Lightweight particulate materials and uses therefor

• US 6,772,838 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2002
• Issued: 08/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: BJ Services Company
• Inventors: Rickards, Allan R., Dawson, Jeffrey C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsay, Frank
• Application Number:
  US10/113,844
• Publication Number:
  US 20030102128A1
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• Field of Search: 166/278, 166/280, 166/308, 166/310, 166/276, 166/281, 501/128, 507/903, 507/924, 507/269
• US Class Current: 166/280.1
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/62 Compositions for forming crevices or fractures
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/68 containing organic compounds
• 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: E21B 43/267 reinforcing fractures by propping
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 507/924 with specified propping feature

Abstract

Methods and compositions useful for sand control and/or hydraulic fracturing of subterranean formations that utilize relatively lightweight and/or substantially neutrally buoyant particles as particulate sand control or proppant material. Particles that may be employed include particulates of naturally-occurring materials that may be optionally strengthened or hardened by exposure to a modifying agent. Effectiveness of a modifying agent may be optionally enhanced by facilitating interaction between a modifying agent and one or more components present in a naturally occurring material by using enhancing agents and/or by using conditions that enhance interaction.

Claims

1. A method for treating a well penetrating a subterranean formation, comprising:

introducing a particulate material into said well;

wherein at least a portion of said particulate material comprises particles of a naturally-occurring material modified by penetration and reaction with at least one modifying agent, said modifying agent being effective to penetrate into and modify said naturally-occurring material within said particulate material by increasing the ability of said naturally-occurring material to resist deformation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said naturally-occurring material comprises plant-based or agricultural-based material, or a derivative thereof.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein individual particles of said modified naturally-occurring material comprise at least one of ground or crushed nut shells, ground or crushed seed shells, ground or crushed fruit pits, processed wood, or a mixture thereof.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said modifying agent comprises at least one of a silane-based compound, siloxane-based compound, polyisocyanate-based compound, polyepoxy-based compound, or a combination thereof.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein said modifying agent comprises at least one of:

a silane-based compound having the formula;

6. The method of claim 2, wherein individual particles of said modified naturally-occurring material are introduced into said well as substantially neutrally buoyant particles in a carrier fluid.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said method further comprises introducing said individual particles of said modified naturally-occurring material and said carrier fluid into said subterranean formation at a pressure above a fracturing pressure of said subterranean formation.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said method further comprises introducing said individual particles of said modified naturally-occurring material and said carrier fluid into said well as part of a sand control operation.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein at least a portion of individual particles of said particulate material each comprises a core component of said modified naturally-occurring material at least partially surrounded by at least one layer of a protective or hardening coating.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein at least a portion of individual particles of said particulate material comprises particles of a naturally-occurring material that have been exposed to an enhancing agent to facilitate interaction between said modifying agent and said naturally-occurring material.

11. The method of claim 2, wherein said wellbore has an angle with respect to the vertical of between about 30 degrees and about 90 degrees.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said particles of a naturally-occurring material are not treated with resin.

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

introducing a particulate material suspended in a carrier fluid into said subterranean formation at a pressure above a fracturing pressure of said subterranean formation;

wherein at least a portion of the individual particles of said particulate material are substantially neutrally buoyant in said carrier fluid and comprise particles of a naturally-occurring material modified by penetration and reaction with at least one modifying agent in an amount effective to modify said naturally-occurring material within said particulate material by increasing the ability of said naturally-occurring material to resist deformation;

wherein at least a portion of individual particles of said modified naturally-occurring material comprise at least one of ground or crushed nut shells, ground or crushed seed shells, ground or crushed fruit pits, processed wood, or a mixture thereof; and

wherein said modifying agent comprises at least one of a silane-based compound, siloxane-based compound, polyisocyanate-based compound, or a combination thereof.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said modifying agent comprises at least one of:

a silane-based compound having the formula;

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said modifying agent comprises at least one of gamma-aminopropyltriethoxy silane, propyltriethoxysilane, or mixture thereof.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein at least a portion of individual particles of said modified naturally-occurring material comprise ground or crushed walnut shells, ground or crushed ivory nut shells, ground or crushed peach pits, ground or crushed apricot pits, ground or crushed olive pits, or a mixture thereof.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein a closure stress of a hydraulic fracture created during said introducing into said subterranean formation is greater than or equal to about 5000 psi.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein a temperature of said formation is from about 150°

F. 250°

F.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein individual particles of said modified naturally-occurring particulate material have a greater resistance to deformation when exposed to said conditions of temperature and closure stress than do unmodified particles of the same naturally-occurring material.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein at least a portion of individual particles of said particulate material each comprises a core component of said modified naturally-occurring material at least partially surrounded by at least one layer of a protective or hardening coating.

