| Entries |
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| 20080223574 | High strength ceramic elements and methods for making and using the same - One embodiment of the present invention relates to spherical ceramic elements, such as proppants, for maintaining permeability in subterranean formations to facilitate extraction of oil and gas therefrom. The strength of the ceramic element may be enhanced by combining materials having different coefficients of thermal expansion. Methods of making the ceramic elements are also disclosed. | 09-18-2008 |
| 20080236824 | Zirconium-base cross-linker compositions and their use in high pH oil field applications - A zirconium cross-linking agent produced by a process which comprises contacting a zirconium triethanolamine complex with a mixture of polyols, which mixture comprises a hydroxyalkylated diamine and a hydrocarbon polyol. There is further provided a cross-linking composition which comprises (a) an aqueous liquid, (b) a cross-linkable organic polymer, and (c) a solution of a zirconium cross-linking agent which is produced by a process which comprises contacting a zirconium triethanolamine complex having a molar ratio of 1:2 to 1:5 of zirconium to triethanolamine with a mixture of polyols, which mixture comprises a hydroxyalkylated diamine and a hydrocarbon polyol wherein the molar ratio of zirconium to hydroxyalkylated diamine is 1:0.5 to 1:1 and the molar ratio of zirconium to hydrocarbon polyol is 1:0.5 to 1:1.5. The composition can be used in oil field applications for hydraulic fracturing and plugging of permeable zones and leaks in subterranean formations. | 10-02-2008 |
| 20080236825 | Particulate Material for Proppant Flowback Control - Particulate material used for proppant flowback control from the fracture, where the material is a polymer which increases its hardness under downhole conditions. | 10-02-2008 |
| 20080245527 | Use Of A Chopper Mechanism To Add Fibers To A Well - A chopper mechanism for providing a fiber to a fluid at an oilfield. The chopper mechanism may be employed to process the fiber from an uncut form to a cut form in order to provide a mixture of the fluid and the fiber with flowback inhibiting character. Techniques of employing the chopper mechanism may be utilized at the site of an oilfield for applications such as fracturing, cementing, and drilling. Additionally, the chopper mechanism itself may be made available as a large high capacity chopper assembly, or a smaller handheld chopper gun for slower rate fiber supply operations. | 10-09-2008 |
| 20080271889 | METHOD OF ISOLATING OPEN PERFORATIONS IN HORIZONTAL WELLBORES USING AN ULTRA LIGHTWEIGHT PROPPANT - An improved method for building a plug in a horizontal wellbore using a fluid pill pumped into the wellbore at the end of a fracturing treatment. The fluid pill includes a high concentration of an ultra lightweight proppant, such as a neutrally buoyant proppant or an ultra lightweight proppant mixture. The fluid pill is pumped down the wellbore until it almost reaches fractures within a zone of interest. The pumping is then ceased or reduced, allowing the fractures to partially close. The ultra lightweight proppant remains suspended within the fluid pill while stationary. The pumping is then resumed at a very slow rate or as a short pump burst, thus causing the proppant in the fluid pill to bridge off until a bridge plug is formed. | 11-06-2008 |
| 20080271890 | Fracture Stimulation Of Layered Reservoirs - A hydraulic fracturing process consisting essentially of drilling a wellbore through at least one reservoir formation, installing in said wellbore at least one conduit, ensuring pressure communication between said wellbore and said reservoir formation, at a higher effective stress formation, selecting the location of said pressure communication between said wellbore and said reservoir formation for control of said hydraulic fracturing process and pumping a hydraulic fracturing treatment comprising a fracturing fluid and a proppant, at a sufficient pressure via said conduit to create at least one fracture in said higher effective stress formation. Also disclosed are processes for increasing conductivity near a wellbore and producing fluids from a lower effective stress permeable formation via a fracture extending from the higher effective stress fracture formation into the lower effective stress permeable formation. | 11-06-2008 |
| 20080296020 | COMPOSITIONS CONTAINING SHAPE-CONFORMING MATERIALS AND NANOPARTICLES TO ENHANCE ELASTIC MODULUS - A composition, apparatus and method of use of the composition and apparatus are described. In one aspect, a composition may include a shape-conforming material and nanoparticles sufficient to provide an elastic modulus of the composition that is greater than the elastic modulus of the shape-conforming material. A method of deploying an apparatus using such a composition may include placing the apparatus at a suitable location in a wellbore and activating the composition to deploy the apparatus in the wellbore. | 12-04-2008 |
| 20090014176 | PROPPANT AND METHODS OF USE - A proppant consists of a core part and shell of a material different from the material of the core part. The shell comprises a soft material attached rigidly to the core part in such a way that the total surface area of the points where the shell and the core part are joined is less than the surface area of the core part. | 01-15-2009 |
| 20090038797 | Proppants With Carbide and/or Nitride Phases - The present invention relates to proppants which can be used to prop open subterranean formation fractions. Proppant formulations are further disclosed which use one or more proppants of the present invention. Methods to prop open subterranean formation fractions are further disclosed. In addition, other uses for the proppants of the present invention are further disclosed, as well as methods of making the proppants. | 02-12-2009 |
| 20090038798 | Composition and Method For Making A Proppant - The present invention relates to proppants which can be used to prop open subterranean formation fractions. Proppant formulations are further disclosed which use one or more proppants of the present invention. Methods to prop open subterranean formation fractions are further disclosed. In addition, other uses for the proppants of the present invention are further disclosed, as well as methods of making the proppants. | 02-12-2009 |
| 20090044941 | Spherical Ceramic Proppant for Hydraulic Fracturing of Oil or Gas Wells, and a Process for Forming Cavities in the Surface of Spherical Ceramic Proppants - The present invention relates to improved spherical ceramic proppants for fracturing oil and/or gas wells, said proppants exhibiting spherical cavities on their surfaces. The novel proppants of the invention cause an increase in the turbulence of the oil and/or gas flow that passes through the facture where they are applied, with the consequent increase in the extraction productivity of oil or gas from these wells. The invention further relates to a process for forming cavities on the surface of spherical proppants. | 02-19-2009 |
