Methods and compositions using crosslinked aliphatic polyesters in well bore applications

• US 7,833,944 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2009
• Issued: 11/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Munoz, Trinidad, Saini, Rajesh K., Eoff, Larry S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kugel; Timothy J.
• Application Number:
  US12/456,538
• Publication Number:
  US 20090258798A1
• Time in Patent Office: 516 Days
• Field of Search: 507/119, 507/260, 507/267, 166/278, 166/305.1, 166/312, 166/376, 175/65
• US Class Current: 507/119
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2208/18 Bridging agents, i.e. particles for temporarily filling the pores of a formation; Graded salts
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/035 Organic additives
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/512 containing cross-linking agents

Abstract

Methods and compositions including a method comprising: providing a treatment fluid comprising a carrier fluid and a solid particle comprising a crosslinked aliphatic polyester; and placing the treatment fluid into a subterranean formation.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing a treatment fluid comprising a carrier fluid and a solid particle comprising a crosslinked aliphatic polyester; and

placing the treatment fluid into a subterranean formation.

2. The method of claim 1 comprising allowing the crosslinked aliphatic polyester to release an acid.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the acid released by the crosslinked aliphatic polyester contacts a filter cake present in the subterranean formation, such that at least a portion of the filter cake is degraded.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein treatment fluid has a viscosity, and wherein the acid released by the crosslinked aliphatic polyester reduces the viscosity of the treatment fluid.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the treatment fluid comprises a fluid loss control additive.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the fluid loss control additive is present in the treatment fluid in an amount in the range of from about 0.01% to about 5% by weight of the treatment fluid.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the carrier fluid comprises at least one fluid selected from the group consisting of:

an aqueous based fluid, a nonaqueous based fluid, and a mixture thereof.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the carrier fluid is present in an amount in the range of from about 20% to about 99% by weight of the treatment fluid.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the solid particle is present in an amount in the range of from about 0.1% to about 32% by weight of the treatment fluid.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the solid particle has a particle size distribution in the range of from about 0.1 microns to about 1.0 millimeters.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the solid particle comprises crosslinked poly(lactic acid).

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the solid particle comprises a hydrated organic or inorganic compound.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein in the treatment fluid comprises a viscosifier.

14. A method comprising:

placing a treatment fluid in a subterranean formation, the treatment fluid comprising;

a carrier fluid;

a viscosifier;

a fluid loss control additive; and

a bridging agent comprising a crosslinked aliphatic polyester; and

forming a filter cake comprising the bridging agent upon a surface within the subterranean formation whereby fluid loss to the subterranean formation through the filter cake is reduced.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising contacting the filter cake with a clean-up solution or breaker.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the clean-up solution comprises water.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the bridging agent comprises crosslinked poly(lactic acid).

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the treatment fluid comprises a drilling fluid.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the filter cake is self degrading.

20. A treatment fluid comprising a carrier fluid and a solid particle comprising a crosslinked aliphatic polyester.