quality and support effective shale gas development, thus contributing positively to global climate outcomes. In summary, adopting ISO standards to standardize the requirements and testing methodologies for slick water drag reducers is essential. Such standardization will facilitate data sharing and mutual recognition, reduce trade barriers and friction, and enhance the efficiency of global shale gas development.