Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090008094 | Method of Treating Subterranean Formations With Porous Ceramic Particulate Materials - Methods and compositions useful for subterranean formation treatments, such as hydraulic fracturing treatments and sand control that include porous materials. Such porous materials may be selectively configured porous material particles manufactured and/or treated with selected glazing materials, coating materials and/or penetrating materials to have desired strength and/or apparent density to fit particular downhole conditions for well treating such as hydraulic fracturing treatments and sand control treatments. Porous materials may also be employed in selected combinations to optimize fracture or sand control performance, and/or may be employed as relatively lightweight materials in liquid carbon dioxide-based well treatment systems. | 01-08-2009 |
20090093382 | Methods and Compositions for Pre-emptively Controlling Undesirable Water Production From Oil and Gas Wells` - A method for pre-emptively reducing the production of water in an oil and gas well is provided. In one embodiment, a drill-in fluid having a relative permeability modifier (RPM) capable of impeding the production of water is introduced into the wellbore during drilling operations. In a second embodiment, a completion fluid having a relative permeability modifier (RPM) capable of impeding the production of water is introduced into the wellbore during completion operations. The drill-in fluid or completion fluid may further include an organosilicon compound to increase flow resistance and extend the effective RPM permeability application range. | 04-09-2009 |
20090107674 | Method of Treating Subterranean Formations Using Mixed Density Proppants or Sequential Proppant Stages - An increase in effective propped lengths is evidenced in hydraulic fracturing treatments by the use of ultra lightweight (ULW) proppants. The ULW proppants have a density less than or equal to 2.45 g/cc and may be used as a mixture in a first proppant stage wherein at least one of the proppants is a ULW proppant. Alternatively, sequential proppant stages may be introduced into the formation wherein at least one of the proppant stages contain a ULW proppant and where at least one of the following conditions prevails:
| 04-30-2009 |
20100089580 | METHOD OF ENHANCING FRACTURE CONDUCTIVITY - The method disclosed herein includes the introduction of proppant-free stage and a proppant laden stage into the wellbore and/or subterranean formation. The method increases the effective fracture width and enhances fracture conductivity within the formation. Either the proppant-free stage or the proppant laden stage contains a breaker. The other stage contains a viscosifying polymer or viscoelastic surfactant to which the breaker has affinity. The proppant-free stage may be introduced prior to introduction of the proppant laden stage into the wellbore and/or formation. Alternatively, the proppant laden stage may be introduced into the wellbore and/or formation prior to introduction of the proppant-free stage. | 04-15-2010 |
20100116500 | Method of Fracturing a Subterranean Formation at Optimized and Pre-determined Conditions - Prior to a hydraulic fracturing treatment, the requisite injection rate for a desired propped fracture length of a fracture may be estimated with knowledge of certain physical properties of the proppant and transport fluid such as fluid viscosity, proppant size and specific gravity of the transport slurry as well as fracture geometry and the fracture length. The requisite injection rate may be determined for the desired propped fracture length of the fracture, D | 05-13-2010 |
20100222243 | Porous Particulate Materials and Compositions Thereof - Methods and compositions useful for subterranean formation treatments, such as hydraulic fracturing treatments and sand control that include porous materials. Such porous materials may be selectively configured porous material particles manufactured and/or treated with selected glazing materials, coating materials and/or penetrating materials to have desired strength and/or apparent density to fit particular downhole conditions for well treating such as hydraulic fracturing treatments and sand control treatments. Porous materials may also be employed in selected combinations to optimize fracture or sand control performance, and/or may be employed as relatively lightweight materials in liquid carbon dioxide-based well treatment systems. | 09-02-2010 |
