Sand aggregating reagents, modified sands, and methods for making and using same

• US 20070131422A1
• Filed: 12/09/2005
• Published: 06/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Lubrizol Corporation (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Clearwater International, L.L.C (Weatherford International PLC)
• Inventors: Gatlin, Larry, Hallett, Brian, Cook, Ryan
• Granted Patent: US 7,350,579 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/280.100
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2006/22 Rheological behaviour as dispersion, e.g. viscosity, sedimentation stability
• CPC Class Codes: C09C 1/30 Silicic acid
• CPC Class Codes: C09C 3/06 Treatment with inorganic compounds C09C3/006, C09C3/048 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C09C 3/08 Treatment with low-molecular-weight non-polymer organic compounds C09C3/006, C09C3/048 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/66 Compositions based on water or polar solvents C09K8/64 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/74 combined with additives added for specific purposes
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/805 Coated proppants

Abstract

A method for treating solid materials is disclosed, where the treating compositions coats surfaces or portions of surfaces of the solid materials changing an aggregation or agglomeration propensity of the materials. Treated solid materials are also disclosed. The methods and treated materials are ideally suited for oil field applications.

Claims

1. A method for changing an aggregation potential of a metal oxide-containing surface comprising the step of:

contacting the metal oxide-containing surface with a composition comprising at least a particulate metal oxide-containing solid surface acidifying agent and a particulate metal oxide-containing solid surface modifying agent under conditions sufficient to chemically modify all or a portion of the surface, where the surface can be associated with metal-oxide particles or the structures having a metal-oxide surface and where the composition comprise at least an acidifying agent and a surface modifying agent.

2. A method for fracturing a formation comprising the step of:

pumping a fracturing fluid including a composition comprising at least an acidifying agent and a surface modifying agent into a producing formation to enhance productivity at a pressure sufficient to fracture the formation and simultaneously to modify an aggregation potential and/or zeta-potential of formation particles and formation surfaces so that the formation particles aggregate and/or cling themselves and/or to the formation surfaces.

3. A method for fracturing a formation comprising the step of:

a fracturing fluid into a producing formation to enhance productivity at a pressure sufficient to fracture the formation; and

pumping a composition comprising at least an acidifying agent and a surface modifying agent into the fractured formation to modify an aggregation potential and/or zeta-potential of formation particles and formation surfaces so that the formation particles aggregate and/or cling to themselves and/or the formation surfaces.

4. A method for fracturing a formation comprising the step of:

a pre-treating a producing formation with a composition comprising at least a particulate metal oxide-containing solid surface acidifying agent and a particulate metal oxide-containing solid surface modifying agent to modify an aggregation potential and/or zeta-potential of formation surfaces so that the formation surfaces and particles formed therefrom will tend to aggregate and/or cling to themselves where the composition includes at least an acidifying agent and a surface modifying agent; and

pumping a fracturing fluid into the formation to enhance productivity at a pressure sufficient to fracture the formation.

5. A method for fracturing and propping a formation comprising the step of:

pumping a fracturing fluid including a proppant and a composition comprising at least a particulate metal oxide-containing solid surface acidifying agent and a particulate metal oxide-containing solid surface modifying agent into a producing formation to enhance productivity at a pressure sufficient to fracture the formation, with the proppant, to prop open the the fractures and, with the composition of this invention, to modify an aggregation potential and/or zeta-potential of formation particles and formation surfaces so that the formation particles aggregate and/or cling to themselves and/or the formation surfaces where the composition includes at least an acidifying agent and a surface modifying agent.

6. A method for fracturing and propping a formation comprising the step of:

pumping a fracturing fluid including a proppant into a producing formation to enhance productivity at a pressure sufficient to fracture the formation so that the proppant can prop up the fractures; and

pumping a composition comprising at least a particulate metal oxide-containing solid surface acidifying agent and a particulate metal oxide-containing solid surface modifying agent into the fractured formation to modify an aggregation potential and/or zeta-potential of formation particles and formation surfaces so that the formation particles aggregate and/or cling to themselves and/or the formation surfaces where the composition includes at least an acidifying agent and a surface modifying agent.

7. A method for fracturing and propping a formation comprising the step of:

pumping a fracturing fluid into a producing formation to enhance productivity at a pressure sufficient to fracture the formation;

pumping a proppant into the fracture formation to prop open fractures formed in the formation; and

pumping a composition comprising at least a particulate metal oxide-containing solid surface acidifying agent and a particulate metal oxide-containing solid surface modifying agent into the propped and fractured formation to modify an aggregation potential and/or zeta-potential of the proppant, formation particles and formation surfaces so that the proppant and/or formation particles aggregate and/or cling to the formation surfaces where the composition includes at least an acidifying agent and a surface modifying agent.

