133 21 th International Petroleum and Natural Gas Congress and Exhibition of Turkey September 27-29, 2023 This article explores the optimization of fracturing fuids for shale rock properties. X-ray difraction, cation exchange capacity, and linear swell meter tests were used to evaluate the efectiveness of various fracturing fuid additives. The study found that clay stabilizers and potassium chloride work well together to reduce the rate of fuid imbibition into the porous rock formation, while biocides, surfactants, and friction reducers were also efective in enhancing the hydraulic fracturing process. The results provide valuable insights into how shale-fuid interactions can be infuenced by diferent materials, and can be used to optimize the extraction of resources from shale formations. Key words: Shale Rock Properties, Frac Fluid Optimization 1. INTRODUCTION Fracturing fuids, also known as fracking fuids, are liquids used in the process of hydraulic fracturing. They are injected into rock formations at high pressure to create fractures, which allow for the extraction of natural gas and oil. Fracturing fuids typically consist of water, sand, and chemicals. The water helps to create and propagate the fractures, while the sand acts as a proppant to keep the fractures open. The chemicals are added for various purposes, such as to reduce friction, prevent bacterial growth, and control the pH of the fuid. The composition of the fracturing fuid can vary depending on the specific characteristics of the rock formation and the type of hydrocarbon being extracted. Rock-fuid and fuid-fuid interactions have been studied by many researchers before [1-4]. The fracturing fuid additives used in this study are biocide, surfactant, friction reducer, and clay stabilizer. The abbreviations of the chemicals used are given in Table 1. The general properties of these additives are given below, respectively. Table 1. Frac fuids chemicals Abbreviations Fluid Concentration DI DI Water 98-99% TAP Tap Water 98-99% S2 Surfactant 0.1-0.5% FR3 Friction Reducer 0.1-1% CSTAB2 Clay Stabilizer 0.1-1% CIDE Biocide 0.01-0.1% Biocides are added to hydraulic fracturing fuids to kill or inhibit the growth of microorganisms that can be present in the rock formations. These microorganisms can consume the nutrients in the hydraulic fracturing fuid, which can cause the fuid to become less efective. They can also produce gases that can increase the pressure in the fractures, which can cause them to close. Additionally, they can cause corrosion in the pipelines and other equipment used in the hydraulic fracturing process. Biocides are added to the fuid to kill or inhibit the growth of these microorganisms, which helps to maintain the efectiveness of the fuid and prevent damage to equipment. Surfactants are used in hydraulic fracturing fuids as they reduce the surface tension between the fuid and the rock, allowing the fuid to more easily fow into the fractures in the rock. They also help to prevent the fractures from closing after the fuid is injected, which helps to keep the fractures open and increases the efectiveness of the hydraulic fracturing process. Friction reducers, also known as viscosity reducers, are added to hydraulic fracturing fuids to decrease the fuid’s resistance to fow, allowing it to move more easily through the fractures in the rock. This in turn allows the fuid to be pumped into fractures at a higher rate, increasing the eficiency and efectiveness of the hydraulic fracturing process. Additionally, friction reducers can also help to reduce the amount of energy required to pump the fuid into the fractures, which can lower costs and reduce the environmental impact of the process. Clay stabilizers, also known as clay inhibitors, are added to hydraulic fracturing fuids to prevent the clays in the rock from swelling and closing fractures created during the hydraulic fracturing process. These clays can absorb water and increase in volume, which can cause fractures to close, reducing the efectiveness of fracturing process. Clay stabilizers work by altering properties of clay minerals, inhibiting their ability to absorb water, and maintaining fractures open. By preventing clays from swelling, clay stabilizers help to keep fractures open and increase the efectiveness of fracturing treatment. 2. EXPERIMENTAL METHODS XRD, CEC and LSM tests were carried out, respectively. Each step was carried out in the procedure described below and the experiments were completed. 2.1. X-Ray Difraction (XRD) XRD is a technique used to determine the crystal structure of a material. It is based on the interaction of X-rays with the atoms in a crystal, which causes X-rays to be scattered in many directions. Pattern of these scattered X-rays can be used to determine the arrangement of atoms in the crystal. XRD is used in a variety of fields, including materials science, chemistry, and mineralogy, to identify and study the crystal structures of materials, such as minerals, metals, and polymers. It is also used to determine the purity, crystallinity, and defects of a material. Evaluation of XRD, CEC, and LSM Methods for Fracturing Fluid Optimization: Experimental Findings Ekrem Alagöz, Ahmet Ergün Mengen, Yalçın Yaradılmış Turkish Petroleum Corporation