A review of foam-based fracturing fluids applications: From lab studies to field implementations

Hydraulic fracturing, in the petroleum literature, refers to the injection of fluids at high pressure to fracture a formation in a controlled and an artificial way to enhance the productivity and/or to mitigate the near wellbore damage. Water-based fracturing fluids were the cheapest and the simplest option to fracture a reservoir. They, however, exhibit some challenges including water sensitivity of the formation, water blocking, proppant carrying and transportation challenges, water availability and low-pressure reservoirs clean-up that have motivated researchers to search for new alternatives. Foam-based fracturing technology has evolved as one of the most promising alternatives to water-based fluids because it uses little or no water. Minimal water usage, in turn, minimizes near wellbore damage, reduces permeability impairment, and alleviates environmental concerns of excessive wastewater. Moreover, shale gas reservoirs are believed to be good candidates for foam fracturing fluids. The success of foam application mainly depends on its stability and proppant carrying capacity. This paper provides a thorough review of foam-based fracturing fluids with a focus on both theory and applications. We highlighted in this article the classification, characterization, and mechanism of foam generation. The types of foam fracture fluids based on the liquid phase and their applications were illustrated. We discussed critical topics such as foam stability challenges and elastic versus rheological foam properties. The paper provided a detailed analysis of the advantages and limitations of foam fracturing compared to water fracturing. The recent advances in stabilizers and viscosifiers of foam such as polymers, thickeners, cross-linkers, and nanoparticles were investigated. Finally, we summarized the outcomes of foam fracturing in several oil and gas fields. The foam experimental and field applications results show that foam fluids can improve hydraulic fracturing technically and economically. This paper highlights the challenges and knowledge gaps for future research.