Method and composition for treating a subterranean formation with splittable foams
AssigneeBJ Services Company
InventorsD.V. Gupta, Barry Hlidek
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Abstract
Disclosed herein is a method of treating a subterranean formation utilizing a fluid having a splittable foamer, i.e., a fluid that creates a stable foam when it contacts the formation but that loses its ability to foam as it remains in contact with the formation for extended time. The present method has the advantage that the fluid can be recovered from the well unhindered by the difficulties involved with recovering a foamed fluid from a well. The present method does not require the use of breakers, though the splitting of the foam can be accelerated by introducing an organic or inorganic acid into the well, if so desired.
Claims47
A method of treating a subterranean formation, comprising:
- providing a fluid comprising an aqueous liquid, carbon dioxide, and one or more splittable foamers selected from the group of compounds having formulas
- wherein, R and R′ are independently selected from the group consisting of organic radicals having 4 to 20 carbon atoms, X is selected from the group consisting of H and organic radicals having 1 to 10 carbons, Y is selected from the group consisting of H and organic radicals having I to 5 carbons, Z is selected from the group consisting of H and organic radicals having I to 5 carbons, m is 0 or 1, and n is 1 to about 40;
- introducing the fluid into a well bore;
- and
- contacting the fluid and the subterranean formation for a sufficient time to permit the fluid to form a foam.
A fracturing fluid for treating a subterranean formation, comprising:
- an aqueous liquid, carbon dioxide, and one or more splittable foamers selected from the group of compounds having formulas
- wherein, R and R′ are independently selected from the group consisting of organic radicals having 4 to 20 carbon atoms, X is selected from the group consisting of H and organic radicals having 1 to 10 carbons, Y is selected from the group consisting of H and organic radicals having 1 to 5 carbons, Z is selected from the group consisting of H and organic radicals having I to 5 carbons, m is 0 or 1, and n is 1 to about 40.
A method of breaking a foamed fracturing fluid, wherein the foamed fracturing fluid comprises an aqueous liquid, carbon dioxide, and one or more splittable foamers selected from the group of compounds having formulas
- wherein, R and R′ are independently selected from the group consisting of organic radicals having 4 to 20 carbon atoms, X is selected from the group consisting of H and organic radicals having 1 to 10 carbons, Y is selected from the group consisting of H and organic radicals having 1 to 5 carbons, Z is selected from the group consisting of H and organic radicals having 1 to 5 carbons, m is 0 or 1, and n is 1 to about 40;
- and wherein the fluid is in contact with a subterranean formation;
- the method comprising, allowing carbonic acid to form in the fluid while the fluid is in contact with the subterranean formation and allowing the carbonic acid to break the foamed fluid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.