Pre-treatment methods for polymer-containing fluids
AssigneeBJ Services Company
InventorsEnrique Lopez, Robert M. Tjon-Joe-Pin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A treatment for wells and/or subterranean formations in which a pre-treatment fluid is introduced prior to a polymer-containing treatment fluid, such as a hydraulic fracturing fluid. The pre-treatment fluid may contain an enzyme and/or oxidative breaker effective to degrade the polymer in the polymer-containing treatment fluid. The enzyme or oxidative breaker of the enzyme pre-treatment fluid enhance degradation of polymer filter cake from the reservoir-side of the filter cake during flow-back of the treatment fluid.
Claims44
A method for treating a subterranean formation, comprising:
- introducing a pre-treatment fluid into said subterranean formation, said pre-treatment fluid comprising at least one breaker;
- then introducing a polymer-containing treatment fluid comprising at least one polymer into said subterranean formation;
- and
- then removing fluid from said subterranean formation;
- wherein said breaker contacts said polymer as fluid is removed from said subterranean formation;
- and wherein said breaker is effective to degrade and remove said polymer as said fluid is removed from said subterranean formation.
A method of fracturing a subterranean formation, comprising:
- introducing a pre-treatment fluid into said subterranean formation, said pre-treatment fluid comprising at least one enzyme breaker, at least one oxidative breaker, or a mixture thereof;
- then introducing a polymer-containing treatment fluid comprising at least one polymer into said subterranean formation at a pressure sufficient to induce a fracture in said formation;
- and
- then removing fluid from said subterranean formation;
- wherein said enzyme or oxidative breaker contacts said polymer as fluid is removed from said subterranean formation;
- and wherein said enzyme or oxidative breaker is effective to degrade and remove said polymer as said fluid is removed from said subterranean formation.
A method of treating a subterranean formation, comprising:
- introducing an enzyme pre-treatment fluid into said subterranean formation, said enzyme treatment comprising an aqueous fluid and at least one enzyme;
- then introducing a polymer-containing treatment fluid into said subterranean formation, said polymer-containing treatment fluid comprising an aqueous fluid and at least one polymer into said subterranean formation;
- and
- then removing fluid from said subterranean formation;
- wherein said polymer-containing treatment fluid forms a filter cake or gel residue within said subterranean formations;
- wherein said enzyme contacts said filter cake or gel residue from a formation side of said filter cake or gel residue as fluid is removed from said subterranean formation;
- and wherein said enzyme is effective to degrade and remove said filter cake or gel residue as said fluid is removed from said subterranean formation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.