Method and materials for hydraulic fracturing with delayed crosslinking of gelling agents
AssigneeIndependence Oilfield Chemicals LLC
InventorsJeffrey C. Dawson, Xiyuan Chen
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Abstract
A non-aqueous slurry contains a non-aqueous liquid immiscible in water (such as a hydrocarbon based oil) having dispersed therein a crosslinking agent (such as a borate crosslinking agent) and an oil-wetting surface active material. The non-aqueous slurry further contains an organophilic clay. The non-aqueous slurry, when used in an aqueous fracturing fluid, provides crosslinking delay between the crosslinking agent and a hydratable polymer, such as guar or guar derivatives. The aqueous fracturing fluid provides an enhanced fracture network after being pumped into a well.
Claims22
A non-aqueous liquid immiscible in water comprising:
- (i) a non-polar hydrocarbon oil;
- (ii) an oil-wetting surface active material selected from the group consisting of sorbitan esters, ethoxylated sorbitan esters, alkoxylated glycerides and alkylene oxide adducts of a C6-C30 alcohol or phenol or a mixture thereof;
- (iii) an organophilic clay;
- (iv) a crosslinking agent of a borate ion source;
- and
- (v) optionally, a clay activator.
A non-aqueous liquid immiscible in water comprising:
- (i) a non-polar hydrocarbon oil;
- (ii) an oil-wetting surface active material selected from the group consisting of sorbitan esters and ethoxylated sorbitan esters;
- (iii) a dispersed organophilic clay;
- (iv) a crosslinking agent of a borate ion source;
- and
- (v) optionally, a clay activator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.