The Fracwave Research Group at the University of Houston has developed a new stimulation technology that is now field-ready for deployment. Known as Nanoparticle-Enhanced Plasma Pulse Stimulation (PPPS), this electrified method combines microsecond plasma discharges with engineered nanoparticle fluids to create complex fractures deep in the formation—without massive water volumes, chemicals, or proppant.
Why PPPS, Why Now
For decades, acidizing and hydraulic fracturing have been the mainstay of stimulation. Yet both face mounting limits. Acidizing works primarily in carbonates and carries corrosion and scaling risks. Hydraulic fracturing requires millions of gallons of water and extensive logistics, while concerns over induced seismicity and environmental footprint continue to grow.
The industry needs a stimulation method that is formation-agnostic, operationally efficient, and ESG-aligned. PPPS was designed precisely to fill this gap.
How It Works
Surface capacitor banks release controlled electrical pulses down coiled tubing to a rugged plasma tool. Once discharged, the tool ignites a nanoparticle-laden fluid. Thermite-like reactions amplify the discharge into shock pulses greater than 100,000 psi, generating fractures that extend well beyond the near-wellbore. The fluids are engineered for conductivity and cleanup, leaving no proppant behind.
What Makes It Different
PPPS is compact, precise, and versatile. A treatment requires only coiled tubing, a power unit, and the plasma tool—a fraction of the equipment footprint of a frac spread. The system is effective in tight oil and gas reservoirs, depleted producers, water injectors, and even high-temperature geothermal formations where conventional fluids fail. By eliminating water and proppant demand, PPPS offers a significant cost and logistics advantage, while also aligning with corporate sustainability commitments.
Ready for Field Pilots
Following extensive design and validation, PPPS is now prepared for multi-well pilot trials. Candidate applications include horizontal producers where enhanced connectivity is needed, vertical wells where near-wellbore damage limits performance, and injectors where increased index is sought at lower pressures.
Performance will be measured by fold-of-increase in productivity or injectivity, fracture confirmation through imaging or logging, and diagnostic improvements in pressure transient and rate transient analysis. The safety case is strong, with short-duration pulses, precise zonal placement, and reduced surface intensity.
Collaboration Opportunity
Fracwave is now inviting operators, service companies, and technology partners to join in bringing PPPS into the field. Operators can nominate wells and provide performance data, while service companies can support tool manufacturing and integration. In return, collaborators gain early access to a disruptive technology with the potential to reduce costs, lower environmental footprint, and improve well performance across reservoir types.
A Call to Action
The transition to cleaner, more adaptable stimulation is already underway. With PPPS now field-ready, the next step is collaboration. Fracwave is preparing a kickoff workshop to align specifications, finalize candidate wells, and begin deployment planning.
PPPS offers efficiency, sustainability, and performance in one package. The question is no longer whether the technology works—it is which companies will move first to prove it in the field.
How Companies Can Collaborate
With PPPS now field-ready, the next step is industry collaboration. The Fracwave Research Group invites operators, service companies, and technology partners to join in advancing this technology through structured multi-well pilots.
Operators can contribute candidate wells across diverse applications—tight oil and gas horizontals, depleted producers, injectors, and high-temperature geothermal wells. In return, they gain first-mover access to field data demonstrating how electrified stimulation can lower costs, reduce water use, and improve recovery.
Service companies can support with tool manufacturing, coiled tubing integration, and pulsed-power delivery. This creates the opportunity to establish a new service line built around compact, electrified stimulation instead of conventional large-scale frac fleets.
Technology partners and investors can collaborate on scaling the surface capacitor systems, refining nanoparticle fluid supply chains, and accelerating deployment across basins. Their involvement ensures the system can move quickly from pilot to commercial scale.
Together, these collaborations form the backbone of PPPS deployment. By sharing wells, expertise, and operational data, partners not only help validate the technology but also position themselves at the forefront of a cleaner, more efficient future for well stimulation.
Contact us to discuss more.