An integrated hydraulic fracture design model that utilizes elastic fluids with high proppant suspension and low required power for injection into a hydrocarbon-bearing, subterranean formation. The integrated physics-based approach utilizes a hybrid friction model to compute viscous and elastic behavior to estimate pressure losses at different pumping conditions coupled with a novel geomechanical model capable of modeling proppant transport with elastic fluids in planar hydraulic fractures and natural fractures. An integrated process to optimize hydraulic fracture design evaluates and quantifies the proppant-carrying capacity of elastic fluids and its impact on the proppant transport process, and low water requirements.

An integrated hydraulic fracture design model that utilizes elastic fluids with high proppant suspension and low required power for injection into a hydrocarbon-bearing, subterranean formation. The integrated physics-based approach utilizes a hybrid friction model to compute viscous and elastic behavior to estimate pressure losses at different pumping conditions coupled with a novel geomechanical model capable of modeling proppant transport with elastic fluids in planar hydraulic fractures and natural fractures. An integrated process to optimize hydraulic fracture design evaluates and quantifies the proppant-carrying capacity of elastic fluids and its impact on the proppant transport process, and low water requirements.

Techniques for determining rheological properties of a fluid include actuating a resonator disposed in a volume that contains a fluid sample to operate the resonator in the fluid sample at a predetermined actuation scheme; measuring at least one characteristic of the resonator based on the operation of the resonator in the fluid sample; comparing the at least one measured characteristic to a rheological model that associates characteristics of the fluid sample to one or more rheological properties; and based on the comparison, determining one or more rheological properties of the fluid sample.

The invention provides a viscometer and an operation method thereof. The viscometer comprises a disk and at least one microfluidic structure. The microfluidic structure is embedded in the disk and has a first chamber which is connected to a second chamber. The second chamber is provided with an annular chamber along the circumferential direction of the disk and comprises at least one indicator. Overall, the present viscometer and its operation method do utilize the oscillation amplitude of pendulum motion of the indicator to calculate a viscosity value (cP) of a sample which has already existed in the second chamber.

Sag propensity of a fluid can be determined by applying an oscillatory strain at an amplitude in excess of a linear region and below a yield strain of the drilling fluid. This may include use of medium amplitude oscillatory shear (MAOS), from which an elastic modulus of the fluid is determined. The elastic modulus may be determined over time, from which a time to reach maximum elastic modulus can be determined. The time to reach maximum elastic modulus is then converted or correlated to a drilling fluid sag propensity for the drilling fluid either in absolute terms or in relation to base or comparison fluids. Such an evaluation can be performed using a torsional resonance device in which the oscillatory strain is controllable so as to be maintained relatively constant during the measurement.

A model of the viscoplastic boundary layer of a yield stress fluid is described and, based on which, there is provided a method of estimating the yield stress of a flowing yield stress fluid using one or more vibratory transducers having a vibratory surface in contact with the yield stress fluid, the method comprising: vibrating a vibratory surface of a vibratory transducer to transmit a wave from a vibrating surface into a viscoplastic boundary layer of the flowing yield stress fluid, the wave propagating a distance into the viscoplastic boundary layer; making, using the vibrations of the vibratory transducer, one or more measurements of the degree of damping of vibration; and estimating the yield stress of the flowing yield stress fluid based on the one or more measurements of the degree of damping of vibration. There are disclosed single-frequency, dual-frequency and triple-frequency modes of operation.

Devices, methods, and non-transitory computer readable media for measuring properties of a material are disclosed. A device is configured to automatically identify a property of the material such as a surface of the material as a measuring head of a spindle engages the material as the spindle is lowered. After the material surface is identified, the device is configured to automatically lower the measuring head to a predefined depth within the material with respect to the material surface. The device may measure another property of the material such as a rheological property with the measuring head at the predefined depth. The device may change the depth of the measuring head during measurement of the rheological property.

A process for evaluating rheological characteristics of an injectable gel including measuring the flexibility, wherein the flexibility is evaluated by measuring the strain at the crossover point of the amplitude sweep. The process may include subjecting an injectable gel to oscillating mechanical stresses to determine G′ and G″ as a function of strain (γ) in an amplitude sweep, determining the crossover point as the point at which G′ and G″ have the same value, determining the strain γ.sub.cross at the crossover point, and determining the flexibility of the injectable gel as γ.sub.cross or proportional to γ.sub.cross. Further, a method of comparison of dermal fillers by measuring their flexibility and a method of evaluation of dermal filler behavior in human skin by measuring the flexibility.

An apparatus is for use in viscoelastic analysis, for example in coagulation testing of sample liquids, such as blood and/or its elements. In the apparatus for use in viscoelastic analysis, the rotating means are provided below the cup, pin and cup receiving element. A capacitive detection means and temperature control devices may be used in the apparatus for use in viscoelastic analysis. A method of performing viscoelastic analysis, e.g. coagulation analysis, on a sample may use the devices and apparatuses.

A rheometer apparatus and methods of use are provided. In one embodiment, the rheometer includes a sleeve having an interior space; a cylindrical bob disposed within the interior space of the sleeve and coupled to a first end of a bob shaft; a cross-spring pivot coupled to a second end of the bob shaft; an arm coupled to and projecting radially from the cylindrical bob; and a linear actuator coupled to the arm. In some embodiments, the rheometer apparatus may facilitate more accurate gel shear strength measurements and/or may be correlated with existing rheometer measurements.