21. The method of claim 13, wherein at least a portion of individual particles of said particulate material comprises particles of a naturally-occurring material that have been exposed to an enhancing agent to facilitate interaction between said modifying agent and said naturally-occurring material.

22. The method of claim 13, wherein said carrier fluid is an ungelled aqueous fluid, or an aqueous fluid characterized as having a polymer concentration of from greater than about 0 pounds of polymer per thousand gallons of base fluid to about 10 pounds of polymer per thousand gallons of base fluid, and as having a viscosity of from about 1 to about 10 centipoises.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said particulate material has a specific gravity of from about 1 to about 1.5, and wherein said carrier fluid has a specific gravity of between about 1 and about 1.5.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said wellbore has an angle with respect to the vertical of between about 30 degrees and about 90 degrees.

25. A sand control method for a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation, comprising:

introducing into said wellbore a slurry comprising particulate material and a carrier fluid;

placing said particulate material adjacent said subterranean formation to form a fluid-permeable pack that is capable of reducing or substantially preventing the passage of formation particles from said subterranean formation into said wellbore while at the same time allowing passage of formation fluids from said subterranean formation into said wellbore;

wherein at least a portion of the individual particles of said particulate material are substantially neutrally buoyant in said carrier fluid and comprise particles of a naturally-occurring material modified by penetration and reaction with at least one modifying agent in an amount effective to modify said naturally-occurring material within said particulate material by increasing the ability of said naturally-occurring material to resist deformation;

wherein at least a portion of individual particles of said modified naturally-occurring material comprise at least one of ground or crushed nut shells, ground or crushed seed shells, ground or crushed fruit pits, processed wood, or a mixture thereof; and

wherein said modifying agent comprises at least one of a silane-based compound, siloxane-based compound, polyisocyanate-based compound, or a combination thereof.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said modifying agent comprises at least one of:

a silane-based compound having the formula;

27. The method of claim 25, wherein said modifying agent comprises at least one of gamma-aminopropyltriethoxy silane, propyltriethoxysilane, or mixture thereof.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein at least a portion of individual particles of said modified naturally-occurring material comprise ground or crushed walnut shells, ground or crushed ivory nut shells, ground or crushed peach pits, ground or crushed apricot pits, ground or crushed olive pits, or a mixture thereof.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein at least a portion of individual particles of said particulate material each comprises a core component of said modified naturally-occurring material at least partially surrounded by at least one layer of a protective or hardening coating.

30. The method of claim 25, wherein at least a portion of individual particles of said particulate material comprises particles of a naturally-occurring material that have been exposed to an enhancing agent to facilitate interaction between said modifying agent and said naturally-occurring material.

31. The method of claim 25, wherein said carrier fluid is an ungelled aqueous fluid, or an aqueous fluid characterized as having a polymer concentration of from greater than about 0 pounds of polymer per thousand gallons of base fluid to about 10 pounds of polymer per thousand gallons of base fluid, and as having a viscosity of from about 1 to about 10 centipoises.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein said particulate material has a specific gravity of from about 1 to about 1.5, and wherein said carrier fluid has a specific gravity of between about 1 and about 1.5.

33. The method of claim 25, wherein said wellbore has an angle with respect to the vertical of between about 30 degrees and about 90 degrees.

34. The method of claim 25, further comprising injecting at least a portion of said slurry into said subterranean formation at a pressure exceeding a fracture pressure of said subterranean formation.

35. The method of claim 25, wherein a screen assembly having inner and outer surfaces is disposed within said wellbore, at least a portion of said outer surface of said screen assembly being disposed adjacent said subterranean formation;

and wherein said method further comprises;

placing at least a portion of said particulate blend between said outer surface of said screen assembly and said subterranean formation to form said fluid-permeable pack.

