Back to results
US 6,649,572 B2Granted
Polymer expansion for oil and gas recovery
AssigneeB J Services Company
InventorsJeffrey C. Dawson, Hoang Van Le, Subramanian Kesavan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods are provided for fracturing subterranean formations using fluids having substantially reduced polymer loadings that have performance equivalent to conventional fluids. Reduced polymer loadings provide significant advantages such as reduced treatment costs and less damage to the fracture sand pack and surrounding subterranean formations.
Claims45
A fracturing fluid, comprising:
- a mixture of an aqueous fluid and a water-soluble polymer having anionic groups attached thereto, interaction of the anionic groups on the polymer causing polymer chain expansion in the mixture;
- a propping agent;
- and
- a tetramethylammonium halide,
- wherein the polymer is mixed with the aqueous fluid based on a ratio of about 20 pounds or less of the polymer for 1000 gallons of the aqueous fluid, the fracturing fluid has a pH of less than 9, and the fracturing fluid is substantially free of a cation-producing additive capable of substantially interfering with the interaction of anionic groups.
2 more elements
A fracturing fluid, comprising:
- a mixture of an aqueous fluid and a carboxymethyl guar having carboxylate anions attached thereto, interaction of the carboxylate anions on the polymer causing polymer chain expansion in the mixture;
- a propping agent;
- and
- a tetramethylammonium halide,
- wherein the polymer is mixed with the aqueous fluid based on a ratio of about 20 pounds or less of the polymer for 1000 gallons of the aqueous fluid, the fracturing fluid has a pH of less than 9, and the fracturing fluid is substantially free of a cation-producing additive capable of substantially interfering with the interaction of carboxylate anions.
2 more elements
A fracturing fluid, consisting essentially of:
- an aqueous fluid;
- a water-soluble polymer having anionic groups attached thereto, the anionic groups on the polymer causing polymer chain expansion in the aqueous fluid;
- a tetramethylammonium halide;
- and
- a crosslinking agent,
- wherein the polymer is mixed with the aqueous fluid based on a ratio of about 20 pounds or less of the polymer for 1000 gallons of the aqueous fluid, the fracturing fluid has a pH of less than 9, and the fracturing fluid is substantially free of a cation-producing additive capable of substantially interfering with the interaction of anionic groups.
3 more elements
A method of treating a subterranean formation, comprising:
- obtaining a fracturing fluid comprising an aqueous fluid, a propping agent and a water-soluble polymer having anionic groups attached thereto, interaction of the anionic groups on the polymer causing polymer chain expansion in the aqueous fluid, the polymer mixed with the aqueous fluid based on a ratio of about 20 pounds or less of the polymer for 1000 gallons of the aqueous fluid;
- adding a tetramethylammonium halide to the fracturing fluid;
- adjusting the fracturing fluid to a pH of 9 or less;
- and
- injecting the fracturing fluid into at least a portion of the subterranean formation,
- wherein the fracturing fluid is substantially free of a cation-producing additive capable of substantially interfering with the interaction of anionic groups.
3 more elements
A method of treating a subterranean formation, comprising:
- obtaining a fracturing fluid consisting essentially of an aqueous fluid, a crosslinking agent, and a water-soluble polymer having anionic groups attached thereto, interaction of the anionic groups on the polymer causing polymer chain expansion in the aqueous fluid, the polymer mixed with the aqueous fluid based on a ratio of about 20 pounds or less of the polymer for 1000 gallons of the aqueous fluid;
- adding a tetramethylammonium halide to the fracturing fluid;
- adjusting the fracturing fluid to a pH of 9 or less;
- and
- injecting the fracturing fluid into at least a portion of the subterranean formation,
- wherein the fracturing fluid is substantially free of a cation-producing additive capable of substantially interfering with the interaction of anionic groups.
