Methods of rapidly consolidating particulate materials in wells
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorsMorice Hoogteijling, Diederik van Batenburg
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Abstract
The present invention provides improved methods of consolidating particulate material in a subterranean zone penetrated by a well bore. The methods basically comprise the steps of coating the particulate material with a hardenable resin composition and irradiating the hardenable resin composition coating on the particulate material with microwaves to thereby accelerate the hardening of the resin composition whereby the particulate material is rapidly consolidated into a stationary permeable mass.
Claims27
An improved method of consolidating particulate material in a subterranean zone penetrated by a well bore comprising the steps of:
- (a) coating said particulate material with a hardenable resin composition;
- and
- (b) irradiating said hardenable resin composition coating on said particulate material with microwaves to thereby accelerate the hardening of said resin composition whereby said particulate material is rapidly consolidated into a stationary permeable mass.
An improved method of forming a gravel pack in a subterranean zone penetrated by a well bore comprising the steps of:
- (a) pumping a carrying fluid having a particulate material coated with a hardenable resin composition suspended therein by way of said well bore into said subterranean zone whereby said resin composition coated particulate material is deposited between a sand screen and the walls of said well bore in said subterranean zone;
- (b) irradiating said hardenable resin composition coating on said particulate material with microwaves to thereby cause the acceleration of the hardening of said resin composition coating whereby said particulate material is rapidly consolidated into a stationary permeable mass;
- and
- (c) producing fluids from said subterranean zone.
An improved method of fracturing a subterranean zone penetrated by a well bore comprising the steps of:
- (a) suspending a particulate proppant material coated with a hardenable resin composition in a gelled fracturing fluid;
- (b) pumping said gelled fracturing fluid of step (a) by way of said well bore into said subterranean zone at a rate and pressure sufficient to fracture said zone and carry said particulate proppant material coated with said hardenable resin composition into the fracture or fractures formed in said zone;
- (c) irradiating said gelled fracturing fluid and said hardenable resin composition coating on said proppant material with microwaves to thereby cause the acceleration of the breaking of said gelled fracturing fluid whereby it rapidly reverts to a thin fluid and the hardening of said resin composition coating whereby said particulate proppant material is rapidly consolidated into a stationary permeable mass;
- and then
- (d) producing fluids from said subterranean zone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.