Methods of strengthening and consolidating subterranean formations with silicate-aluminum geopolymers
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorsPhilip D. Nguyen, Tatyana V. Khamatnurova
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Abstract
Systems and methods for treating fracture faces and/or unconsolidated portions of a subterranean formation are provided. In some embodiments, the methods comprise: providing an aqueous alkali solution; introducing the aqueous alkali solution into at least a portion of a subterranean formation that comprises one or more fractures; contacting an aluminum component and a silicate component with the aqueous alkali solution to form a geopolymer on one or more fracture faces in the fractures; and placing a plurality of proppant particulates in the fractures.
Claims20
A method comprising:
- providing an aqueous alkali solution;
- introducing the aqueous alkali solution into at least a portion of a subterranean formation that comprises one or more fractures;
- contacting an aluminum component and a silicate component with the aqueous alkali solution to form a geopolymer on one or more fracture faces in the fractures;
- and
- placing a plurality of proppant particulates in the fractures.
A method comprising:
- providing a first treatment fluid that comprises a first aqueous alkali solution, a first aluminum component, and a first silicate component;
- providing a second treatment fluid that comprises a second aqueous alkali solution, a second aluminum component, a second silicate component, and a plurality of proppant particulates;
- introducing the first treatment fluid and the second treatment fluid into at least a portion of a subterranean formation, at least one of which being introduced at or above a pressure sufficient to create or enhance at least one fracture and at least one microfracture in the subterranean formation, the fracture and the microfracture each comprising one or more fracture faces;
- placing the plurality of proppant particulates in the fracture;
- and
- forming a geopolymer on the fracture faces of the microfracture and of the fracture.
A method comprising:
- providing an aqueous alkali solution;
- introducing the aqueous alkali solution into at least a portion of a subterranean formation that comprises a plurality of at least partially unconsolidated particulates;
- and
- contacting an aluminum component and a silicate component with the aqueous alkali solution to form a geopolymer in contact with the partially unconsolidated particulates to form a consolidated mass.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.