Abstract:
A slurry and method are disclosed for low damage gravel packing. The slurry comprises a solids mixture comprising a plurality of volume-averaged particle size distribution (PSD) modes such that a packed volume fraction (PVF) exceeds 0.75; a carrier fluid in an amount to provide a solids volume fraction (SVF) less than the PVF of the solids mixture; and a stability additive to inhibit settling of the solids mixture. The method comprises circulating the slurry into a wellbore to deposit the slurry downhole; terminating the slurry circulation for a period of time, wherein the stability additive inhibits settling of the solids mixture; and thereafter circulating the deposited slurry in contact with a surface of a screen. Stability additives disclosed include colloidal particles, hydratable polymer particles, and particles having an aspect ratio above 6.
Abstract:
A method includes providing a slurry comprising a carrier fluid and a solids mixture, and injecting said slurry in a wellbore wherein the solids mixture comprises at least two volume-averaged particle size distribution (PSD) modes, wherein a first PSD mode comprises solids having a volume-average median size at least three times larger than the volume-average median size of a second PSD mode such that a packed volume fraction (PVF) of the solids mixture exceeds 0.75.
Abstract:
The invention discloses a method of treating a subterranean formation of a well bore: providing a treatment fluid made of: a fluid; a particulate material, and a viscosifier material; wherein the viscosifier material is inactive in a first state and is able to increase viscosity of the treatment fluid when in a second state; introducing the treatment fluid into the wellbore; and providing a trigger able to activate the viscosifier material from first state to second state.
Abstract:
A gravel packing system, method and slurry. The system comprises a blending device to prepare a slurry comprising a carrier fluid suspending first, second and third particulates, wherein the carrier fluid comprises a brine and less than about 2.4 g/L (20 lb per 1000 gallons) of a viscosifier, and wherein the sum of the mass of the particulates is greater than about 2.4 kg/L (20 pounds per gallon), wherein the first average particle volume is between 27 and 3375 times larger than the second average particle volume, which in turn is between 27 and 3375 times larger than the third average particle volume. The system can also include tubing to position a screen in the wellbore and a slurry pump to circulate the slurry from the blending device in the wellbore in any order such that the particulates are deposited in the screen annulus to form a gravel pack.
Abstract:
A composition, treatment fluid and method using hydrolyzable fines. A treatment fluid, which may optionally include a high solids content fluid (HSCF) and/or an Apollonianistic solids mixture, includes a fluid loss control agent comprising a dispersion of hydrolyzable fines, optionally with one or more of a surfactant, plasticizer, dispersant, degradable particles, reactive particles and/or submicron particles selected from silicates, γ-alumina, MgO, γ-Fe2O3, TiO2, and combinations thereof.
Abstract:
A system includes a wellbore in fluid communication with a formation of interest and a fracturing slurry include a carrier fluid with a low amount of a viscosifier, an amount of proppant including a first average particle size between about 200 and 2000 μm, an amount particulates including a second average particle size between about three and ten times smaller than the first average particle size, and a third amount of particulates having a third average particle size smaller than the second average particle size. A sum of all of the particulates in the fracturing slurry exceed about 16 pounds per gallon of the carrier fluid. They system further includes a pumping device that creates a propped fracture in the formation of interest with the fracturing slurry, and a removal agent that removes the second amount of particulates and/or the third amount of particulates from the propped fracture.
Abstract:
A method of placing proppant into a fracture formed in a subterranean formation from a wellbore is disclosed. The method comprises injecting through the wellbore a first treatment fluid to initiate the fracture in the subterranean formation; injecting through the wellbore a second treatment fluid comprising a particulate blend slurry made of proppant; the particulate blend comprising at least a first amount of particulates having a first average particle size between about 100 and 5000 μm and at least a second amount of particulates having a second average particle size between about three and twenty times smaller than the first average particle size; and forming with the particulate blend slurry a plurality of proppant-rich clusters spaced apart by proppant-free regions forming open channels.
Abstract:
This invention relates to compositions and methods A method of treating a subterranean formation including forming a fluid comprising zein, and introducing the fluid to a subterranean formation. A method of treating a subterranean formation comprising a wellbore, including introducing a tubular to the wellbore wherein the tubular comprises zein.
Abstract:
An apparatus and a method for treating a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore comprising combining a carrier fluid, a first amount of particulates, and a second amount of particulates into a slurry, wherein the first amount of particulates have a first average size distribution and the second amount of particulates have a second average size distribution, wherein the first amount of particulates comprise an expanding material, placing the slurry in the wellbore, and lowering a screen into the slurry. An apparatus and a method of treating a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore, the method comprising combining a carrier fluid, a first amount of particulates, a second amount of particulates, and a third amount of particulates into a slurry, wherein the first amount of particulates have a first average size distribution, the second amount of particulates have a second average size distribution, and the third amount of particulates have a third average size distribution, wherein the first average size distribution is at least two times larger than the second average size distribution, and wherein second average size distribution is at least two times larger than the third average size distribution, wherein at least one of the second amount of particulates and the third amount of particulates comprise a expanding material, positioning a screen in a wellbore, and circulating the slurry through the wellbore such that the first amount of particulates and the second amount of particulates are deposited on an outer surface of the screen.
Abstract:
The invention discloses a method of controlling fluid loss from a subterranean formation of a well bore. In a first aspect, the method is done by providing a treatment fluid made of an aqueous fluid and a hydrophobic polymer; and introducing the treatment fluid into the wellbore. In a second aspect, the method is done by providing a treatment fluid made of water and a water soluble polymer; providing in the treatment fluid a fluid loss additive having a hydrophobic polymer; using the treatment fluid in a well bore of a subterranean formation; allowing the treatment fluid to establish a permeable filter cake with the water soluble polymer in at least a portion of the well bore; and allowing hydrophobic polymer to enter into the filter cake to reduce permeability of the filter cake.