Fracturing fluid and method of use

• US 6,929,069 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2004
• Issued: 08/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Hinkel, Jerald, Sutton, Gregory, Brown, J. Ernest, Boney, Curtis
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsay, Frank
• Application Number:
  US10/802,458
• Publication Number:
  US 20040173354A1
• Time in Patent Office: 517 Days
• Field of Search: 166/270.1, 166/272.2, 166/217, 166/281, 166/305.1, 166/311, 507/922, 507/266
• US Class Current: 166/308.2
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/52 Compositions for preventing, limiting or eliminating depositions, e.g. for cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/62 Compositions for forming crevices or fractures

Abstract

Improved aqueous fracturing fluids are disclosed that are particularly useful as well stimulation fluids to fracture tight (i.e., low permeability) subterranean formations. Gas wells treated with these fracturing fluids have rapid cleanup and enhanced well production. The fluids contain small but sufficient amounts of certain amine oxides to aid in the removal of the fracturing fluid from the formation. By facilitating the removal of fluid from the invaded zones, the amount of damage to the fracture faces in the formation is thereby minimized. The amine oxides correspond to the formula I, wherein R₁ is an aliphatic group of from 6 to about 20 carbon atoms, and wherein R₂ and R₃ are each independently alkyl of from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms. The amine oxides in which R₁ is an alkyl group are preferred, and those in which R₁ is an alkyl group of from 8 to 10 carbon atoms and R₂ and R₃ are each methyl or ethyl groups are most preferred.

Claims

1. In an aqueous based fracturing fluid, the improvement consisting of blending therein a small but sufficient amount of an amine oxide corresponding to the formula:

wherein R₁ is an aliphatic group of from 6 to about 20 carbon atoms, and wherein R₂ and R₃ are each independently alkyl of from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, to facilitate the removal of fracturing fluid filtrate from the formation.

2. The fracturing fluid defined by claim 1 wherein R₁ is an alkyl or alkenyl group.

3. The fracturing fluid defined by claim 1 wherein R₁ is an alkyl group of 8 to 12 carbon atoms.

4. The fracturing fluid defined by claim 3 wherein R₁ is a linear alkyl group.

5. The fracturing fluid defined by claim 1 wherein R₂ and R₃ are each methyl or ethyl.

6. The fracturing fluid defined by claim 5 wherein R₂ and R₃ are each methyl.

7. The fracturing fluid defined by claim 3 wherein R₂ and R₃ are each methyl.

8. An improved aqueous fracture fluid, said fracture fluid comprising:

an aqueous carrier fluid containing a viscosifying amount of a solvatable polysaccharide and a small but sufficient amount of an amine oxide to promote rapid cleanup of the filtrate and increase permeability of the formation to hydrocarbon fluids, said amine oxide corresponding to the formula;

wherein R₁ is an aliphatic group of from 6 to about 20 carbon atoms, and wherein R₂ and R₃ are each independently alkyl of from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms.

9. The fracture fluid defined by claim 8 wherein said solvatable polysaccharide is a galactomannan gum, a glycomannan gum or a cellulose derivative.

10. The fracture fluid defined by claim 8 wherein said solvatable polysaccharide is guar or a guar derivative.

11. The fracture fluid defined by claim 10 wherein said solvatable polysaccharide is guar, hydroxypropylguar, carboxymethyl guar, or carboxymethylhydroxypropyl guar.

12. The fracture fluid defined by claim 8 wherein said solvatable polysaccharide is crosslinked.

13. The fracture fluid defined by claim 8 wherein said solvatable polysaccharide is crosslinked with a borate or zirconium or titanium crosslinking agent.

14. The fracture fluid defined by claim 13 wherein said solvatable polysaccharide is guar, hydroxypropylguar, carboxymethyl guar, or carboxymethylhydroxypropyl guar and the crosslinker is a zirconium or titanium crosslinking agent.

15. The fracture fluid defined by claim 13 wherein said solvatable polysaccharide is guar or carboxymethylhydroxypropyl guar and the crosslinker is a zirconium crosslinking agent.

16. The fracture fluid defined by claim 13 wherein said solvatable polysaccharide is guar or carboxymethylhydroxypropyl guar and the crosslinker is a titanate crosslinking agent.

17. The fracture fluid defined by claim 13 wherein said solvatable polysaccharide is guar and the crosslinker is a borate crosslinking agent.

18. In an aqueous based fracturing fluid, the improvement consisting of blending therein a small but sufficient amount of an amine oxide corresponding to the formula

wherein R₁ is an aliphatic group of from 6 to about 20 carbon atoms, and wherein R₂ and R₃ are each independently alkyl of from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, to get a contact angle greater than 60 degrees.