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US 9,315,714 B2Granted
Degradable non-aqueous gel systems
AssigneesM-I L.L.C., M-I Drilling Fluids UK Limited
InventorsMark Sanders, David Antony Ballard, Arvind D. Patel, Jason T. Scorsone
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of treating a formation that includes exposing a region of the formation occupied by a hydrolysable gel to a hydrolyzing agent; and allowing sufficient time for the hydrolyzing agent to hydrolyze the gel. Various methods may also include the use of a swelling agent to allow for expansion of the gel.
Claims22
A method of treating a formation, comprising:
- emplacing gel components within the formation to form a hydrolysable gel therein;
- exposing a region of the formation occupied by the hydrolysable gel to a hydrolyzing agent;
- after emplacing the gel components and the formation of the hydrolysable gel, then emplacing a swelling agent into the region of the formation occupied by the hydrolysable gel, wherein the swelling agent is one or more selected from the group consisting of alcohols, ethers, and pyrrolidones;
- allowing the swelling agent to expand the hydrolysable gel structure;
- and
- allowing sufficient time for the hydrolyzing agent to hydrolyze the hydrolysable gel;
- wherein the swelling agent is emplaced into the region of the formation occupied by the hydrolysable gel after the hydrolysable gel performs a function selected from zonal isolation, loss circulation, wellbore strengthening, or formation permeability control.
4 more elements
A method of treating a formation, comprising:
- emplacing a gelling fluid comprising an internal hydrolyzing agent into the formation;
- allowing the gelling fluid to form a gel in a region of the formation, wherein the gel comprises at least one of a polyurethane, polyurea, and polyester;
- after the formation of the gel in a region of the formation, then contacting the gel with a swelling agent, wherein the swelling agent is one or more selected from the group consisting of alcohols, ethers, and pyrrolidones;
- and
- activating the internal hydrolyzing agent to break the formed gel.
2 more elements
A method of treating a formation, comprising:
- emplacing gel components within the formation to form a hydrolysable gel therein;
- after emplacing the gel components and the formation of the hydrolysable gel, then emplacing a swelling agent into a region of the formation occupied by the hydrolysable gel, wherein the swelling agent is a mutual solvent and is emplaced into the region of the formation occupied by the hydrolysable gel only after the hydrolysable gel performs a function comprising zonal isolation, loss circulation, wellbore strengthening, or formation permeability control and the hydrolysable gel is one or more selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes, silylated polyurethanes, and polyureas;
- allowing the gel structure to expand;
- emplacing a hydrolyzing agent into the region of the formation occupied by the gel;
- and
- allowing sufficient time for the hydrolyzing agent to hydrolyze the expanded gel.
3 more elements
A method of treating a formation, comprising:
- emplacing gel components within the formation to form a hydrolysable gel therein;
- exposing a region of the formation occupied by the hydrolysable gel to a hydrolyzing agent;
- after emplacing the gel components and the formation of the hydrolysable gel, then emplacing a swelling agent into the region of the formation occupied by the hydrolysable gel, wherein the hydrolysable gel is one or more selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes, silylated polyurethanes, polyureas, and polyesters and wherein the swelling agent is one or more selected from the group consisting of alcohols, ethers, and pyrrolidones;
- allowing the swelling agent to expand the hydrolysable gel structure;
- and
- allowing sufficient time for the hydrolyzing agent to hydrolyze the hydrolysable gel.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.