36. A particulate composition, comprising particles of a naturally-occurring material modified by penetration and reaction with at least one modifying agent, said modifying agent being effective to penetrate into and modify said naturally-occurring material within said particulate material by increasing the ability of said naturally-occurring material to resist deformation.

37. The composition of claim 36, wherein said naturally-occurring material comprises plant-based or agricultural-based material, or a derivative thereof.

38. The composition of claim 37, wherein individual particles of said modified naturally-occurring material comprise at least one of ground or crushed nut shells, ground or crushed seed shells, ground or crushed fruit pits, processed wood, or a mixture thereof.

39. The composition of claim 37, wherein said modifying agent comprises at least one of a silane-based compound, siloxane-based compound, polyisocyanate-based compound, or a combination thereof.

40. The composition of claim 39, wherein at least a portion of individual particles of said modified naturally-occurring material comprise ground or crushed walnut shells, ground or crushed ivory nut shells, ground or crushed peach pits, ground or crushed apricot pits, ground or crushed olive pits, or a mixture thereof.

41. The composition of claim 40, wherein individual particles of said modified naturally-occurring particulate material have a greater resistance to deformation when exposed to a closure stress of greater than or equal to about 5000 psi than do unmodified particles of the same naturally-occurring material.

42. The composition of claim 40, wherein individual particles of said modified naturally-occurring particulate material have a greater resistance to deformation when exposed to a closure stress of greater than or equal to about 5000 psi and a temperature of from about 150°

F. to about 250°

F. than do unmodified particles of the same naturally-occurring material.

43. The composition of claim 39, wherein at least a portion of individual particles of said particulate material each further comprises a core component of said modified naturally-occurring material at least partially surrounded by at least one layer of a protective or hardening coating.

44. The composition of claim 39, wherein at least a portion of individual particles of said particulate material comprises particles of a naturally-occurring material that have been exposed to an enhancing agent to facilitate interaction between said modifying agent and said naturally-occurring material.

45. The composition of claim 37, wherein said modifying agent comprises at least one of:

a silane-based compound having the formula;

46. A method of modifying particles of a naturally-occurring material, comprising:

penetrating and reacting particles of a naturally-occurring material with an effective amount of at least one modifying agent to modify said naturally-occurring material within said particulate material by increasing the ability of said naturally-occurring material to resist deformation.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein said naturally-occurring material comprises plant-based or agricultural-based material, or a derivative thereof.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein individual particles of said modified naturally-occurring material comprise at least one of ground or crushed nut shells, ground or crushed seed shells, ground or crushed fruit pits, processed wood, or a mixture thereof.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein said modifying agent comprises at least one of a silane-based compound, siloxane-based compound, polyisocyanate-based compound, or a combination thereof.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein said method further comprises exposing said particles of said naturally-occurring material to an effective amount of an enhancing agent to facilitate interaction between said modifying agent and said naturally-occurring material.

51. The method of claim 49 wherein said method further comprises applying at least one layer of a protective or hardening coating to said particles of modified naturally-occurring material.

52. The method of claim 47, wherein said modifying agent comprises at least one of:

a silane-based compound having the formula;

53. A particulate material, comprising particles of modified naturally-occurring material made by the method of claim 46.

54. A method for treating a well penetrating a subterranean formation, comprising:

introducing a particulate material into said well;

wherein at least a portion of said particulate material comprises particles of a naturally-occurring material modified by exposure to at least one modifying agent, said modifying agent being effective to modify said naturally-occurring material by increasing the ability of said naturally-occurring material to resist deformation;

wherein said modifying agent comprises at least one of a siloxane-based compound, polyisocyanate-based compound, polyepoxy-based compound, or a combination thereof.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein said method further comprises introducing said individual particles of said modified naturally-occurring material into said subterranean formation at a pressure above a fracturing pressure of said subterranean formation.

56. The method of claim 54, wherein said method further comprises introducing said individual particles of said modified naturally-occurring material into said well as part of a sand control operation.

