Method of treating a fractured well
AssigneeThe University of Tulsa
InventorJagannathan Mahadevan
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Abstract
This invention relates to a method of treating a tight gas well that has been fractured with a gel solution to increase the production of hydrocarbons. The gel solutions used for fracturing typically include an aqueous portion and a polymer material. Generally, the first step of the method is to apply a soak solution to the fractured formation to mix with the aqueous portion of the gel solution to increase the volatility of the aqueous portion. The next step is to apply a dry gas treatment to the tight gas well to remove the aqueous portion of the gel solution after the volatility has been increased.
Claims9
A method of treating an oil or gas well that has been fractured with an aqueous gel solution to increase the flow of hydrocarbons, the aqueous gel solution having an aqueous portion and a polymer material portion, the method comprising the steps of:
- contacting a fractured formation with a soak solution, the soak solution mixing with the aqueous portion of the aqueous gel solution to increase the volatility of the aqueous portion of the aqueous gel solution;
- and
- applying a dry gas treatment to the well to evaporate the aqueous portion of the aqueous gel solution and reduce gel saturation in the fractured formation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.