Methods and compositions for treating subterranean formations with gelled hydrocarbon fluids
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorsRobert S. Taylor, Gary P. Funkhouser
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Improved methods and compositions for treating subterranean formations penetrated by well bores are provided. A method for breaking a gelled hydrocarbon fluid comprised of a hydrocarbon liquid, a ferric iron or aluminum polyvalent metal salt of a phosphonic acid ester or dialkylphosphinic acid is provided.
Claims41
A method of treating a subterranean formation comprising the steps of:
- (a) preparing a gelled liquid hydrocarbon fluid comprising a hydrocarbon liquid, a ferric iron or aluminum polyvalent metal salt of a dialkylphosphinic acid, said dialkylphosphinic acid having the formula:
- 25
- wherein R1 is an alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms and R2 is an alkyl or phenyl group having from 6 to 24 carbon atoms;
- and
- (b) contacting said subterranean formation with said gelled hydrocarbon fluid under conditions effective to treat said subterranean formation.
A method of preparing a gelled liquid hydrocarbon fluid comprising adding a dialkylphosphinic acid to a hydrocarbon liquid, the dialkylphosphinic acid having the formula:
- 26
- wherein R1 is an alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms and R2 is an alkyl or phenyl group having from 6 to 24 carbon atoms, and at least a stoichiometric amount of a polyvalent metal source selected from ferric iron salts and aluminum compounds which react with said dialkylphosphinic acid to form a ferric iron or aluminum polyvalent metal salt thereof which gels said hydrocarbon liquid.
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 or a polyvalent metal salt of a dialkylphosphinic acid produced from a dialkylphosphinic acid and a ferric iron salt or an aluminum compound, said phosphonic acid ester having the formula:
- 27
- where R represents a linear or branched alkyl chain having the general formula CnH2n+1 where n is from 3 to 21 or a dialkylphosphinic acid having the formula:
- 28
- where R represents a linear or branched alkyl chain having the general formula CnH2+1 where n is from 3 to 21;
- and
- a delayed gel breaker present in an amount effective to break the gel formed by said gelling agent and said hydrocarbon liquid.
A gelled hydrocarbon liquid composition comprising:
- a liquid hydrocarbon;
- and
- an effective amount of a gelling agent to gel the composition comprising a polyvalent metal salt of a dialkylphosphinic acid produced from a dialkylphosphinic acid and a ferric iron salt or an aluminum compound, said phosphinic acid having the formula:
- 29
- wherein R1 is an alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms and R2 is an alkyl or phenyl group having from 6 to 24 carbon atoms.
A gelled hydrocarbon liquid composition comprising:
- a hydrocarbon liquid and a dialkylphosphinic acid having the formula:
- 30
- wherein R1 is an alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms and R2 is an alkyl or phenyl group having from 6 to 24 carbon atoms.
A method of treating a subterranean formation comprising the steps of:
- preparing a gelled hydrocarbon fluid comprising a hydrocarbon liquid and a dialkylphosphinic acid having the formula:
- 32
- wherein R1 is an alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms and R2 is an alkyl or phenyl group having from 6 to 24 carbon atoms;
- and
- placing the gelled fluid in a subterranean formation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.