Methods and compositions for treating subterranean formations with gelled hydrocarbon fluids
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorsRobert S. Taylor, Gary P. Funkhouser
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Abstract
Improved methods and compositions for treating subterranean formations penetrated by well bores are provided. A method of the invention for fracturing a subterranean formation comprises the steps of preparing a gelled hydrocarbon fracturing fluid comprised of a hydrocarbon liquid, a ferric iron or aluminum polyvalent metal salt of a phosphonic acid ester, a proppant material, water and a delayed gel breaker, and then contacting the subterranean formation with the gelled liquid hydrocarbon fracturing fluid under conditions effective to create at least one fracture in the subterranean formation.
Claims36
A method of fracturing a subterranean formation comprising the steps of:
- (a) preparing a gelled liquid hydrocarbon fracturing fluid comprising a hydrocarbon liquid, a ferric iron or aluminum polyvalent metal salt of a phosphonic acid ester, said phosphonic acid ester having the formula
- 12
- wherein r is an alkyl group having from about 8 to about 24 carbon atoms and R′ is an alkyl group having from about 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, a proppant material, water and an amount of a delayed gel breaker effective to break said gelled hydrocarbon fracturing fluid;
- and
- (b) contacting said subterranean formation with said gelled hydrocarbon fracturing fluid under conditions effective to create at least one fracture in said subterranean formation.
A method of preparing a gelled liquid hydrocarbon fluid comprising adding a phosphonic acid ester to a hydrocarbon liquid, the phosphonic acid ester having the formula
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- wherein R is an alkyl group having from about 8 to about 24 carbon atoms and R′ is an alkyl group having from about 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, at least a stoichiometric amount of a polyvalent metal source selected from ferric iron salts and aluminum compounds which reacts with said phosphonic acid ester to form a ferric iron or aluminum polyvalent metal salt thereof, water and an amount of a delayed gel breaker effective to break said gelled hydrocarbon fracturing fluid.
A hydrocarbon liquid gelling agent comprising a ferric iron or aluminum polyvalent metal salt of a phosphonic acid ester, said phosphonic acid ester having the formula
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- wherein R is an alkyl group having from about 8 to about 24 carbon atoms and R′ is an alkyl group having from about 1 to about 4 carbon atoms.
A gelled liquid hydrocarbon fluid composition comprising:
- a hydrocarbon liquid;
- a gelling agent comprising a polyvalent metal salt of a phosphonic acid ester produced from a phosphonic acid ester and a ferric iron salt or an aluminum compound, said phosphonic acid ester having the formula
- 15
- wherein R is an alkyl group having from about 8 to about 24 carbon atoms and R′ is an alkyl group having from about 1 to about 4 carbon atoms;
- water;
- and
- a delayed gel breaker present in an amount effective to break the gel formed by said gelling agent and said hydrocarbon liquid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.