| 20090065208 | Composition and Method For Making A Proppant - The present invention relates to proppants which can be used to prop open subterranean formation fractions. Proppant formulations are further disclosed which use one or more proppants of the present invention. Methods to prop open subterranean formation fractions are further disclosed. In addition, other uses for the proppants of the present invention are further disclosed, as well as methods of making the proppants. | 03-12-2009 |
| 20090095472 | WELL TREATMENT FLUID COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS OF USE THAT INCLUDE A DELAYED RELEASE PERCARBONATE FORMULATION - A well treatment fluid and method of use includes water, at least one hydratable polymer, an optional crosslinking agent, and a delayed release percarbonate formulation effective to reduce initial viscosity of the fluid after a period of time. Also disclosed are processes for fracturing a subterranean formation. | 04-16-2009 |
| 20090107671 | Stimulation Method - A subterranean formation stimulation method utilizes a treatment fluid comprising residual drilling fluid injected into the formation, and producing the stimulated formation. In one embodiment, a tight gas formation is fractured and the fracture has a higher conductivity than the formation. | 04-30-2009 |
| 20090107672 | Method of Treating a Formation Using Deformable Proppants - A substance and method for treating a subterranean formation using hydraulic fracturing. A non-metallic, substantially deformable, proppant particle is “elastically flexible” or “plastically compressible” and adapted for use at concentrations which will substantially create a partial monolayer. The method for treating a formation with a non-metallic deformable proppant, includes the steps of injecting a carrier fluid into the formation, the carrier fluid carrying an amount of the deformable proppant, wherein the carrier fluid is injected at a pressure and a flow rate sufficient to create or open an existing fracture or fracture network in the formation, and placing at least a portion of the deformable proppant in the fracture, the deformable proppant forming substantially a partial monolayer in the fracture, and reducing the pressure and/or the flow rate sufficient to allow the fracture in the formation to at least partially close, wherein at least a portion of the deformable proppant remains in the fracture to prop open at least a portion of the fracture. | 04-30-2009 |
| 20090139718 | Bypass crossover sub selector for multi-zone fracturing processes - Fracturing tools for fracturing multiple zones of a wellbore are disclosed. In certain embodiments, the fracturing tools comprise two or more crossover subs coupled together and having a crossover sub window alignment assembly operatively associated with either an isolation sleeve disposed within the bores of the crossover sub-assemblies or with the crossover sub assemblies themselves. Actuation of the crossover sub window alignment assembly opens and closes the windows of each of the crossover sub-assemblies so that different crossover sub-assemblies can be activated to fracture various wellbore locations. | 06-04-2009 |
| 20090151943 | Aqueous-based emulsified consolidating agents suitable for use in drill-in applications - Methods of drilling a wellbore through a production zone within a subterranean formation using a drill-in fluid that comprises an aqueous fluid and a water-based consolidating emulsion and using the drill-in fluid to drill at least a portion of a well bore into the production zone while allowing the water-based consolidating emulsion to penetrate into the walls of the well bore. The water-based consolidating emulsion itself comprises an aqueous liquid, a hardenable resin, a hardening agent component, and an emulsifying agent. | 06-18-2009 |
| 20090166039 | INHIBITING FORMATION FACE FAILURE IN OIL AND GAS WELLS - A technique includes running a string into a well bore and inhibiting formation face failure. The well bore extends at least partially through a non-producing layer and a hydrocarbon formation layer. The inhibiting of the formation face failure includes communicating a proppant into the well bore via the string until a well bore pressure exceeds a first formation stress of the non-producing layer, which causes a fracture to form in the non-producing layer, and communicating the proppant into the fracture to create a barrier layer. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20090183874 | PROPPANT ADDITION SYSTEM AND METHOD - An apparatus and related method for fracturing a formation penetrated by a well is disclosed comprising a frac pressure pump, a frac fluid source, and a proppant supply source. The frac pressure pump is connected to the well. The frac fluid source is connected to supply a stream of frac fluid to the frac pressure pump. The proppant supply source has a proppant receiver, a positive displacement pump, and at least an inlet into the proppant supply source. The at least an inlet is connected to one or more liquid hydrocarbon sources to supply liquid hydrocarbons to proppant in the proppant supply source. The positive displacement pump is connected to pump proppant into the stream of frac fluid before the frac pressure pump. Fluid lines connecting the frac pressure pump, the well, and the frac fluid source have isolation valves spaced so that the volume of fluid containable between any set of neighboring isolation valves is less than or equal to 500 L. | 07-23-2009 |
| 20090205825 | METHOD OF LOGGING A WELL USING A THERMAL NEUTRON ABSORBING MATERIAL - A method for determining the location and height of a fracture in a subterranean formation using a neutron emitting logging tool. The method includes obtaining a pre-fracture data set, fracturing the formation with a slurry that includes a proppant doped with a high thermal neutron capture cross-section material, obtaining a post-fracture data set, comparing the pre-fracture data set and the post-fracture data set to determine the location of the proppant, and correlating the location of the proppant to a depth measurement of the borehole to determine the location and height of the fracture. Using the PNC tool, it is also possible to determine whether the proppant is located in the fracture, in the borehole adjacent to the fracture, or in both. The method may also include a plurality of post-fracture logging procedures used to determine various fracture and production characteristics in the formation. | 08-20-2009 |
| 20100044041 | High rate stimulation method for deep, large bore completions - A method of servicing a wellbore comprising inserting a first tubing member having a flowbore into the wellbore, wherein a manipulatable fracturing tool, or a component thereof, is coupled to the first tubing member and wherein the manipulatable fracturing tool comprises one or more ports configured to alter a flow of fluid through the manipulatable fracturing tool, positioning the manipulatable fracturing tool proximate to a formation zone to be fractured, manipulating the manipulatable fracturing tool to establish fluid communication between the flowbore of the first tubing member and the wellbore, introducing a first component of a composite fluid into the wellbore via the flowbore of the first tubing member, introducing a second component of the composite fluid into the wellbore via an annular space formed by the first tubing member and the wellbore, mixing the first component of the composite fluid with the second component of the composite fluid within the wellbore, and causing a fracture to form or be extended within the formation zone. | 02-25-2010 |
