Method and apparatus for deliberate fluid removal by capillary imbibition
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorsJerald J. Hinkel, Kevin W. England
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present Invention relates to hydrocarbon well stimulation, and more particularly to methods and compositions to remove (or more generally to transfer) fluid introduced into the subsurface. For instance, preferred methods involve creating then exploiting a capillary pressure gradient at the fracture face to induce fluid flow from the fracture into the formation thereby increasing effective fracture length, and then improving fracture conductivity.
Claims22
A method of removing an initially resident wetting fluid from a fracture contiguous to a geologic formation in a subsurface environment, said method comprising the steps of:
- creating or enhancing a capillary pressure gradient at an interface, said interface defined by said fracture on one side and said contiguous formation on another side;
- said capillary pressure gradient being created by injecting a non-wetting fluid, into the formation opposite said fracture;
- and
- allowing said initially resident wetting fluid to flow along said gradient, through said interface, from said fracture into said formation.
A method for stimulating hydrocarbon in a water-wet subterranean formation by creating or extending a fracture in said formation, comprising the steps of:
- injecting a non-wetting fluid into a subsurface formation, from a well in fluid engagement with said formation and a well surface;
- allowing said non-wetting fluid to leak off from said fracture into said formation;
- injecting an aqueous-based proppant-containing slurry from said well into said fracture, said slurry initially resident in said fracture;
- and
- allowing said slurry to migrate from said fracture into said formation.
A method for fracturing a subterranean formation the steps of:
- injecting a gelled hydrocarbon-based fluid from a well in fluid engagement with said formation, into said formation for the purpose of creating or extending a fracture in said formation;
- allowing said hydrocarbon-based fluid to leak off from said fracture into said formation;
- injecting a substantially aqueous-based fluid from a well in fluid engagement with said formation, into said fracture, thereby establishing a capillary pressure at an interface, said interface defined by said fracture and said formation contiguous with said fracture;
- and
- allowing said aqueous-based fluid to migrate, through said interface, from said fracture into said formation in response to said capillary pressure gradient.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.