Methods for Servicing Subterranean Wells

• US 20130233553A1
• Filed: 11/12/2010
• Published: 09/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (SLB)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (SLB)
• Inventors: Fu, Diankui, Bugrin, Vladimir Sergeevich
• Granted Patent: US 9,657,557 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/292
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2208/08 Fiber-containing well treatment fluids
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/00 Compositions for drilling of boreholes or wells; Compositions for treating boreholes or wells, e.g. for completion or for remedial operations
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/50 Compositions for plastering borehole walls, i.e. compositions for temporary consolidation of borehole walls compositions for consolidating loose sand or the like around wells C09K8/56
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/512 containing cross-linking agents
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/514 of natural origin, e.g. polysaccharides, cellulose C09K8/512 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 21/003 Means for stopping loss of drilling fluid plastering the borehole wall E21B33/138
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/138 Plastering the borehole wall; Injecting into the formation
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/16 Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons

Abstract

Methods for controlling fluid flow through one or more pathways in one or more rock formations penetrated by a borehole in a subterranean well, comprise injecting into or adjacent to the formation a treatment fluid comprising at least one polysaccharide polymer; at least one crosslinker; and fibers, or a mixture of fibers and particles. The fluids are pumped into the well through a tubular body that comprises at least one flow restriction. Shearing of the treatment fluid as it passes through the flow restriction causes the viscosity to decrease, allowing the fibers to form masses that migrate to formation-rock openings such as pores, cracks, fissures and vugs. As a result, the fibrous masses are useful for curing lost circulation, providing fluid-loss control and as diverting agents.

Claims

1. A method for controlling fluid flow through one or more pathways in one or more rock formations penetrated by a borehole in a subterranean well, comprising:

i. preparing a treatment fluid comprising (a) at least one polysaccharide polymer, (b) at least one crosslinker, and (c) fibers or a mixture of fibers and particles;

ii. pumping the treatment fluid into the well through a tubular body that comprises at least one flow restriction; and

iii. injecting the treatment fluid into or adjacent to the formation.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the polysaccharide polymer comprises one or more members of the list comprising guar, carboxymethylhydroxypropyl guar and hydroxypropyl guar.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the polysaccharide-polymer concentration is between about 1.8 g/L and about 7.2 g/L of treatment fluid.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the crosslinker comprises one or more members of the list comprising a water-soluble titanium compound, a water-soluble zirconium compound, a water-soluble borate compound and a water-soluble aluminum compound.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the crosslinker concentration in the treatment fluid is between about 0.05 mL/L and 0.5 mL/L of treatment fluid.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the fibers comprise one or more members of the list comprising polylactic acid, polyester, polylactone, polypropylene, polyolefin, polyamide, polyphenol-formaldehyde, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl chloride, carbon fiber, polyurethane and glass.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the fiber concentration is between about 6 g/L and 72 g/L of treatment fluid.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the fiber length is between about 2 mm and 25 mm, and the fiber diameter is between about 1 μ

m and 200 μ

m.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the particles comprise one or more members of the list comprising polylactic acid, polyester, calcium carbonate, quartz, mica, alumina, aluminosilicates, clay, barite, hematite, ilmenite and manganese tetraoxide.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the particle concentration is between about 6 g/L and 72 g/L of treatment fluid.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the particle size is between 5 m and 1000 μ

m.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the treatment fluid is pumped through the tubular-body restriction at a rate sufficient to subject the treatment fluid to a shear rate higher than about 1500 s⁻

1.

15. The method of any one of claim 14, wherein the tubular-body restriction comprises a drill bit.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the tubular-body restriction comprises one or more perforations.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the tubular-body restriction comprises one or more chokes.

2. A method for curing lost circulation in a subterranean well penetrated by a borehole comprising:

i. preparing a treatment fluid comprising (a) at least one polysaccharide polymer, (b) at least one crosslinker, and (c) fibers or a mixture of fibers and particles;

ii. pumping the treatment fluid into the well through a tubular body that comprises at least one flow restriction; and

iii. injecting the treatment fluid into or adjacent to the formation.

3. A method of treating a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore, comprising:

i. preparing a treatment fluid comprising (a) at least one polysaccharide polymer, (b) at least one crosslinker, and (c) fibers or a mixture of fibers and particles;

ii. pumping the treatment fluid into the well through a tubular body that comprises at least one flow restriction; and

iii. injecting the treatment fluid into or adjacent to the formation.