| 20100089579 | Additives to Suppress Silica Scale Build-Up - Treatments and compounds useful in subterranean formations are discussed, with particular attention to those where particulates and/or surfaces may be subject to silica scale build-up. Certain embodiments pertain to utilizing silica scale control additives with particulate packs. Of these, certain methods may treat particulate packs in a subterranean formation with silica scale control additives, certain methods may combine silica scale control additives with particulates prior to formation of a particulate pack, and certain compounds may provide the features of both silica scale control additives and particulates. | 04-15-2010 |
| 20100155065 | METHODS FOR PLACING MULTIPLE STAGE FRACTURES IN WELLBORES - A production tubing comprising a liner is placed downhole in a wellbore. A fluid pill containing proppant is squeezed into the annulus between the formation and liner, thereby packing the proppant into the annulus, effectively isolating the annulus. The packed proppant is permeable to liquids but impermeable to fracturing proppants. After isolation of the annulus, the wellbore may be perforated using a resettable perforation assembly. Once perforating is complete, the wellbore is fractured. The presence of the packed proppant in the annulus generates resistance to the flow of fracturing fluid along the annulus, forcing the fracture to propagate down the perforation tunnels, while also allowing subsequent production fluids to be produced along the annulus. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100155066 | PROPPANT CONTROL IN AN LPG FRAC SYSTEM - An apparatus for supplying proppant is disclosed, comprising a vessel and a level monitor. The vessel has an interior containing a mixture of proppant and liquid, an inlet for supplying proppant to the interior, and an outlet for supplying the mixture of proppant and liquid from the interior of the vessel. The level monitor is associated with the vessel for monitoring at least a level of liquid and has a discriminator for discriminating between the level of liquid and a level of proppant in the mixture of proppant and liquid. A method of supplying proppant is also disclosed. A vessel is provided at least partially filled with a mixture of proppant and liquid and having a level of liquid and a level of proppant. The level of liquid in the mixture of proppant and liquid is monitored. The mixture of proppant and liquid is supplied from the vessel through an outlet in the vessel. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100175878 | Methods of Setting Particulate Plugs in Horizontal Well Bores Using Low-Rate Slurries - Methods for setting particulate plugs in at least partially horizontal sections of well bores are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method comprises the step of selecting a deposition location for a particulate plug within the at least partially horizontal section of the well bore. The method further comprises the step of providing a pumping conduit capable of delivering slurries to the deposition location. The method further comprises the step of pumping a first slurry through the pumping conduit to the deposition location such that a velocity of the first slurry in the well bore at the deposition location is less than or equal to the critical velocity of the first slurry in the well bore at the deposition location. | 07-15-2010 |
| 20100181070 | Methods of designing treatment fluids based on solid-fluid interactions - Methods that comprise selecting proppant for use in a fracturing fluid based on one or more factors, wherein the one or more factors comprise an interaction between the proppant and the fracturing fluid. Methods that comprise designing a treatment fluid that comprises a gelled base fluid and a particulate based on one or more factors, wherein the one or more factors comprise an interaction between the particulate and the gelled base fluid. | 07-22-2010 |
| 20100212897 | Methods for completing and stimulating a well bore - Methods are providing, including methods comprising providing a liner disposed within a well bore that penetrates a subterranean formation, such that the well bore comprises an annular space between the exterior surface of the liner and the well bore wall; providing a jetting tool disposed within the liner; introducing a stimulation fluid to a treatment interval of the well bore via the jetting tool, such that the stimulation fluid is introduced with sufficient pressure to create or enhance a plurality of perforations in the liner in the treatment interval; introducing a proppant slurry comprising a plurality of resin-coated particulates to the treatment interval of the well bore; and allowing the resin-coated particulates to fill at least a portion of the liner in the treatment interval and at least a portion of the annular space in the treatment interval. | 08-26-2010 |
| 20100212898 | Methods and compositions for consolidating particulate matter in a subterranean formation - Methods and compositions for consolidating particulate matter in a subterranean formation are provided. In one embodiment, a method of treating a subterranean formation includes coating a curable adhesive composition comprising a silane coupling agent and a polymer having a reactive silicon end group onto proppant material; suspending the coated proppant material in a carrier fluid to form a proppant slurry; introducing the proppant slurry into a subterranean formation; and allowing the curable adhesive composition to at least partially consolidate the proppant material in the subterranean formation. | 08-26-2010 |
| 20100230099 | Methods for Improving Low-Quality Proppant and Method of Using Low-Quality Proppant in Subterranean Operations - The present invention relates to improved low-quality particulates and methods of making such improved particulates. A method of treating a portion of a subterranean formation, comprising providing a slurry comprising a treatment fluid and low-quality particulates at least partially coated with an aqueous tackifying composition, wherein the aqueous tackifying composition comprises an aqueous tackifier compound and an aqueous liquid; introducing the slurry into a subterranean formation; and, depositing the coated, low-quality particulates into the portion of this subterranean formation. A method of improving particulates, comprising at least partially coating low-quality particulates with an aqueous tackifying composition, wherein the aqueous tackifying composition comprises an aqueous tackifier compound and an aqueous liquid. | 09-16-2010 |
