Methods for Generating Highly Conductive Channels in Propped Fractures

• US 20140131042A1
• Filed: 11/13/2012
• Published: 05/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Nguyen, Philip D., Weaver, Jimmie D.
• Application Number:
  US13/675,607
• Publication Number:
  US 20140131042A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/280.2
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/80 Compositions for reinforcing fractures, e.g. compositions of proppants used to keep the fractures open

Abstract

Methods of forming conductive channels in a subterranean formation including providing a subterranean formation having a threshold fracture gradient; introducing a fracturing fluid at a rate above the threshold fracture gradient so as to enhance or create at least one fracture in the subterranean formation; introducing a proppant slurry into the at least one fracture at a rate above the threshold fracture gradient so as to propagate the at least one fracture and deposit the proppant slurry therein; wherein the proppant slurry comprises a base fluid and proppant particulates; injecting a substantially proppant-free resilient viscous fluid into the proppant slurry deposited in the at least one fracture at a rate below the threshold fracture gradient so as to generate a continuous channel within the proppant slurry; setting the proppant slurry; and removing the substantially proppant-free resilient viscous fluid from the at least one fracture in the subterranean formation.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing a subterranean formation having a threshold fracture gradient;

introducing a fracturing fluid at a rate above the threshold fracture gradient so as to enhance or create at least one fracture in the subterranean formation;

introducing a proppant slurry into the at least one fracture at a rate above the threshold fracture gradient so as to propagate the at least one fracture and deposit the proppant slurry therein;

wherein the proppant slurry comprises a base fluid and proppant particulates;

injecting a substantially proppant-free resilient viscous fluid into the proppant slurry deposited in the at least one fracture at a rate below the threshold fracture gradient so as to generate a continuous channel within the proppant slurry;

setting the proppant particulates; and

removing the substantially proppant-free resilient viscous fluid from the at least one fracture in the subterranean formation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the propping particulate is a hydraulic cement;

a non-hydraulic cement;

a sand;

a bauxite;

a ceramic material;

a glass material;

a polymer material;

a polytetrafluoroethylene material;

a nut shell piece;

a cured resinous particulate comprising a nut shell piece;

a seed shell piece;

a cured resinous particulate comprising a seed shell piece;

a fruit pit piece;

a cured resinous particulate comprising a fruit pit piece;

a wood particulate;

a silica particulate;

an alumina particulate;

a fumed carbon particulate;

a carbon black particulate;

a graphite particulate;

a mica particulate;

a titanium dioxide material;

a meta-silicate material;

a calcium silicate material;

a kaolin particulate;

a talc particulate;

a zirconia material;

a boron material;

a fly ash material;

any composite particulates thereof; and

any combinations thereof.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the proppant slurry further comprises a consolidating agent.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the proppant slurry further comprises a degradable particulate.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the substantially proppant-free resilient viscous fluid comprises a foaming agent and an encapsulated foam breaker.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the foaming agent is selected from the group consisting of an ethoxylated alcohol ether sulfate;

an alkyl amidopropyl betaine;

an alkene amidopropyl betaine surfactant;

an alkyl amidopropyl dimethyl amine oxide; and

alkene amidopropyl dimethyl amine oxide;

any derivatives thereof; and

any combinations thereof.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the foam breaker is selected from the group consisting of an oil-based foam breakers;

water-based foam breakers;

silicone-based foam breakers;

polymer-based foam breakers;

alkyl polyacrylate foam breakers; and

any combinations thereof.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the resilient foam further comprises a gas generating agent selected from the group consisting of nitrogen;

carbon dioxide;

air;

methane;

helium;

argon; and

any combination thereof.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the substantially proppant-free resilient viscous fluid further comprises a nano-particle.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein the substantially proppant-free resilient viscous fluid further comprises a consolidating agent.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the substantially proppant-free resilient viscous fluid is injected at spaced intervals in the fracture, wherein the spaced intervals are spaced at no greater than about 5 feet apart.

12. A method comprising:

providing a subterranean formation having a threshold fracture gradient;

introducing a fracturing fluid at a rate above the threshold fracture gradient so as to enhance or create at least one fracture in the subterranean formation;

introducing a proppant slurry into the at least one fracture at a rate above the threshold fracture gradient so as to propagate the at least one fracture and deposit the proppant slurry therein;

wherein the proppant slurry comprises a base fluid and proppant particulates;

injecting a substantially proppant-free resilient viscous fluid into the proppant slurry deposited in the at least one fracture at a rate below the threshold fracture gradient at spaced intervals so as to generate spaced continuous substantially proppant-free channels within the proppant slurry;

setting the proppant particulates; and

removing the substantially proppant-free resilient viscous fluid from the at least one fracture in the subterranean formation.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the substantially proppant-free resilient viscous fluid is injected at spaced intervals using an inflatable straddle packer or an opposing washcup packer.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the substantially proppant-free resilient viscous fluid is injected at spaced intervals in the fracture, wherein the spaced intervals are spaced at no greater than about 5 feet apart.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the substantially proppant-free resilient viscous fluid comprises a foaming agent, an encapsulated foam breaker, a gas generating agent, and a nano-particle.

16. A method comprising:

providing a subterranean formation having a threshold fracture gradient;

introducing a fracturing fluid at a rate above the threshold fracture gradient so as to enhance or create at least one fracture in the subterranean formation;

introducing a proppant slurry into the at least one fracture at a rate above the threshold fracture gradient so as to propagate the at least one fracture and deposit the proppant slurry therein;

wherein the proppant slurry comprises a base fluid and a propping particulate;

injecting a substantially proppant-free resilient viscous fluid into the proppant slurry deposited in the at least one fracture at a rate below the threshold fracture gradient so as to generate a continuous channel within the proppant slurry;

wherein the substantially proppant-free resilient viscous fluid comprises a foaming agent, an encapsulated foam breaker, and a gas generating agent;

setting the proppant particulates; and

removing the substantially proppant-free resilient viscous fluid from the at least one fracture in the subterranean formation.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the substantially proppant-free resilient viscous fluid is injected at spaced intervals in the fracture, wherein the spaced intervals are spaced at no greater than about 5 feet apart.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the foaming agent is present in an amount of about 0.1% to about 10% by volume of the substantially proppant-free resilient viscous fluid.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the base fluid of the proppant slurry and the substantially proppant-free resilient viscous fluid are immiscible.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the substantially proppant-free resilient viscous fluid further comprises a consolidating agent.