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US 6,691,780 B2Granted
Tracking of particulate flowback in subterranean wells
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorsPhilip D. Nguyen, Jimmie D. Weaver, Johnny A. Barton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Compositions and methods for tracking the transport of particulate solids during the production of hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation.
Claims24
A method of treating a subterranean formation having multiple zones penetrated by a well bore comprising:
- providing a plurality of particulate compositions comprising a particulate material and a tracking material, wherein the tracking material is selected from the group consisting of substantially non-radioactive metals, substantially non-radioactive metal oxides, substantially non-radioactive metal sulfates, substantially non-radioactive metal carbonates, substantially non-radioactive metal phosphates, substantially non-radioactive metal salts of organic acids, phosphorescent pigments, fluorescent pigments, photoluminescent pigments, oil soluble dyes, oil dispersible dyes and oil dispersible pigments, and wherein each particulate composition comprises a different tracking material;
- introducing a different particulate composition into each zone in the subterranean formation through a well bore;
- flowing fluid back from the subterranean formation and collecting at least a portion of any particulate compositions which flow back from the subterranean formation;
- and
- identifying particulate compositions returned by detecting the tracking compositions.
2 more elements
A method of treating a subterranean formation having multiple zones penetrated by a well bore comprising:
- providing a plurality of particulate compositions comprising a particulate material and a tracking material, wherein the tracking material comprises a metal salt of an organic acid and the organic acid is selected from the group consisting of substituted and unsubstituted alkanoic carboxylic acids, alkenoic carboxylic acids, polyunsaturated aliphatic monocarboxylic acids and aromatic carboxylic acids, and wherein each particulate composition comprises a different tracking material;
- introducing a different particulate composition into each zone in the subterranean formation through a well bore;
- flowing fluid back from the subterranean formation and collecting at least a portion of any particulate compositions which flow back from the subterranean formation;
- and
- identifying particulate compositions returned by detecting the tracking compositions.
2 more elements
A method of determining the source of particulate returning from propping multiple fractures in a subterranean formation penetrated by a well bore comprising:
- placing a proppant composition in each fracture in the subterranean formation, wherein each proppant composition comprises particulate material and a tracking composition coated upon said particulate, wherein the tracking material is selected from the group consisting of substantially non-radioactive metals, substantially non-radioactive metal oxides, substantially non-radioactive metal sulfates, substantially non-radioactive metal carbonates, substantially non-radioactive metal phosphates, substantially non-radioactive metal salts of organic acids, phosphorescent pigments, fluorescent pigments, photoluminescent pigments, oil soluble dyes, oil dispersible dyes and oil dispersible pigments, and wherein each proppant composition comprises a different tracking composition;
- flowing fluid back from the subterranean formation and collecting at least a portion of any particulate that flows back from the subterranean formation;
- and
- identifying the tracking composition on the returned particulate that flows back from the subterranean formation.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.