| 20100252262 | LOW CONCENTRATIONS OF GAS BUBBLES TO HINDER PROPPANT SETTLING - Methods are disclosed for reducing settling rates of proppants in fracturing fluids, where the method includes injection sufficient gas into the fluid to form bubbles that reduce proppant settling rates. Compositions including a proppants make buoyant with gas bubbles are also disclosed. | 10-07-2010 |
| 20100263865 | PROPPANTS AND USES THEREOF - Compositions comprising a proppant core having an outer surface and polymeric microspheres attached to at least a portion of the outer surface are described. The compositions are useful, for example, to increase the productivity of a hydrocarbon oil or gas bearing well. | 10-21-2010 |
| 20100282464 | METHOD OF PROPPING AGENT DELIVERY TO THE WELL - This invention relates to the production of minerals, more specifically, to the production of hydrocarbons, by hydraulic fracturing of the rock, and can be used for the optimization of formation fracturing crack processing conditions. Under this invention, the main stream of the propping agent suspension in the fluid at the mixer output is split into at least two flows having different volume delivery rates, and before the delivery to the hydraulic fracturing zone said flows are comingled. | 11-11-2010 |
| 20110036571 | PERFORATION STRATEGY FOR HETEROGENEOUS PROPPANT PLACEMENT IN HYDRAULIC FRACTURING - Hydraulic fracturing an individual reservoir fracturing layer of a subterranean formation to produce heterogeneous proppant placement is given in which pillars of proppant are placed such that the pillars do not extend the entire height of the fracture (for a vertical fracture) but are themselves interrupted by channels so that the channels between the pillars form pathways that lead to the wellbore. The method combines methods of introducing slugs of proppant-carrying and proppant-free fluids through multiple clusters of perforations within a single fracturing layer of rock, with methods of ensuring that the slugs exiting the individual clusters do not merge. | 02-17-2011 |
| 20110083849 | HETEROGENEOUS PROPPANT PLACEMENT IN A FRACTURE WITH REMOVABLE CHANNELANT FILL - A method of heterogeneous proppant placement in a subterranean fracture is disclosed. The method comprises injecting a first treatment fluid comprising a gas and substantially free of macroscopic particles through a wellbore to initiate a fracture in a subterranean formation; injecting a second treatment fluid comprising proppant and channelant through the wellbore into the fracture; placing the proppant in the fracture in a plurality of proppant clusters forming pillars spaced apart by the channelant; and removing the channelant to form open channels around the pillars for fluid flow from the subterranean formation through the fracture toward the wellbore. | 04-14-2011 |
| 20110083850 | PROPPANT AND PRODUCTION METHOD THEREOF - The invention relates to the oil-and-gas production industry and can be used for enhancement of the production of oilfield wells as it prevents the fracture from closing by pumping of propping granules (proppant) during the hydraulic fracturing of oil-producing formations. Higher stimulation of a reservoir through using hydraulic fracturing is provided with the proppant as particulate with spherical or elliptic form, made of ceramic, polymer, metal, or glass and having higher roughness than regular proppant, wherein the surface roughness is nonuniform and described by two criteria A and B, varying in the intervals: A =0.0085−0.85; B=0.001−1.0. The proppant manufacturing method comprising the preparation of raw material, mixing, granulation, drying, firing, wherein an additional stage of creation of surface roughness is added at the granulation stage and/or the firing stage. | 04-14-2011 |
| 20110114313 | HETEROGENEOUS PROPPANT PLACEMENT IN A FRACTURE WITH REMOVABLE CHANNELANT FILL - A method of heterogeneous proppant placement in a subterranean fracture is disclosed. The method comprises injecting well treatment fluid including proppant ( | 05-19-2011 |
| 20110120712 | INCREASING FRACTURE COMPLEXITY IN ULTRA-LOW PERMEABLE SUBTERRANEAN FORMATION USING DEGRADABLE PARTICULATE - A method of increasing the fracture complexity in a treatment zone of a subterranean formation is provided. The subterranean formation is characterized by having a matrix permeability less than 1.0 microDarcy. The method includes the step of pumping one or more fracturing fluids into a far-field region of a treatment zone of the subterranean formation at a rate and pressure above the fracture pressure of the treatment zone. A first fracturing fluid of the one or more fracturing fluids includes a first solid particulate, wherein: (a) the first solid particulate includes a particle size distribution for bridging the pore throats of a proppant pack previously formed or to be formed in the treatment zone; and (b) the first solid particulate comprises a degradable material. In an embodiment, the first solid particulate is in an insufficient amount in the first fracturing fluid to increase the packed volume fraction of any region of the proppant pack to greater than 73%. Similar methods using stepwise fracturing fluids and remedial fracturing treatments are provided. | 05-26-2011 |
| 20110120713 | INCREASING FRACTURE COMPLEXITY IN ULTRA-LOW PERMEABLE SUBTERRANEAN FORMATION USING DEGRADABLE PARTICULATE - A method of increasing the fracture complexity in a treatment zone of a subterranean formation is provided. The subterranean formation is characterized by having a matrix permeability less than 1.0 microDarcy. The method includes the step of pumping one or more fracturing fluids into a far-field region of a treatment zone of the subterranean formation at a rate and pressure above the fracture pressure of the treatment zone. A first fracturing fluid of the one or more fracturing fluids includes a first solid particulate, wherein: (a) the first solid particulate includes a particle size distribution for bridging the pore throats of a proppant pack previously formed or to be formed in the treatment zone; and (b) the first solid particulate comprises a degradable material. In an embodiment, the first solid particulate is in an insufficient amount in the first fracturing fluid to increase the packed volume fraction of any region of the proppant pack to greater than 73%. Similar methods using stepwise fracturing fluids and remedial fracturing treatments are provided. | 05-26-2011 |
| 20110240291 | Methods for Strengthening Fractures in Subterranean Formations - Of the many methods provided herein, one method comprises: providing at least one fracture in a subterranean formation that comprises tight gas, a shale, a clay, and/or a coal bed; providing a plasticity modification fluid that comprises an aqueous fluid and an alkaline embrittlement modification agent; placing the plasticity modification fluid into the fracture in the subterranean formation; and embrittling at least one fracture face of the fracture to form an embrittled fracture face. | 10-06-2011 |
