Method of recycling fracturing fluids using a self-degrading foaming composition
First Claim
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1. A method of fracturing a subterranean zone penetrated by a well bore comprising the steps of:
- (a) injecting a fracturing fluid into a subterranean zone, said fracturing fluid comprising an aqueous solution, a gelling agent, and a self-degrading foaming composition whereby said self-degrading foaming composition comprises a mixture of anionic surfactant and nonionic surfactant;
(b) adding a sufficient amount of gas to said subterranean zone to foam said fracturing fluid and form a foamed fracturing fluid;
(c) contacting said subterranean zone with said foamed fracturing fluid under conditions effective to create at least one fracture therein; and
(d) forming a substantially less stable foam when said foamed fracturing fluid is recovered after fracturing.
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Abstract
A method of fracturing a subterranean zone penetrated by a well bore by preparing a foamed fracturing fluid containing a self-degrading foaming composition comprised of a mixture of anionic surfactant and nonionic surfactant. The fracturing fluid containing a self-degrading foaming composition forms a substantially less stable foam when the foamed fracturing fluid is recovered during reclaim.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of fracturing a subterranean zone penetrated by a well bore comprising the steps of:
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(a) injecting a fracturing fluid into a subterranean zone, said fracturing fluid comprising an aqueous solution, a gelling agent, and a self-degrading foaming composition whereby said self-degrading foaming composition comprises a mixture of anionic surfactant and nonionic surfactant;
(b) adding a sufficient amount of gas to said subterranean zone to foam said fracturing fluid and form a foamed fracturing fluid;
(c) contacting said subterranean zone with said foamed fracturing fluid under conditions effective to create at least one fracture therein; and
(d) forming a substantially less stable foam when said foamed fracturing fluid is recovered after fracturing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A self-degrading foaming composition comprising a mixture of anionic surfactants selected from the group consisting of dodecylbenzenesulfonate, alpha olefin sulfonate, diphenyloxide disulfonate, alkyl naphthalene sulfonate, sulfosuccinate, sulfosuccinamate, naphthalene-formaldehyde condensate, alkyl sulfoester, alkyl sulfoamide, and mixtures thereof;
- and a nonionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of fatty acid esters, glycerol esters, ethoxylated fatty acids esters of glycol, ethoxylated fatty acid esters of polyethylene glycol and sorbitan esters;
wherein the self-degrading composition has a substantially reduced foam stability after aging. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
- and a nonionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of fatty acid esters, glycerol esters, ethoxylated fatty acids esters of glycol, ethoxylated fatty acid esters of polyethylene glycol and sorbitan esters;
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20. A foamed fracturing composition comprising:
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(a) a self-degrading foaming composition having substantially reduced foam stability after aging, said self-degrading foaming comprising (1) a mixture of anionic surfactants wherein at least one of said anionic surfactants has the general formula;
wherein R1 is selected from a group consisting of alkyl, aryl, alkaryl, alkylarylalkyl, arylalkyl, alkylamidoalkyl and alkylaminoalkyl, wherein the alkyl group has about 10 to about 18 carbon atoms, and the aryl group represents a phenyl, diphenyl, diphenylether, or naphthalene moiety; and
R2 is selected from a group consisting of hydrogen, —
CH2CH2OH, alkyl, aryl, alkaryl, alkylarylalkyl, arylalkyl, alkylamidoalkyl and alkylaminoalkyl, wherein the alkyl group has about 10 to about 18 carbon atoms, wherein the aryl group represents a phenyl, diphenyl, diphenylether, or naphthalene moiety; and
(2) at least one nonionic surfactant having the general formula;
R3C(O)O—
(CH2CH2O)pR4
wherein, R3 is hydrocarbon chain containing about 10 to about 22 carbon atoms, R4 is a hydrogen or a hydrocarbon chain containing about 1 to about 20 carbon atoms, and p is from about 1 to about 20(b) an aqueous solution;
(c) a gelling agent; and
(d) a gas.
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Specification