Methods For Preventing Proppant Carryover From Fractures, And Gravel-Packed Filters

Abstract

This invention relates to the oil and gas industry, in particular, to methods affecting the formation productivity at the oil and gas production stage. A method for fracture propping in a subsurface layer, which ensures a reliable protection of wells from the proppant carryover from the fracture, has been proposed. According to the proposed method, a fracturing fluid is mixed with a propping agent and particulate binding material wherein the particles have an average length-to-width ratio of less than or equal to about 10; thereafter, a formation fracturing process is implemented. Then, the particulate binding material hardens and forms a homogenous firm mass with the propping agent, which impedes the closing of the fracture and precludes proppant carryover from the fracture. Or, a fracturing fluid composition obtained by mixing a propping agent with a binding compound in the form of a powder whose size varies from about 1 to about 500 μm. A gravel-packed filter is then constructed; the said filter is based on the application of the working fluid comprising a propping filler and particulate binder with a length-to-width ratio of less than or equal to 10, or comprising a propping filler and a binding compound in the form of a powder with a size varying from about 1 to about 500 micrometers.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.