| 20110240292 | Methods for Strengthening Fractures in Subterranean Formations - Of the many methods provided herein. one method comprises: providing at least a portion of a subterranean formation that comprises a shale; providing a plasticity modification fluid that comprises an aqueous fluid and an alkaline embrittlement modification agent; placing a pack completion assembly neighboring the portion of the subterranean formation; and embrittling at least a portion of the shale to form an embrittled shale portion. | 10-06-2011 |
| 20110240293 | HETEROGENEOUS PROPPANT PLACEMENT IN A FRACTURE WITH REMOVABLE CHANNELANT FILL - A method of heterogeneous proppant placement in a subterranean fracture is disclosed. The method comprises injecting well treatment fluid including proppant ( | 10-06-2011 |
| 20110265995 | METHODS FOR USING HIGH STRNGTH CERAMIC ELEMENTS - One embodiment of the present invention relates to spherical ceramic elements, such as proppants, for maintaining permeability in subterranean formations to facilitate extraction of oil and gas therefrom. The strength of the ceramic element may be enhanced by combining materials having different coefficients of thermal expansion. Methods of making the ceramic elements are also disclosed. | 11-03-2011 |
| 20110272156 | HYDRAULIC FRACTURING - An improvement over known hydraulic fracturing fluids. Boundary layer kinetic mixing material is added to components of fracturing fluid wherein kinetic mixing material is a plurality of particles wherein at least 25% of particles are several types, i.e., having surface characteristics of thin walls, three dimensional wedge-like sharp blades, points, jagged bladelike surfaces, thin blade surfaces, three-dimensional blade shapes that may have shapes similar to a “Y”, “V” or “X” shape or other geometric shape, slightly curved thin walls having a shape similar to an egg shell shape, crushed hollow spheres, sharp bladelike features, 90° corners that are well defined, conglomerated protruding arms in various shapes, such as cylinders, rectangles, Y-shaped particles, X-shaped particles, octagons, pentagon, triangles, and diamonds. The resulting fluid exhibits improved dispersion of additives as well providing stabilization to a hydraulic fracture by reducing incidents of proppant grain column collapse and by reducing proppant flow back. | 11-10-2011 |
| 20110278003 | PROPPANTS FOR USE IN HYDRAULIC FRACTURING OF SUBTERRANEAN FORMATIONS - A proppant for a well treatment fluid includes discrete particles of a substrate, such as sand, coated with a resin comprising a product of the Maillard reaction between a carbohydrate and an amine and/or an ammonium compound. Different resins, in particular thermoplastic or thermosetting resins, may be blended with Maillard reaction products or applied to the substrate as separate layers. The proppant may be included in a fracturing fluid, which is injected into a subterranean formation and used to stimulate hydrocarbon production from the subterranean formation. | 11-17-2011 |
| 20120031613 | METHODS AND COMPOSITIONS FOR DETERMINATION OF FRACTURE GEOMETRY IN SUBTERRANEAN FORMATIONS - Articles and methods utilizing radiation susceptible materials are provided herein. In one aspect, a proppant, a treatment fluid, or both, may comprise a radiation susceptible material. In another aspect, a method is provided comprising disposing in a formation fracture, a proppant and/or a treatment fluid that comprises a radiation susceptible material, irradiating the radiation susceptible material with neutrons, measuring gamma-radiation emitted from the radiation susceptible material in a single pass, and determining formation fracture height from the measured gamma-radiation. The single-pass may be a continuous process or a periodic process. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120055670 | METHOD OF FRACTURING USING MANNANOHYDROLASE ENZYME BREAKER - A thermophilic mannanohydrolase enzyme may be used as an enzyme breaker for fracturing fluids containing hydratable polymers of guar and underivatized guar. The amino acid sequence of the mannanohydrolase is at least 90% homologous to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2. | 03-08-2012 |
| 20120090840 | Method of Treating a Formation Using Deformable Proppants - A substance and method for treating a subterranean formation using hydraulic fracturing is provided. The method includes treating a formation with a non-metallic deformable proppant that may be substantially deformable, “elastically flexible”, or “plastically compressible.” The method may include the steps of injecting a carrier fluid into the formation at a pressure and a flow rate sufficient to create or open an existing fracture or fracture network in the formation, and placing at least a portion of the deformable proppant in the fracture by way of the carrier fluid so that the deformable proppant forms substantially a partial monolayer in the fracture, and reducing the pressure and/or the flow rate sufficiently to allow the fracture in the formation to at least partially close, wherein at least a portion of the deformable proppant remains in the fracture to prop open at least a portion of the fracture. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120111565 | METHODS TO ENHANCE THE PRODUCTIVITY OF A WELL - The invention discloses a method of treating a subterranean formation of a well bore, including the steps of providing a first treatment fluid substantially free of macroscopic particulates; pumping the first treatment fluid into the well bore at different pressure rates to determine the maximum matrix rate and the minimum frac rate; subsequently, pumping the first treatment fluid above the minimum frac rate to initiate at least one fracture in the subterranean formation; providing a second treatment fluid comprising a second carrier fluid, a particulate blend including a first amount of particulates having a first average particle size between about 100 and 2000 μm and a second amount of particulates having a second average particle size between about three and twenty times smaller than the first average particle size, such that a packed volume fraction of the particulate blend exceeds 0.74; subsequently, pumping the second treatment fluid below the minimum frac rate; and allowing the particulates to migrate into the fracture. | 05-10-2012 |
| 20120118566 | NON-HYDRAULIC FRACTURING SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND PROCESSES - Methods and systems of fracturing subterranean formations to are provided comprising pumping metacritical phase natural gas into a subterranean formation to create or extend one or more fissures in the formation. Methods and systems may further comprise maintaining or increasing pressure of the metacritical phase natural gas in the formation by pumping more metacritical phase natural gas into the fissures to hold the fissures open. Methods and systems may further comprise delivering a proppant into the subterranean formation. Disclosed methods and systems may be used to extract hydrocarbons from subterranean formations without the use of liquids. | 05-17-2012 |