20110000667 | METHOD OF STIMULATING OIL AND GAS WELLS USING DEFORMABLE PROPPANTS - A method of fracturing using deformable proppants minimizes proppant pack damage, without compromising the fracturing fluid's proppant transport properties during pumping, by use of deformable proppants. Selection of proppant is dependent upon the mechanical properties of the formation rock. The strength of the deformable proppant is dependent upon the modulus of the formation rock being treated such that the proppant is capable of providing, at the very least, a minimum level of conductivity in in-situ stress environments. The maximum elastic modulus of the deformable proppant is less than the minimum modulus of the formation rock which is being treated. The method is particularly applicable in fracturing operations of subterranean reservoirs such as those comprised primarily of coal, chalk, limestone, dolomite, shale, siltstone, diatomite, etc. | 01-06-2011 |
20110094740 | METHOD OF TREATING SUBTERRANEAN FORMATIONS WITH POROUS CERAMIC PARTICULATE MATERIALS - Methods and compositions useful for subterranean formation treatments, such as hydraulic fracturing treatments and sand control that include porous materials. Such porous materials may be selectively configured porous material particles manufactured and/or treated with selected glazing materials, coating materials and/or penetrating materials to have desired strength and/or apparent density to fit particular downhole conditions for well treating such as hydraulic fracturing treatments and sand control treatments. Porous materials may also be employed in selected combinations to optimize fracture or sand control performance, and/or may be employed as relatively lightweight materials in liquid carbon dioxide-based well treatment systems. | 04-28-2011 |
20110146996 | METHOD OF FRACTURING SUBTERRANEAN FORMATIONS WITH CROSSLINKED FLUID - Subterranean formations, such as tight gas formations, may be subjected to hydraulic fracturing by introducing into the formation a fracturing fluid of an aqueous fluid, a hydratable polymer, a crosslinking agent and proppant. The fracturing fluid is prepared in a blender and then pumped from the blender into the wellbore which penetrates the formation. The fluid enters the reservoir through an entrance site. The apparent viscosity of the fluid decreases distally from the entrance site such that at least one of the following conditions prevails at in situ conditions:
| 06-23-2011 |
20110180260 | METHOD OF TREATING SUBTERRANEAN FORMATIONS USING MIXED DENSITY PROPPANTS OR SEQUENTIAL PROPPANT STAGES - An increase in effective propped lengths is evidenced in hydraulic fracturing treatments by the use of ultra lightweight (ULW) proppants. The ULW proppants have a density less than or equal to 2.45 g/cc and may be used as a mixture in a first proppant stage wherein at least one of the proppants is a ULW proppant. Alternatively, sequential proppant stages may be introduced into the formation wherein at least one of the proppant stages contain a ULW proppant and where at least one of the following conditions prevails: | 07-28-2011 |
20120012313 | METHOD OF FRACTURING A SUBTERRANEAN FORMATION AT OPTIMIZED AND PRE-DETERMINED CONDITIONS - Prior to a hydraulic fracturing treatment, the requisite apparent viscosity of a transport fluid, μ | 01-19-2012 |
20120012323 | METHOD OF FRACTURING A SUBTERRANEAN FORMATION AT OPTIMIZED AND PRE-DETERMINED CONDITIONS - Prior to a hydraulic fracturing treatment, ΔSG | 01-19-2012 |
20120012324 | METHOD OF FRACTURING A SUBTERRANEAN FORMATION AT OPTIMIZED AND PRE-DETERMINED CONDITIONS - Prior to a hydraulic fracturing treatment, the requisite median diameter of a proppant, d | 01-19-2012 |
20120241152 | METHOD OF FRACTURING A SUBTERRANEAN FORMATION AT OPTIMIZED AND PRE-DETERMINED CONDITIONS - During a hydraulic fracturing treatment operation, one of three operational parameters may be modified in a successive stage by adjustment of another operational parameter to attain a fracture of length D | 09-27-2012 |
20120241153 | Method of Enhancing Fracture Conductivity - The method disclosed herein includes the introduction of proppant-free stage and a proppant laden stage into the wellbore and/or subterranean formation. The method increases the effective fracture width and enhances fracture conductivity within the formation. Either the proppant-free stage or the proppant laden stage contains a breaker. The other stage contains a viscosifying polymer or viscoelastic surfactant to which the breaker has affinity. The proppant-free stage may be introduced prior to introduction of the proppant laden stage into the wellbore and/or formation. Alternatively, the proppant laden stage may be introduced into the wellbore and/or formation prior to introduction of the proppant-free stage. | 09-27-2012 |