8. A method for fracturing and propping a formation comprising the step of:

pre-treating a producing formation with a composition comprising at least a particulate metal oxide-containing solid surface acidifying agent and a particulate metal oxide-containing solid surface modifying agent to modify an aggregation potential and/or zeta-potential of formation surfaces so that the formation surfaces and particles formed therefrom will tend to aggregate and/or cling to themselves where the composition includes at least an acidifying agent and a surface modifying agent;

pumping a fracturing fluid is pumping into the formation a producing formation to enhance productivity at a pressure sufficient to fracture the formation; and

pumping a proppant into the fracture formation to prop open fractures formed in the formation.

9. A method for drilling comprising the step of:

while drilling, circulating a drilling fluid to provide bit lubrication, heat removal and cutting removal, where the drill fluid includes a composition comprising at least a particulate metal oxide-containing solid surface acidifying agent and a particulate metal oxide-containing solid surface modifying agent, which increases an aggregation potential or zeta potential of any particulate metal oxide-containing solid in the drilling fluid or that becomes entrained in the drilling fluid to increase solids removal where the composition includes at least an acidifying agent and a surface modifying agent.

10. A method for drilling comprising the step of:

while drilling, circulating a first drilling fluid to provide bit lubrication, heat removal and cutting removal;

upon encountering an underground structure that produces undesirable quantities of particulate metal oxide-containing solids, changing the first drilling fluid for a second drilling fluid including a composition comprising at least a particulate metal oxide-containing solid surface acidifying agent and a particulate metal oxide-containing solid surface modifying agent to provide bit lubrication, heat removal and cutting removal and to increase an aggregation potential or zeta potential of any particulate metal oxide-containing solid in the drilling fluid or that becomes entrained in the drilling fluid to increase solids removal where the composition includes at least an acidifying agent and a surface modifying agent.

11. A method for drilling comprising the step of:

while drilling, circulating a first drilling fluid to provide bit lubrication, heat removal and cutting removal;

upon encountering an underground structure that produces undesirable quantities of particulate metal oxide-containing solids, changing the first drilling fluid for a second drilling fluid including a composition comprising at least a particulate metal oxide-containing solid surface acidifying agent and a particulate metal oxide-containing solid surface modifying agent to provide bit lubrication, heat removal and cutting removal and to increase an aggregation potential or zeta potential of any particulate metal oxide-containing solid in the drilling fluid or that becomes entrained in the drilling fluid to increase solids removal where the composition includes at least an acidifying agent and a surface modifying agent; and

after passing through the structure that produces an undesired quantities of particulate metal oxide-containing solids, change the second drilling fluid for the first drilling fluid or a third drilling fluid.

12. A method for for producing a well comprising the step of:

circulating a production fluid in a producing well to enhance productivity of the well, where the production fluid includes a composition comprising at least a particulate metal oxide-containing solid surface acidifying agent and a particulate metal oxide-containing solid surface modifying agent, which increases an aggregation potential or zeta potential of any particulate metal oxide-containing solid in the production fluid or that becomes entrained in the production fluid to increase solids removal.

13. A substrate for use in downhole applications comprising a metal oxide-containing solid surface treated with a treating composition comprising at least a particulate metal oxide-containing solid surface acidifying agent and a particulate metal oxide-containing solid surface modifying agent, which imparts to the surface improved aggregating properties or improved particulate adherence or affinity properties, where the composition includes at least an acidifying agent and a surface modifying agent.

14. A composition for use in downhole operations comprising:

a particulate metal oxide-containing solid surface acidifying agent; and

a particulate metal oxide-containing solid surface modifying agent.

15. The composition of claim 14, further comprising:

an aggregation enhancing agent.

16. The composition of claim 14, further comprising:

a fluid carrier.

17. The composition of claim 14, further comprising:

a thickening agent.

18. The composition of claim 15, further comprising:

a fluid carrier.

19. The composition of claim 15, further comprising:

a thickening agent.

20. An aqueous composition for use in downhole operations comprising:

a particulate metal oxide-containing solid surface acidifying agent; and

a particulate metal oxide-containing solid surface modifying agent.

21. The composition of claim 20, further comprising:

an aggregation enhancing agent.

22. The composition of claim 20, further comprising:

an aqueous fluid carrier.

23. The composition of claim 20, further comprising:

a thickening agent.

24. The composition of claim 21, further comprising:

an aqueous fluid carrier.

25. The composition of claim 21, further comprising:

a thickening agent.