| 20120145390 | SINGLE COMPONENT NEUTRALLY BUOYANT PROPPANT - Proppant used to keep open a fissure in a reservoir created by hydraulic or other action is disclosed. The proppant demonstrates a reduced specific gravity controlled by the geometry of the structure of the proppant. Proppant must be capable of withstanding the hydrostatic environment of the hydraulic pumping system, pass through a perforation in the casing of the well, travel into the fissure, and, upon reduction of hydrostatic pressure, withstand the closure pressure of the formation. A proppant having neutral buoyancy or substantial neutral buoyancy yet capable of withstanding the hydraulic and closure pressures is described that has a tubular structure hollow in the center with a wall of material sufficiently strong to withstand the majority of closure pressures. | 06-14-2012 |
| 20120199347 | THERMOSET PARTICLES WITH ENHANCED CROSSLINKING, PROCESSING FOR THEIR PRODUCTION, AND THEIR USE IN OIL AND NATURAL GAS DRILLING APPLICATIONS - A method for fracture stimulation of a subterranean formation having a wellbore. The method comprise a series of steps. A slurry is injected into the wellbore at sufficiently high rates and pressures such that the formation fails and fractures to accept the slurry. The slurry comprises a fluid and a proppant, wherein said proppant comprises a styrene-ethylvinylbenzene-divinylbenzene terpolymer composition having a substantially cured polymer network, wherein said composition lacks rigid fillers or nanofillers. The proppant is emplaced within the fracture network in a packed mass or a partial monolayer of the proppant within the fracture, wherein the packed mass or partial monolayer props open the fracture; thereby allowing produced gases, fluids, or mixtures thereof, to flow towards the wellbore. | 08-09-2012 |
| 20120205100 | Non-Spherical Well Treating Particulates and Methods of Using the Same - Non-spherical particulates are useful in the stimulation of subterranean formations. A proppant pack composed of the non-spherical particulates exhibits greater porosity than a corresponding proppant pack composed of spherical particulates. In addition, the non-spherical particulates exhibit higher conductivity at higher stresses than spherical shaped particulates. | 08-16-2012 |
| 20120227967 | COATED PROPPANTS - Particles are provided in which proppant and gravel used in treating subterranean wellbores are coated with most or all of the chemical components needed to make the carrier fluids used to deliver them. The components come off the proppant or gravel during injection and viscosify the fluid. Components may be applied in layers, as uniform or non-uniform mixtures, or both. Particle coatings may include gas pockets that reduce the particle density. | 09-13-2012 |
| 20120261126 | Methods and Compositions for Controlling Formation Fines and Reducing Proppant Flow-Back - Provided herein are methods for controlling the migration of particulates within a portion of a subterranean formation that comprise aqueous tackifying treatment fluids, curable resin compositions, and/or noncurable resin compositions. | 10-18-2012 |
| 20120267104 | System and Method for Improved Propped Fracture Geometry for High Permeability Reservoirs - Systems and methods for improved propped fracture geometry for high permeability reservoirs are provided. In one embodiment, a method of determining a pad volume and proppant volume for fracturing a subterranean formation is provided comprising selecting a proppant volume for placement in a fracture to be created in a subterranean formation; determining a desired fracture geometry for the fracture; calculating a pad volume sufficient to create the desired fracture geometry in the subterranean formation at a lower fluid efficiency value; calculating a fracture length that would result from injecting the pad volume into the subterranean formation at an upper fluid efficiency value; calculating a fracture width that corresponds to the calculated fracture length; and calculating a proppant volume sufficient to fill a fracture having the calculated length and width. | 10-25-2012 |
| 20120267105 | Control of Particulate Entrainment by Fluids - An aqueous slurry composition for use in industries such as petroleum and pipeline industries that includes: a particulate, an aqueous carrier fluid, a chemical compound that renders the particulate surface hydrophobic, and a small amount of an oil. The slurry is produced by rendering the surface of the particulate hydrophobic during or before the making of the slurry. The addition of the oil greatly enhances the aggregation potential of the hydrophobically modified particulates once placed in the well bore. | 10-25-2012 |
| 20120279703 | COATED AND CURED PROPPANTS - Solid proppants are coated with a phenol-urethane coating in one or more layers by a method comprising coating a proppant solid and then curing the coated proppant under conditions sufficient to substantially cure said proppant, wherein said coating comprises a substantially homogeneous mixture of (i) an isocyanate component having at least 2 isocyanate groups, (ii) an amine reactant, and optionally (iii) an amine that is a latent curing agent for said isocyanate. | 11-08-2012 |
| 20120305247 | PROPPANT PILLAR PLACEMENT IN A FRACTURE WITH HIGH SOLID CONTENT FLUID - A method of placing particulate blend into a fracture formed in a subterranean formation from a wellbore comprises injecting through the wellbore a first treatment fluid to initiate or propagate the fracture in the subterranean formation; wherein the first treatment fluid comprises a particulate blend slurry; the particulate blend comprising at least a first amount of particulates having a first average particle size between about 100 and 5000 micrometers 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; injecting through the wellbore a second treatment fluid having a viscosity different from the first treatment fluid; and forming with the particulate blend slurry a plurality of particulate-rich clusters spaced apart by particulate-free regions forming open channels. | 12-06-2012 |
| 20120325472 | HETEROGENEOUS PROPPANT PLACEMENT IN A FRACTURE WITH REMOVABLE EXTRAMETRICAL MATERIAL FILL - A method of heterogeneous proppant placement in a subterranean fracture is disclosed. The method comprises injecting well treatment fluid including proppant ( | 12-27-2012 |
| 20130014945 | Low Surface Friction Proppants - A proppant having low surface friction is described, which is useful in hydrocarbon recovery. Methods of making low surface friction proppants are further described, as well as uses thereof. | 01-17-2013 |
| 20130056204 | Dual Function Proppants - Proppants for use in fractured or gravel packed/frac packed oil and gas wells are provided with a contaminant removal component to remove one or more of the contaminants found in subterranean water/hydrocarbon from a production well. The water/hydrocarbon cleaning proppant solids may be used as discrete particles in a proppant formulation, as a coating on proppant solids in pores of a porous proppant solid or as part of the proppant's internal structure. The contaminant removal component removes contaminants, especially dissolved contaminants, in the subterranean water or hydrocarbon before the water/hydrocarbon leaves the well. For those contaminant removal components that can be regenerated, such as ion exchange resins, a measured quantity of an acidic regeneration solution can be injected into the fractured stratum for regeneration and recovered when the well resumes production. | 03-07-2013 |