20130043873 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING INFORMATION ABOUT ONE OR MORE SUBTERRANEAN FEATURE - A method of approximating or determining at least one dimension or other characteristic of at least one underground geological feature in a zone of interest proximate to a well bore includes generating an electric field in the zone of interest. At least two sensing electrodes are provided in the well bore and configured to detect differences therebetween in electric potential caused by at least one target object in the zone of interest. Proppant containing signal generating devices (SGD) is delivered into the geological feature(s). The SGD generate a detectable signal in response to at least one downhole condition or property. At least one receiver receives the detectable signals and provides data relating thereto. At least one dimension or other characteristic of the geological feature is approximated or determined based at least partially upon data provided by the sensing electrodes and receiver(s). | 02-21-2013 |
20130126158 | METHOD OF USING CONTROLLED RELEASE TRACERS - Fluids produced from a fractured subterranean formation may be monitored by pumping into the well a fracturing fluid which contains a tracer. The method may be used to monitor produced hydrocarbons as well as produced water. The tracer may also be used in a sand control, frac pack or acid fracturing operation. The tracer is a component of a composite where it may be immobilized within a matrix (such as an emulsion) or porous particulate, onto a support or compressed with a binder into a solid particulate. The tracer may be slowly released from the composite. | 05-23-2013 |
20130126177 | METHOD FOR IMPROVING ISOLATION OF FLOW TO COMPLETED PERFORATED INTERVALS - A method for building a plug in a horizontal wellbore using a fluid pill containing a suspended well treatment agent. The well treatment agent contains an ultra lightweight (ULW) deformable core and a viscosifying polymer and crosslinking agent coated onto the core. The fluid pill is pumped into the wellbore at the end of a fracturing treatment. The fluid pill is displaced by a displacement fluid and the fluid pill transforms to a thickened gel. The thickened gel is formed by the in-situ reaction of the viscosifying polymer and crosslinking which become disassociated from the ULW deformable core. The gelled fluid containing the ULW deformable core assists in the bridging of the ULW deformable core and forming the bridge plug. | 05-23-2013 |
20130130947 | METHOD FOR IMPAIRING FLUID FLOW IN SUBTERRANEAN FORMATIONS - Loss of wellbore fluids (such as drilling fluids, completion fluids and workover fluids) into the flow passages of a subterranean formation may be reduced or eliminated by introducing into the wellbore in communication with the formation a composition containing a composite of a deformable core having a hardened coating which contains a viscosifying agent and, optionally, a crosslinking agent. The viscosity of the composition increases in-situ as the viscosifying agent, and optional crosslinking agent, disassociate from the deformable core and react. A fluid-impermeable barrier is thereby formed. The composites may also be used in spacers, well cements, workover and completion fluids as their need arises. | 05-23-2013 |
20130153233 | METHOD OF FRACTURING SUBTERRANEAN FORMATIONS WITH CROSSLINKED FLUID - Subterranean formations, such as tight gas formations, may be subjected to hydraulic fracturing by introducing into the formation a fracturing fluid of an aqueous fluid, a hydratable polymer, a crosslinking agent and proppant. The fracturing fluid is prepared in a blender and then pumped from the blender into the wellbore which penetrates the formation. The fluid enters the reservoir through an entrance site. The apparent viscosity of the fluid decreases distally from the entrance site such that at least one of the following conditions prevails at in situ conditions: | 06-20-2013 |
20130175032 | Method of Enhancing Fracture Conductivity - The method disclosed herein includes the introduction of proppant-free stage and a proppant laden stage into the wellbore and/or subterranean formation. The method increases the effective fracture width and enhances fracture conductivity within the formation. Either the proppant-free stage or the proppant laden stage contains a breaker. The other stage contains a viscosifying polymer or viscoelastic surfactant to which the breaker has affinity. The proppant-free stage may be introduced prior to introduction of the proppant laden stage into the wellbore and/or formation. Alternatively, the proppant laden stage may be introduced into the wellbore and/or formation prior to introduction of the proppant-free stage. | 07-11-2013 |
