Methods and Thermally Stable Aqueous Borate-Based Cross-Linking Suspensions for Treatment of Subterranean Formations
AssigneeUnivar USA Inc.
InventorsAbdelaziz Rahy, DeWitt Knox, Mohand Melbouci
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Abstract
An aqueous cross-linking suspension composition having brine, water-soluble suspending agent and borate cross-linker in a single package and methods for using the package composition for increasing the efficiency of fracturing subterranean formations and effectively delivering borate cross-linkers.
Claims19
An aqueous cross-linking suspension composition comprising:
- a) water;
- b) 20-70 weight percent of brine;
- c) 0.1-5 weight percent of water-soluble suspending agent;
- and
- d) 20-70 weight percent of borate cross-linker.
A method for fracturing a subterranean formation having a downhole temperature ranging from about 65° F. to about 350° F. with a fracturing fluid containing a gellant comprising the steps of:
- a) preparing an aqueous cross-linking suspension composition of 20-70 weight percent sodium thiosulfate, 0.1-5 weight percent of water-soluble suspending agent and 20-70 weight percent ulexite;
- b) treating a fracturing fluid containing said gellant with said aqueous cross-linking suspension composition to form a treated gellant-containing fracturing fluid;
- and then
- c) contacting the treated gellant-containing fracturing fluid and at least a portion of said subterranean formation at pressures sufficient to form fractures in said formation,
- wherein thermal stability of said fracturing fluid containing gellant is enhanced.
A method for efficiently delivering borate-based cross-linkers for fracturing a subterranean formation having a downhole temperature ranging from about 65° F. to about 350° F. with a fracturing fluid containing a gellant comprising the steps of:
- a) preparing an aqueous cross-linking suspension package comprising 20-70 weight percent sodium thiosulfate, 0.1-5 weight percent of water-soluble suspending agent and 20-70 weight percent ulexite;
- b) treating a fracturing fluid containing said gallant with said aqueous cross-linking suspension package to form a treated gellant-containing fracturing fluid;
- and then
- c) contacting the treated gellant-containing fracturing fluid and at least a portion of said subterranean formation at pressures sufficient to form fractures in said formation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.