| 20130056205 | SYSTEMS, MATERIALS, AND METHODS FOR RECOVERING MATERIAL FROM BEDROCK USING SUPERCRITICAL ARGON COMPOSITIONS - A material to be used for hydraulic fracturing, comprising argon maintained as a supercritical fluid, and a proppant. The material may also include any one of a variety of gels, foaming agents, and/or gases. The material may be used in a system to recover resources from bedrock, the system comprising the fracturing material, at least one mixer, a pump to inject the material into a bore well, and a recovery unit to recover the resource from the well. The material and system may be used in a variety of methods for extracting resources from bedrock, the method including mixing the proppant with the supercritical argon to form a mixture, pumping the mixture into a bore well, and recovering the resource from the bore well. Additionally, the material and bore well may comprise a structure used in the extraction of resources from bedrock. | 03-07-2013 |
| 20130081812 | PROPPANT MATERIALS AND METHODS OF TAILORING PROPPANT MATERIAL SURFACE WETTABILITY - Proppant materials, and methods for making proppant materials, are provided. In one embodiment, the proppant material comprises a substrate material, a polymeric material disposed on the substrate material and a surface wettability modifier disposed on the polymeric material. Methods of making and using the proppant materials are also disclosed. | 04-04-2013 |
| 20130092374 | Method of Treating A Formation Using Deformable Proppants - A substance and method for treating a subterranean formation using hydraulic fracturing. A non-metallic, substantially deformable, proppant particle is “elastically flexible” or “plastically compressible” and adapted for use at concentrations which will substantially create a partial monolayer. The method for treating a formation with a non-metallic deformable proppant, includes the steps of injecting a carrier fluid into the formation, the carrier fluid carrying an amount of the deformable proppant, wherein the carrier fluid is injected at a pressure and a flow rate sufficient to create or open an existing fracture or fracture network in the formation, and placing at least a portion of the deformable proppant in the fracture, the deformable proppant forming substantially a partial monolayer in the fracture, and reducing the pressure and/or the flow rate sufficient to allow the fracture in the formation to at least partially close, wherein at least a portion of the deformable proppant remains in the fracture to prop open at least a portion of the fracture. | 04-18-2013 |
| 20130105157 | Hydraulic Fracturing Method | 05-02-2013 |
| 20130161003 | PROPPANT PLACEMENT - Embodiments of hydraulic fracturing methods disclosed herein use fine mesh proppant. In one embodiment the method is used to fracture a low permeability formation. In one embodiment the method uses flocculation to improve conductivity of a fracture. In one embodiment fluid flow through the fine mesh proppant in the fracture creates a network of connected channels to improve the fracture conductivity. | 06-27-2013 |
| 20130180714 | METHOD FOR REMOVING CONTAMINANTS FROM WASTEWATER IN HYDRAULIC FRACTURING PROCESS - A borehole is drilled from the surface to an underground shale matrix. A pipe is inserted into the borehole. Openings are created in the pipe in fluid communication with fractures in the shale matrix. The interior surface of at least one section of pipe is coated with a contaminant-capturing substance. Fracturing fluid including water, proppants and chemicals is pumped through the pipe and into the fractures in the shale matrix. The fluid re-enters the pipe from the shale matrix and moves toward the surface through the coated pipe section where contaminants are sequestered by the coating. Natural gas or oil from the fractured shale then enters the pipe and moves to the surface to be collected. The coated pipe section remains in the ground permanently such that the necessity of disposing of the captured contaminants is eliminated. | 07-18-2013 |
| 20130186624 | MANUFACTURE OF POLYMER COATED PROPPANTS - Solid proppants are coated in a process that includes the steps of: (a) coating free-flowing proppant solids with a first component of either a polyol or an isocyanate in mixer; (b) adding a second component of either an isocyanate or a polyol that is different from the first component at a controlled rate or volume sufficient to form a polyurethane coating on the proppant solids; and (c) adding water at a rate and volume sufficient to retain the free-flowing characteristics of the proppant solids. | 07-25-2013 |
| 20130206407 | PERMEABLE FRACTURING MATERIAL - A fracturing material for supporting a bore hole, the fracturing material comprising a hardenable support material, and fibers embedded in the support material. | 08-15-2013 |
| 20130206408 | Light Weight Proppant With Improved Strength And Methods Of Making Same - Methods are described to make strong, tough, and/or lightweight glass-ceramic composites having a crystalline phase and an amorphous phase generated by viscous reaction sintering of a complex mixture of oxides and other materials. The present invention further relates to strong, tough, and lightweight glass-ceramic composites that can be used as proppants and for other uses. | 08-15-2013 |
| 20130264055 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LOW DAMAGE FRACTURING - A method of fracturing a subterranean formation comprising at least in part shale formation, comprises providing a carrier fluid; providing a particulate blend including a first amount of particulates having a first average particle size between about 100 and 2000 microns and a second amount of particulates having a second average particle size between about three and twenty times smaller than the first average particle size, such that a packed volume fraction of the particulate blend exceeds 0.75; combining the carrier fluid and the particulate blend into a fracturing slurry; fracturing the formation with the fracturing slurry to create at least a fracture; and removing the second amount of particulates from the fracture. | 10-10-2013 |
| 20130284437 | Propping Complex Fracture Networks in Tight Formations - Generally, methods for propping complex fracture networks in tight subterranean formations may involve introducing a first treatment fluid comprising a first base fluid and a first propping agent having a mean particulate size distribution ranging from about 0.5 microns to about 20 microns into a fracture network in a subterranean formation; and then introducing a second treatment fluid comprising a second base fluid and a second propping agent having a mean particulate size distribution greater than about 35 microns into the fracture network. | 10-31-2013 |
