Pretreatment of Subterranean Formations for Dendritic Fracturing
OwnerGustavo Luis Bianchi, Walter Morrisinventors
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Abstract
Provided are methods for pretreating a subterranean formation that include introducing into at least a portion of the subterranean formation: a first composition containing an oxidant in an aqueous base; and a second composition containing an acid and a compound that generates a non-oxygen gas upon reaction with the oxidant. Pretreating a subterranean formation according to these methods reduces the fracture toughness of the rock and establishes conditions favoring the growth of dendritic fracture.
Claims26
A method for pre-treating a subterranean formation, comprising introducing into at least a portion of the subterranean formation:
- (a) a first composition comprising an oxidant in an aqueous base;
- and
- (b) a second composition comprising an acid and a compound that generates a non-oxygen gas upon reaction with the oxidant.
A method of creating fractures in a subterranean formation, comprising:
- introducing into at least a portion of the subterranean formation a two-composition solution at a rate that exerts a sufficient pressure on the subterranean formation to create dendritic cracks or increase dendritic growth of existing cracks in the subterranean formation,
- wherein
- the introducing of the two-composition solution increases a stimulated rock volume and reduces a rock fracture toughness of the subterranean formation, and
- the two-composition solution includes:
- (a) a first composition comprising an oxidant in an aqueous base that generates a gas upon reaction with the stimulated rock of the subterranean formation;
- and
- (b) a second composition comprising an acid and a compound capable of generating a non-oxygen gas upon reaction with the oxidant.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.