57. A method for treating a well penetrating a subterranean formation, comprising:

introducing a particulate material into said well;

wherein at least a portion of said particulate material comprises particles of a naturally-occurring material modified by exposure to at least one modifying agent, said modifying agent being effective to modify said naturally-occurring material by increasing the ability of said naturally-occurring material to resist deformation;

wherein said naturally-occurring material comprises plant-based or agricultural-based material, or a derivative thereof; and

wherein said modifying agent comprises at least one of;

a silane-based compound having the formula;

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

introducing a particulate material suspended in a carrier fluid into said subterranean formation at a pressure above a fracturing pressure of said subterranean formation;

wherein at least a portion of the individual particles of said particulate material are substantially neutrally buoyant in said carrier fluid and comprise particles of a naturally-occurring material modified by exposure to at least one modifying agent in an amount effective to modify said naturally-occurring material;

wherein at least a portion of individual particles of said modified naturally-occurring material comprise at least one of ground or crushed nut shells, ground or crushed seed shells, ground or crushed fruit pits, processed wood, or a mixture thereof; and

wherein said modifying agent comprises at least one of;

a silane-based compound having the formula;

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

introducing a particulate material suspended in a carrier fluid into said subterranean formation at a pressure above a fracturing pressure of said subterranean formation;

wherein at least a portion of the individual particles of said particulate material are substantially neutrally buoyant in said carrier fluid and comprise particles of a naturally-occurring material modified by exposure to at least one modifying agent in an amount effective to modify said naturally-occurring material;

wherein at least a portion of individual particles of said modified naturally-occurring material comprise at least one of ground or crushed nut shells, ground or crushed seed shells, ground or crushed fruit pits, processed wood, or a mixture thereof

wherein said modifying agent comprises at least one of a silane-based compound, siloxane-based compound, polyisocyanate-based compound, or a combination thereof; and

wherein said carrier fluid is an ungelled aqueous fluid, or an aqueous fluid characterized as having a polymer concentration of from greater than about 0 pounds of polymer per thousand gallons of base fluid to about 10 pounds of polymer per thousand gallons of base fluid, and as having a viscosity of from about 1 to about 10 centipoises.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein said particulate material has a specific gravity of from about 1 to about 1.5, and wherein said carrier fluid has a specific gravity of between about 1 and about 1.5.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein said wellbore has an angle with respect to the vertical of between about 30 degrees and about 90 degrees.

62. A sand control method for a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation, comprising:

introducing into said wellbore a slurry comprising particulate material and a carrier fluid;

placing said particulate material adjacent said subterranean formation to form a fluid-permeable pack that is capable of reducing or substantially preventing the passage of formation particles from said subterranean formation into said wellbore while at the same time allowing passage of formation fluids from said subterranean formation into said wellbore;

wherein at least a portion of the individual particles of said particulate material are substantially neutrally buoyant in said carrier fluid and comprise particles of a naturally-occurring material modified by exposure to at least one modifying agent in an amount effective to modify said naturally-occurring material;

wherein at least a portion of individual particles of said modified naturally-occurring material comprise at least one of ground or crushed nut shells, ground or crushed seed shells, ground or crushed fruit pits, processed wood, or a mixture thereof; and

wherein said modifying agent comprises at least one of;

a silane-based compound having the formula;

63. A sand control method for a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation, comprising:

introducing into said wellbore a slurry comprising particulate material and a carrier fluid;

placing said particulate material adjacent said subterranean formation to form a fluid-permeable pack that is capable of reducing or substantially preventing the passage of formation particles from said subterranean formation into said wellbore while at the same time allowing passage of formation fluids from said subterranean formation into said wellbore;

wherein at least a portion of the individual particles of said particulate material are substantially neutrally buoyant in said carrier fluid and comprise particles of a naturally-occurring material modified by exposure to at least one modifying agent in an amount effective to modify said naturally-occurring material;

wherein at least a portion of individual particles of said modified naturally-occurring material comprise at least one of ground or crushed nut shells, ground or crushed seed shells, ground or crushed fruit pits, processed wood, or a mixture thereof;

wherein said modifying agent comprises at least one of a silane-based compound, siloxane-based compound, polyisocyanate-based compound, or a combination thereof; and

wherein said carrier fluid is an ungelled aqueous fluid, or an aqueous fluid characterized as having a polymer concentration of from greater than about 0 pounds of polymer per thousand gallons of base fluid to about 10 pounds of polymer per thousand gallons of base fluid, and as having a viscosity of from about 1 to about 10 centipoises.

64. The method of claim 63, wherein said particulate material has a specific gravity of from about 1 to about 1.5, and wherein said carrier fluid has a specific gravity of between about 1 and about 1.5.