3 more elements
A method of treating a subterranean formation, comprising:
- obtaining a fracturing fluid comprising an aqueous fluid, a propping agent and a carboxymethyl guar polymer having carboxylate anions attached thereto, interaction of the carboxylate anions on the polymer causing polymer chain expansion in the aqueous fluid, the polymer mixed with the aqueous fluid based on a ratio of about 20 pounds or less of the polymer for 1000 gallons of the aqueous fluid;
- adding a tetramethylammonium halide to the fracturing fluid;
- adjusting the fracturing fluid to a pH of 9 or less;
- and
- injecting the fracturing fluid into at least a portion of the subterranean formation,
- wherein the fracturing fluid is substantially free of a cation-producing additive capable of substantially interfering with the interaction of carboxylate anions.
3 more elements
A fracturing fluid, comprising:
- a mixture of an aqueous fluid and a water-soluble polymer having anionic groups attached thereto, interaction of the anionic groups on the polymer causing polymer chain expansion in the mixture;
- a crosslinking agent;
- and
- a tetramethylammonium halide,
- wherein the polymer is mixed with the aqueous fluid based on a ratio of about 20 pounds or less of the polymer for 1000 gallons of the aqueous fluid, the fracturing fluid has a pH of less than 9, and the fracturing fluid is substantially free of a cation-producing additive capable of substantially interfering with the interaction of anionic groups.
2 more elements
A fracturing fluid, comprising:
- a mixture of an aqueous fluid and a carboxymethyl guar having carboxylate anions attached thereto, interaction of the carboxylate anions on the polymer causing polymer chain expansion in the mixture;
- a crosslinking agent;
- and
- a tetramethylammonium halide,
- wherein the polymer is mixed with the aqueous fluid based on a ratio of about 20 pounds or less of the polymer for 1000 gallons of the aqueous fluid, the fracturing fluid has a pH of less than 9, and the fracturing fluid is substantially free of a cation-producing additive capable of substantially interfering with the interaction of carboxylate anions.
2 more elements
A method of treating a subterranean formation, comprising:
- obtaining a fracturing fluid comprising an aqueous fluid, a crosslinking agent, a tetramethylammonium halide, and a water-soluble polymer having anionic groups attached thereto, interaction of the anionic groups on the polymer causing polymer chain expansion in the aqueous fluid, the polymer mixed with the aqueous fluid based on a ratio of about 20 pounds or less of the polymer for 1000 gallons of the aqueous fluid;
- adjusting the fracturing fluid to a pH of 9 or less;
- and
- injecting the fracturing fluid into at least a portion of the subterranean formation,
- wherein the fracturing fluid is substantially free of a cation-producing additive capable of substantially interfering with the interaction of anionic groups.
2 more elements
A method of treating a subterranean formation, comprising:
- obtaining a fracturing fluid comprising an aqueous fluid, a tetramethylammonium halide, a crosslinking agent and a carboxymethyl guar polymer having carboxylate anions attached thereto, interaction of the carboxylate anions on the polymer causing polymer chain expansion in the aqueous fluid, the polymer mixed with the aqueous fluid based on a ratio of about 20 pounds or less of the polymer for 1000 gallons of the aqueous fluid;
- and
- injecting the fracturing fluid into at least a portion of the subterranean formation,
- wherein the fracturing fluid has a pH of less than 9, and the fracturing fluid is substantially free of a cation-producing additive capable of substantially interfering with the interaction of carboxylate anions.
1 more element
A method of treating a subterranean formation, comprising:
- obtaining a fracturing fluid comprising an aqueous fluid, a propping agent and a water-soluble polymer having anionic groups attached thereto, interaction of the anionic groups on the polymer causing polymer chain expansion in the aqueous fluid, the polymer mixed with the aqueous fluid based on a ratio of about 20 pounds or less of the polymer for 1000 gallons of the aqueous fluid;
- adding a tetramethylammonium halide to the fracturing fluid;
- injecting the fracturing fluid in the presence of carbon dioxide into at least a portion of the subterranean formation,
- wherein the fracturing fluid is substantially free of a cation-producing additive capable of substantially interfering with the interaction of anionic groups.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.