METHODS FOR ENHANCING PROPPED FRACTURE CONDUCTIVITY

• US 20160053160A1
• Filed: 11/11/2013
• Published: 02/25/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: NGUYEN, Philip D., MOCK, Brian D
• Granted Patent: US 9,688,905 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2208/02 Spotting, i.e. using additives for releasing a stuck drill
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2208/12 Swell inhibition, i.e. using additives to drilling or well treatment fluids for inhibiting clay or shale swelling or disintegrating
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/035 Organic additives
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/467 containing additives for specific purposes
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/52 Compositions for preventing, limiting or eliminating depositions, e.g. for cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/565 Oil-based compositions
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/5751 Macromolecular compounds C09K8/5756 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/602 containing surfactants
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/64 Oil-based compositions
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/68 containing organic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/685 containing cross-linking agents
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/74 combined with additives added for specific purposes
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/80 Compositions for reinforcing fractures, e.g. compositions of proppants used to keep the fractures open
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/805 Coated proppants
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/88 macromolecular compounds
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/26 by forming crevices or fractures
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/267 reinforcing fractures by propping

Abstract

Various embodiments disclosed relate to methods of treating a subterranean formations that provide enhanced fracture conductivity over other methods. In various embodiments, the present invention provides a method of treating a subterranean formation. The method can include obtaining or providing a composition including a tackifies. The composition can have a viscosity less than about 20 cP. The method can include placing the composition in a subterranean formation downhole. The method can also include fracturing the subterranean formation with the composition.

Claims

1. A method of treating a subterranean formation, the method comprising:

obtaining or providing a composition comprising a tackifier and having a viscosity of less than about 20 cP at standard temperature and pressure;

placing the composition in a subterranean formation downhole; and

fracturing the subterranean formation with the composition.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the viscosity of the composition is about 0.001 cP to about 20 cP.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the tackifier contacts a face of at least one fracture generated by the fracturing.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises a proppant.

15. The method of claim 8, further comprising substantially coating with the composition at least part of a face of at least one fracture formed by the fracturing.

17. The method of claim 8, further comprising substantially coating at least some of the proppant with the tackifier.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein about 0.001 wt % to about 30 wt % of the composition is the tackifier.

30. The method of claim 1, wherein the tackifier comprises at least one of a shellac, a polyamide, a silyl-modified polyamide, a polyester, a polycarbonate, a polycarbamate, a urethane, a natural resin, an epoxy-based resin, a furan-based resin, a phenolic-based resin, a urea-aldehyde resin, a phenol/phenol formaldehyde/furfuryl alcohol resin, an acrylic acid polymer, an acrylic acid ester polymer, an acrylic acid homopolymer, an acrylic acid ester homopolymer, poly(methyl acrylate), poly(butyl acrylate), poly(2-ethylhexyl acrylate), an acrylic acid ester copolymer, a methacrylic acid derivative polymer, a methacrylic acid homopolymer, a methacrylic acid ester homopolymer, poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(butyl methacrylate), poly(2-ethylhexyl methacrylate), an acrylamidomethylpropane sulfonate polymer or copolymer or derivative thereof, and an acrylic acid/acrylamidomethylpropane sulfonate copolymer.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein the tackifier comprises an amine-containing polymer that has been hydrophobically modified.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the tackfier comprises at least one of a polyamine, a polyimine, a polyamide, poly(2-(N,N-dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate), poly(2-(N,N-diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate), a poly(vinyl imidazole), and a copolymer comprising at least one of the foregoing and at least one of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene oxide, polypropylene oxide, polyvinylpyridine, polyacrylic acid, polyacrylate, and polymethacrylate.

37. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises a hardening agent.

39. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises a surfactant.

43. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises a clay stabilizer.

46. The method of claim 43, wherein the clay stabilizer is a zirconium salt, an ammonium salt, alumina, a polycationic polymer, choline chloride, tetramethyl ammonium chloride, potassium chloride, potassium bromide, potassium acetate, potassium hydroxide, sodium chloride, sodium bromide, sodium acetate, sodium hydroxide, ammonium chloride, ammonium bromide, ammonium acetate, ammonium hydroxide, calcium chloride, calcium bromide, calcium acetate, calcium hydroxide, zinc chloride, zinc bromide, zinc acetate, zinc hydroxide.

48. The method of claim 43, wherein the clay stabilizer is a 1,3-substituted 2-hydroxypropane, wherein the 1- and 3-positions are independently substituted by a moiety selected from the group consisting of pyridinium, alkyl pyridinium, and R₃N⁺—

, wherein each R is independently selected from the group consisting of benzyl and (C₁-C₁₂)alkyl optionally substituted by one hydroxy group.

49. The method of claim 43, wherein the clay stabilizer is 1,3-bis(trimethylammonium chloride)-2-hydroxypropane.

51. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises a crosslinked gel or a crosslinkable gel.

58. A system for performing the method of claim 1, the system comprising:

a tubular disposed in a wellbore;

a pump configured to pump the composition downhole.

2. (canceled)

4. (canceled)

6-7. -7. (canceled)

9-14. -14. (canceled)

16. (canceled)

18-27. -27. (canceled)

29. (canceled)

31-32. -32. (canceled)

35-36. -36. (canceled)

38. (canceled)

40-42. -42. (canceled)

44-45. -45. (canceled)

47. (canceled)

50. (canceled)

52-57. -57. (canceled)

59. A method of treating a subterranean formation, the method comprising:

obtaining or providing a composition comprising

a tackifier; and

a proppant having a particle size of about 150 mesh or a smaller particle size;

wherein the composition has a viscosity of less than about 20 cP at standard temperature and pressure; and

placing the composition in a subterranean formation downhole.

60. (canceled)

61. A method of treating a subterranean formation, the method comprising:

obtaining or providing a composition comprising a tackifier and an organic clay stabilizer, the composition having a viscosity of less than about 20 cP at standard temperature and pressure;

placing the composition in a subterranean formation downhole;

fracturing the subterranean formation with the composition, to form at least one fracture; and

substantially coating at least part of a face of the fracture with the composition to form at least one adhered layer of the proppant on the face.