20130341030 | METHODS OF IMPROVING HYDRAULIC FRACTURE NETWORK - The complexity of a fracture network may be enhanced during a hydraulic fracturing operation by monitoring operational parameters of the fracturing job and altering stress conditions in the well in response to the monitoring of the operational parameters. The operational parameters monitored may include the injection rate of the pumped fluid, the density of the pumped fluid or the bottomhole pressure of the well after the fluid is pumped. The method provides an increase to the stimulated reservoir volume (SRV). | 12-26-2013 |
20140246199 | METHOD OF FRACTURING WITH LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS - The production of hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon bearing formation is enhanced by introduction into the formation a non-aqueous fluid containing a liquefied natural gas. | 09-04-2014 |
20140251610 | Method of Enhancing Fracture Conductivity - The method disclosed herein includes the introduction of proppant-free stage and a proppant laden stage into the wellbore and/or subterranean formation. The method increases the effective fracture width and enhances fracture conductivity within the formation. Either the proppant-free stage or the proppant laden stage contains a breaker. At least one of the proppant-free stage or proppant laden stage contains a viscosifying agent to which the breaker has affinity. The viscosifying agent may be a superabsorbent, a viscosifying polymer (other than a superabsorbent) or a viscoelastic surfactant. The breaker has greater affinity for the viscosifying agent not present in the same stage as the breaker. Either the proppant-free stage or the proppant laden stage may be foamed. | 09-11-2014 |
20150041132 | METHOD OF USING DIVERTER AND PROPPANT MIXTURE - The flow of well treatment fluids may be diverted from a high permeability zone to a low permeability zone within a fracture network within a subterranean formation by use of a mixture comprising a dissolvable diverter and a proppant. At least a portion of the high permeability zone is propped open with the proppant of the mixture and at least a portion of the high permeability zone is blocked with the diverter. A fluid is then pumped into the subterranean formation and into a lower permeability zone of the formation farther from the wellbore. The diverter in the high permeability zones may then be dissolved at in-situ reservoir conditions and hydrocarbons produced from the high permeability propped zones of the fracture network. The mixture has particular applicability in the enhancement of production or hydrocarbons from high permeability zones in a fracture network located near the wellbore. | 02-12-2015 |
20150083420 | METHOD FOR OPTIMIZING CONDUCTIVITY IN A HYDRAULIC FRACTURING OPERATION - A method of distributing proppant in a spatial arrangement throughout a created or enlarged fracture by pumping into a subterranean formation penetrated by a well multiple stages of fracturing fluid wherein a fluid laden with proppant is pumped into the well and a fluid substantially free of proppant is then pumped into the well; the fluid of the fluid laden with proppant and the fluid substantially free of proppant being the same. Vertically extending pillars are created within the formation. Fluid produced from the hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir is then flowed at least partially through channels between the vertically extending pillars. | 03-26-2015 |
20150083423 | METHOD FOR IMPROVING ISOLATION OF FLOW TO COMPLETED PERFORATED INTERVALS - A method for building a plug in a horizontal wellbore using a fluid pill containing a suspended well treatment composite. The well treatment composite contains a core comprising at least one deformable particulate and at least one dissolvable diverter. At least a portion of the surface of the core is coated with at least one viscosifying polymer and at least one crosslinking agent. The fluid pill is pumped into the wellbore at the end of a fracturing treatment and the fluid pill may be displaced by a displacement fluid. The fluid pill may be diverted to an area of lower permeability by disassociating the dissolvable diverter from the core. The disassociated diverter blocks an area of higher permeability. The sized particle distribution of the diverter is sufficient to at least partially block the penetration of fluid into the high permeability zone. In the lower permeability zone, a thickened gel is formed by the in-situ reaction of the viscosifying polymer and crosslinking. Deformable particulates in the gelled fluid form a bridge plug. | 03-26-2015 |