Well treatment using ball sealers
AssigneeExxon Production Research Company
InventorsManuel E. Gonzalez, James R. Bailey, Walter J. Lamb
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Ball sealers comprising a polyetheretherketone are introduced into a well to seal well perforations and divert fluid therein. In the preferred embodiment the ball sealers have a density less than the treating fluid.
Claims9
A method of treating a subterranean formation surrounding a cased wellbore wherein the casing has an interval provided with a plurality of perforations, said interval being in a hostile environment, including a temperature in the range of 177.degree.-316.degree. C. and a pressure in the range of 350-1758 kg/cm.sup.2, said method comprising:
- (a) flowing down said casing to said perforated interval a plurality of ball sealers suspended in a liquid medium, said ball sealers having a density less than the density of said liquid and being sized to significantly seal said perforations, said ball sealers comprised of a carbon-fiber reinforced polyetheretherketone polymer and having been aerated to reduce said density of said ball sealer to a density in the range of 1.1 g/cc-1.3 g/cc;
- and
- (b) continuing the flow of said liquid until said ball sealers seal at least a portion of said perforations.
A method of treating a subterranean formation surrounding a cased wellbore wherein the casing has an interval provided with a plurality of perforations, said interval being in a hostile environment, including a temperature in the range of 177.degree.-316.degree. C. and a pressure in the range of 350-1758 kg/cm.sup.2, said method comprising:
- (a) flowing down said casing to said perforated interval a plurality of ball sealers suspended in a liquid medium, said ball sealers having a density less than the density of said liquid and being sized to significantly seal said perforations, said ball sealers comprised of carbon-fiber reinforced polyetheretherketone and having been aerated to reduce said density of said ball sealer to a density in the range of 0.9 g/cc-1.1 g/cc;
- and
- (b) continuing the flow of said liquid until said ball sealers significantly seal at least a portion of said perforations.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.