Use of expandable self-removing filler material in fracturing operations
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorsJonathan Paul Smith, Jonathan Worley, Dave B. Allison, Kembe Dane Kleinwolterink, Philip D. Nguyen, Tingji Tang, Jimmie D. Weaver
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Abstract
A method using a propping fluid comprising a first carrier fluid and a plurality of propping agents and a spacer fluid comprising a second carrier fluid and an expandable filler material. The method introduces the propping fluid into a fracture in a subterranean formation and introduces the spacer fluid into the fracture. Then the expandable filler material is exposed to an expanding agent that causes the expandable filler material to expand and press against the adjacent propping agents.
Claims15
A method comprising:
- a) providing a propping fluid comprising a first carrier fluid, a thermal set resin, and a plurality of propping agents;
- b) providing a spacer fluid comprising a second carrier fluid and a first expandable filler material, wherein the first expandable filler material is boric oxide and is present in the range of about 0.001% to about 50% by weight of the spacer fluid;
- c) introducing the propping fluid into a fracture in a subterranean formation;
- d) introducing the spacer fluid into the fracture by introducing the spacer fluid into the subterranean formation at a location higher in the fracture relative to the propping fluid in the fracture;
- e) exposing the first expandable filler material to an expanding agent that causes the first expandable filler material to expand and press against adjacent propping agents;
- f) allowing the first expandable filler material to degrade, wherein the first expandable filler material generates heat as it degrades, thereby aiding in curing the thermal set resin in the propping fluid and further degrading the first expandable filler material;
- and
- g) removing at least 85% of the degraded first expandable filler material from the subterranean formation to achieve a high porosity fracture having a conductivity of greater than about 40%.
A method comprising:
- a) introducing a fracturing fluid in a subterranean formation at a pressure sufficient to create or enhance at least a portion of a fracture;
- b) providing a spacer fluid comprising a second carrier fluid, a thermal set resin, and a first expandable filler material, wherein the expandable filler material is boric oxide and is present in the range of about 0.001% to about 50% by weight of the spacer fluid;
- c) introducing a propping fluid comprising a first carrier fluid and a plurality of propping agents into the fracture;
- d) introducing the spacer fluid into the fracture by introducing the spacer fluid into the subterranean formation at a location higher in the fracture relative to the propping fluid in the fracture;
- e) exposing the first expandable filler material to an expanding agent that causes the first expandable filler material to expand and press against adjacent propping agents;
- f) allowing the first expandable filler material to degrade, wherein the first expandable filler material generates heat as it degrades, thereby aiding in curing the thermal set resin in the propping fluid and further degrading the first expandable filler material;
- and
- g) removing at least 85% of the degraded first expandable filler material from the subterranean formation to achieve a high porosity fracture having a conductivity of greater than about 40%.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.