Hydraulic fracturing process using a polymer gel
First Claim
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1. A fracturing process applied to a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation below an earthen surface in fluid communication with a wellbore comprising:
- (a) premixing a fracturing fluid at the surface comprising a gel breaker and a gelation solution consisting essentially of an aqueous solvent, a water-soluble acrylamide polymer selected from the group consisting of polyacrylamide and partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide, and a crosslinking agent formed of at least one chromium III species complexed with at least one carboxylate species selected from the group consisting of propionate, acetate, lactate, and mixtures thereof;
(b) at least partially gelling said gelation solution at the surface to form a gel; and
(c) injecting said fracturing fluid into said formation via said wellbore at a pressure sufficient to hydraulically fracture said formation.
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Abstract
A subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation is hydraulically fractured using a crosslinked polymer gel as a fracturing fluid. The gel comprises a high molecular weight, water-soluble, carboxylate-containing polymer and a chromic carboxylate complex crosslinking agent. The gel components are premixed at the surface and injected into a wellbore in fluid communication with the formation at a pressure sufficient to hydraulically fracture the formation.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A fracturing process applied to a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation below an earthen surface in fluid communication with a wellbore comprising:
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(a) premixing a fracturing fluid at the surface comprising a gel breaker and a gelation solution consisting essentially of an aqueous solvent, a water-soluble acrylamide polymer selected from the group consisting of polyacrylamide and partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide, and a crosslinking agent formed of at least one chromium III species complexed with at least one carboxylate species selected from the group consisting of propionate, acetate, lactate, and mixtures thereof; (b) at least partially gelling said gelation solution at the surface to form a gel; and (c) injecting said fracturing fluid into said formation via said wellbore at a pressure sufficient to hydraulically fracture said formation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A fracturing process applied to a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation below an earthen surface in fluid communication with a wellbore comprising:
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(a) premixing a fracturing fluid at the surface comprising a gel breaker and a gelation solution consisting essentially of an aqueous solvent, a water-soluble acrylamide polymer selected from the group consisting of polyacrylamide and partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide, and a crosslinking agent formed of at least one chromium III species complexed with at least one carboxylate species, selected from the group consisting of propionate, acetate, lactate, and mixtures thereof, and at least one species selected from the group consisting of electronegative oxygen species, electronegative hydroxide species, inorganic monovalent ions, inorganic divalent ions, water molecules, and mixtures thereof; (b) at least partially gelling said gelation solution at the surface to form a gel; and (c) injecting said fracturing fluid into said formation via said wellbore at a pressure sufficient to hydraulically fracture said formation. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification