Fracturing Fluid pH and Conductivity Retention in Shale

Abstract

Fluid pH can influence shale reactions, but it is not a standalone predictor of retained fracture conductivity. Mineral removal may create space while simultaneous weakening or particle release degrades a loaded flow path. This note proposes a comparison strategy that tracks inlet and outlet chemistry, exposure, mechanical response, and conductivity at matched stress. The resulting framework distinguishes an unloaded etching observation from demonstrated hydraulic benefit under closure and avoids treating equal pH as equal fluid chemistry.