Delayed crosslinking agents for high-temperature fracturing

• US 20100048430A1
• Filed: 08/19/2008
• Published: 02/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Robert A. Kent
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Loveless, David, Funkhouser, Gary P.
• Application Number:
  US12/229,176
• Publication Number:
  US 20100048430A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 507/219
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/685 containing cross-linking agents

Abstract

Treatment fluids comprising gelling agents and high-temperature, delayed crosslinkers, and methods of use in subterranean operations, are provided. In one embodiment, a method of treating a subterranean formation includes providing a treatment fluid comprising an aqueous base fluid; a gelling agent comprising terpolymer of 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid, acrylamide, and acrylic acid or a salt thereof; and a crosslinking agent comprising at least one component selected from the group consisting of zirconyl chloride and zirconium sulfate; and introducing the treatment fluid into a subterranean formation.

Claims

1. A treatment fluid comprising:

an aqueous base fluid;

gelling agent comprising a terpolymer of 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid, acrylamide, and acrylic acid or a salt thereof; and

a crosslinking agent comprising at least one component selected from the group consisting of zirconyl chloride and zirconium sulfate.

2. The treatment fluid of claim 1, wherein the 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid is present in the terpolymer in an amount of about 55% to about 65% by weight, the acrylamide is present in the terpolymer in an amount of about 34.5% to about 44.5% by weight, and the acrylic acid or salt thereof is present in the terpolymer in an amount of about 0.1% to about 1.0% by weight.

3. The treatment fluid of claim 1, wherein the crosslinking agent further comprises a crosslinking delaying agent selected from the group consisting of lactic acid, glycerin, glycolic acid, and tartaric acid.

4. The treatment fluid of claim 1, wherein the crosslinking agent further comprises a stabilizing agent selected from the group consisting of propionate, acetate, formate, triethanolamine and triisopropanolamine.

5. The treatment fluid of claim 1, further comprising a delayed gel breaker selected from the group consisting of manganese dioxide, sodium chlorate and sodium bromate.

6. The treatment fluid of claim 1, further comprising a gel stabilizer selected from the group consisting of erythorbic acid, ascorbic acid, isoascorbic acid, and alkali metal salts thereof.

7. A method of treating a subterranean formation, comprising:

providing a treatment fluid comprising an aqueous base fluid;

a gelling agent comprising terpolymer of 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid, acrylamide, and acrylic acid or a salt thereof; and

a crosslinking agent comprising at least one component selected from the group consisting of zirconyl chloride and zirconium sulfate; and

introducing the treatment fluid into a subterranean formation.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid is present in the terpolymer in an amount of about 55% to about 65% by weight, the acrylamide is present in the terpolymer in an amount of about 34.5% to about 44.5% by weight, and the acrylic acid or salt thereof is present in the terpolymer in an amount of about 0.1% to about 1.0% by weight.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the crosslinking agent further comprises a crosslinking delaying agent selected from the group consisting of lactic acid, glycerin, glycolic acid, and tartaric acid.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the crosslinking agent further comprises a stabilizing agent selected from the group consisting of propionate, acetate, formate, triethanolamine and triisopropanolamine.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the treatment fluid further comprises a delayed gel breaker selected from the group consisting of manganese dioxide, sodium chlorate, and sodium bromate.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the treatment fluid further comprises a gel stabilizer selected from the group consisting of erythorbic acid, ascorbic acid, isoascorbic acid, and alkali metal salts thereof.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the treatment fluid further comprises a pH-adjusting agent selected from the group consisting of sulfamic acid, sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, and sodium bisulfate.

14. A method of fracturing a subterranean formation, comprising:

providing a treatment fluid comprising an aqueous base fluid;

a gelling agent comprising terpolymer of 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid, acrylamide, and acrylic acid or a salt thereof; and

a crosslinking agent comprising at least one component selected from the group consisting of zirconyl chloride and zirconium sulfate; and

introducing the treatment fluid into a subterranean formation at a pressure sufficient to create or enhance at least one fracture within the subterranean formation.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid is present in the terpolymer in an amount of about 55% to about 65% by weight, the acrylamide is present in the terpolymer in an amount of about 34.5% to about 44.5% by weight, and the acrylic acid or salt thereof is present in the terpolymer in an amount of about 0.1% to about 1.0% by weight.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the crosslinking agent further comprises a crosslinking delaying agent selected from the group consisting of lactic acid, glycerin, glycolic acid, and tartaric acid.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the crosslinking agent further comprises a stabilizing agent selected from the group consisting of propionate, acetate, formate, triethanolamine and triisopropanolamine.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the treatment fluid further comprises a delayed gel breaker selected from the group consisting of manganese dioxide, sodium chlorate, and sodium bromate.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the treatment fluid further comprises a gel stabilizer selected from the group consisting of erythorbic acid, ascorbic acid, isoascorbic acid, and alkali metal salts thereof.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the treatment fluid further comprises a pH-adjusting agent selected from the group consisting of sulfamic acid, sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, and sodium bisulfate.