Methods of generating gas in well fluids
First Claim
1. A method for treating a subterranean formation comprising:
- providing a mixture of an aqueous fluid, a surfactant, and a gas generating chemical, the gas generating chemical being present in an amount of from about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of a water component in the aqueous fluid, to form a well treatment fluid;
allowing the gas generating chemical to react so as to generate a gas in the well treatment fluid to form a lightweight well treatment fluid; and
treating the subterranean formation by combining the lightweight well treatment fluid with fluids and/or solids in the subterranean formation to enhance the removal of the fluids and/or solids therefrom.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to methods of chemically generating gas in aqueous fluids utilized in the drilling and completion of wells such as drilling fluids, spacer fluids, and aqueous acid solutions. In one embodiment, the invention provides a method of preventing the formation of fractures in a subterranean formation during a drilling operation. In other embodiments, the present invention provides methods of separating a first fluid and a second fluid in a subterranean formation; methods of forming lightweight well treatment fluids; methods of enhancing the permeability of a subterranean zone; lightweight drilling fluids; lightweight spacer fluids; foamed aqueous acidic well treatment fluids; and methods of making foamed aqueous and aqueous acidic well treatment fluids.
54 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method for treating a subterranean formation comprising:
providing a mixture of an aqueous fluid, a surfactant, and a gas generating chemical, the gas generating chemical being present in an amount of from about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of a water component in the aqueous fluid, to form a well treatment fluid;
allowing the gas generating chemical to react so as to generate a gas in the well treatment fluid to form a lightweight well treatment fluid; and
treating the subterranean formation by combining the lightweight well treatment fluid with fluids and/or solids in the subterranean formation to enhance the removal of the fluids and/or solids therefrom.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
Specification