Friction Reducers for Oilfield Stimulation
As a key component in slickwater applications, traditional emulsion-based friction reducers have long been a mainstay of the North American completions market.
Friction reducers are intended to reduce the friction in the wellbore during the drilling and stimulation processes in unconventional reservoirs such as coal beds and shales. The large volumes of water pumped, and high rates required, result in high friction pressures from turbulent fluid flow. Cationic or anionic friction reducers reduce turbulence and minimize friction losses.
However, these polyacrylamide-based liquid invert emulsions (friction reducers) are limited by poor water quality tolerance, limited proppant carrying capacity, and escalating costs. Until now.
HiRate™ High Efficiency Friction Reducers (HEFRs)
Innospec Oilfield Services (IOS) offers a wide range of proprietary formula liquid or dry friction reducers specifically designed for the unconventional challenges that face many clients today: to deliver lower pumping pressures using less product in less time.
Proven superior performance in slickwater fracturing.
Since 2015, IOS has focused on emulsion chemistry, with a goal of having its application deliver far more than mere reduced friction. Today, Innospec’s extensive portfolio of High Efficiency Friction Reducers (HEFR), such as our HiRate Plus and HiRate MAXX series, successfully meet a myriad of customer needs with industry-leading features and benefits, including:
- Less product per stage
- Superior friction reduction
- Ultra-fast inversion
- Significant cost savings
- Brine tolerant formulations
- Operational simplicity
- Reduced and stabilized treating pressures throughout formation
- Smaller onsite footprint
- Better sand transport
- Aggressive sand ramps
- Enhanced safety
Frequently Asked Questions
Friction is reduced using specialized polymer-based additives called friction reducers (FRs), which are injected into water-based fluids during hydraulic fracturing. These additives lower drag in the wellbore, allowing higher pump rates at lower pressure. Advanced friction reducers are engineered to perform across a wide range of conditions, helping improve proppant transport and stimulation efficiency in both conventional and unconventional completion applications.
Stimulation performance can be improved by increasing fracture complexity and fluid efficiency. Tailored friction reducers, surfactants, and breakers help optimize fluid viscosity, reduce surface pressure, and improve reservoir contact. Innospec Oilfield Services enhances standard chemistries to improve fluid performance, maximize flowback, reduce formation damage, and increase hydrocarbon recovery across a wide range of geological conditions.
Reducing friction in stimulation fluids allows for higher pump rates, lower surface pressure, reduced energy consumption, and improved operational control. It also helps minimize equipment wear and improve proppant placement in the reservoir. Innospec’s friction reducers support greater lateral coverage and stimulation intensity, helping improve production and overall fracturing efficiency.
A friction reducer is a water-soluble polymer additive used to lower frictional pressure losses during hydraulic fracturing. It allows for efficient high-rate pumping by reducing drag inside the pipe or wellbore. Innospec’s friction reducers are formulated for various water chemistries and reservoir types, enabling enhanced proppant placement and stimulation effectiveness in both conventional and unconventional plays.
Oil and gas operations may use anionic, cationic, and non-ionic friction reducers, selected based on formation characteristics and water chemistry. Innospec offers a broad line of high-performance friction reducers designed for compatibility across many applications. These products help reduce pressure, improve flow rates, and support more effective fracture design in challenging well conditions.
Friction Reduction vs. Time
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