Methods of treating subterranean formations using low-temperature fluids

• US 20060201674A1
• Filed: 03/10/2005
• Published: 09/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Soliman, Mohamed Y., Adams, David
• Application Number:
  US11/076,809
• Publication Number:
  US 20060201674A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/298
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 36/001 Cooling arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/114 Perforators using direct fluid action on the wall to be perforated, e.g. abrasive jets
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/2605 using gas or liquefied gas

Abstract

Methods for treating subterranean formations using low-temperature fluids are provided. An example of a method is a method of treating a subterranean formation. Another example of a method is a method of fracturing a subterranean formation. Another example of a method is a method of producing hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation.

Claims

1. A method of treating a subterranean formation comprising placing a low-temperature fluid in a subterranean formation so as to create or enhance at least one fracture therein, the low-temperature fluid having a temperature below the ambient temperature at the surface.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the low-temperature fluid has a temperature of less than about 40°

F.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the low-temperature fluid comprises a liquefied gas.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the low-temperature fluid comprises an aqueous solution of potassium chloride having a temperature of about, or below, 40°

F.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the liquefied gas comprises carbon dioxide.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one created or enhanced fracture is a thermally-induced fracture.

7. A method of fracturing a subterranean formation comprising:

positioning a hydrojetting tool having at least one fluid jet forming nozzle in a portion of the subterranean formation to be fractured; and

jetting a low-temperature fluid through the nozzle so as to create at least one fracture in the formation, the low-temperature fluid having a temperature below the ambient temperature at the surface.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the low-temperature fluid comprises a liquefied gas.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the low-temperature fluid comprises an aqueous solution of potassium chloride having a temperature of about, or below, 40°

F.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the liquefied gas comprises carbon dioxide.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein jetting a low-temperature fluid through the nozzle so as to create at least one fracture therein further comprises inducing the formation to thermally fracture.

12. The method of claim 7 further comprising flowing the low-temperature fluid from ground surface to the hydrojetting tool, wherein the low-temperature fluid flows through at least one insulated conduit section.

13. The method of claim 7 further comprising flowing the low-temperature fluid from ground surface to the hydrojetting tool, wherein the low-temperature fluid flows through insulated coiled tubing.

14. The method of claim 7 wherein the low-temperature fluid has a temperature of less than about 40°

F.

15. The method of claim 7 further comprising pumping a low-temperature fluid into an annulus between the hydrojetting tool and the formation so as to extend the at least one fracture into the formation.

16. A method of producing hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation comprising:

placing a low-temperature fluid in a subterranean formation so as to create or enhance at least one fracture therein, the low-temperature fluid having a temperature below the ambient temperature at the surface; and

permitting hydrocarbons in the formation to flow through the at least one created or enhanced fracture to the surface.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the low-temperature fluid has a temperature of less than about 40°

F.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the low-temperature fluid comprises a liquefied gas.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the low-temperature fluid comprises an aqueous solution of potassium chloride having a temperature of about, or below, 40°

F.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein the at least one created or enhanced fracture is a thermally-induced fracture.