| 20130284438 | MULTI-STAGE FRACTURE INJECTION PROCESS FOR ENHANCED RESOURCE PRODUCTION FROM SHALES - The invention relates to a method of generating a network of fractures in a rock formation for extraction of hydrocarbon or other resource from the formation. The method includes the steps of i) enhancing a network of natural fractures and incipient fractures within the formation by injecting a non-slurry aqueous solution into the well under conditions suitable for promoting dilation, shearing and/or hydraulic communication of the natural fractures, and subsequently ii) inducing a large-fracture network that is in hydraulic communication with the enhanced natural fracture network by injecting a plurality of slurries comprising a carrying fluid and sequentially larger-grained granular proppants into said well in a series of injection episodes. | 10-31-2013 |
| 20130292118 | Particulates Having Hydrophobic and Oleophobic Surfaces and Methods Relating Thereto - Generally, hydrophobic/oleophobic proppant particles may have hydrophobic and oleophobic surfaces. Hydrophobic/oleophobic proppant particles may be utilized for treating at least a portion of a subterranean formation with a treatment fluid comprising a base fluid and the hydrophobic/oleophobic proppant particle. Treatments may involve the formation of proppant packs, gravel packs, and the like. | 11-07-2013 |
| 20130299167 | HYBRID LPG FRAC - A fracturing method comprises: pumping a first stream of liquefied petroleum gas and gelling agent with a first frac pressure pump; pumping a second stream of lubricated proppant with a second frac pressure pump; combining the first stream and the second stream within a wellhead into a combined stream, pumping the combined stream into a hydrocarbon reservoir; and subjecting the combined stream in the hydrocarbon reservoir to fracturing pressures. A fracturing apparatus comprises: a first frac pressure pump connected to a first port of a wellhead; a second frac pressure pump connected to a second port of the wellhead; a frac fluid source connected to simply a stream of frac fluid comprising liquefied petroleum gas to the first frac pressure pump; a gel source connected to supply a gelling agent into the frac fluid; and a proppant supply source connected to supply lubricated proppant to the second frac pressure pump. | 11-14-2013 |
| 20130306315 | Double Hydraulic Fracturing Methods - A method for hydraulically fracturing subterranean formations in a manner resulting in improved propping of fractures, particularly in ductile rock formations such as gas-containing shales having a high clay content. The method allows for improved hydrocarbon production. The method involves injecting a first fluid having a first proppant concentration into the subsurface formation to form a fracture, reducing the pressure in the fracture and allowing the fracture to substantially close, and injecting a second fluid having a second proppant concentration into the fracture to re-open the fracture. The second proppant concentration is greater than the first proppant concentration. A portion of the proppant is effectively retained in the reopened fracture. | 11-21-2013 |
| 20130312962 | Enhancing the Conductivity of Propped Fractures - Methods for enhancing the conductivity of propped fractures in subterranean formations may involve using a tackifier to minimize particulate settling during particulate placement operations in subterranean formations. For example, methods may involve introducing a first treatment fluid into a wellbore extending into a subterranean formation at a pressure sufficient to create or extend at least one fracture in the subterranean formation; and introducing a second treatment fluid into the wellbore at a pressure sufficient to maintain or extend the fracture in the subterranean formation. The first treatment fluid may include at least a first aqueous base fluid and a tackifier. The second treatment fluid may include at least a second aqueous base fluid and a proppant particle. | 11-28-2013 |
| 20130319667 | DEGRADABLE LATEX AND METHOD - Disclosed herein is a degradable latex comprising a stable dispersion of macromolecules in a liquid medium, wherein the macromolecules comprise a primary moiety comprising a plurality of functional groups, and a plurality of secondary moiety each chemically bonded through a labile linkage to the functional groups of the primary moiety, wherein at least a portion of residues of the secondary moiety are dispersible in the liquid medium. Methods of making and degrading the degradable latex, treating a formation and a treatment fluid are also disclosed. | 12-05-2013 |
| 20130341023 | USE OF METAL SILICIDES IN HYDROCARBON PRODUCTION AND TRANSPORTATION - A method of hydraulic fracturing is provided which uses metal silicides to generate significant pressure inside a wellbore. The method comprises injecting a fracturing fluid and an aqueous or reacting fluid into the wellbore to react with the fracturing fluid. The fracturing fluid comprises metal silicide, which may be uncoated or coated, and hydrocarbon fluid. The aqueous fluid comprises water. The reacting fluid comprises water or a solvent. A method of removing buildup in pipelines such as subsea pipelines which uses metal silicides to generate heat and pressure inside the pipeline is also provided. The method comprises injecting an organic slug and an aqueous slug. The organic slug comprises metal silicide and hydrocarbon fluid. The aqueous slug comprises water. Alternatively, there is also provided a method for purifying flowback water produced from a hydraulic fracturing process comprising adding metal silicide to the flowback water produced from a hydraulic fracturing process. The metal silicide in any of these methods may be alkali metal silicide or another metal silicide. | 12-26-2013 |
| 20140014338 | Method of Increasing the Permeability of a Subterranean Formation by Creating a Multiple Fracture Network - The stimulated rock volume (SRV) of a subterranean formation may be increased by pumping viscous fracturing fluid into the formation in a first stage to create or enlarge a primary fracture, decreasing the pumping in order for the fluid to increase in viscosity within the primary fracture, and then continuing to pump viscous fluid into the formation in a second stage. The fluid pumped into the second stage is diverted away from the primary fracture and a secondary fracture is created. The directional orientation of the secondary fracture is distinct from the directional orientation of the primary fracture. The fluid of the first stage may contain a viscosifying polymer or viscoelastic surfactant or may be slickwater. | 01-16-2014 |
| 20140020892 | PROPPANT DISCHARGE SYSTEM AND A CONTAINER FOR USE IN SUCH A PROPPANT DISCHARGE SYSTEM - A proppant discharge system has a container with an outlet formed at a bottom thereof and a gate slidably affixed at the outlet so as to be movable between a first position covering the outlet to second position opening the outlet, and a support structure having an actuator thereon. The container is removably positioned on the top surface of the support structure. The actuator is engageable with gate so as to move the gate from the first position to the second position. A conveyor underlies the container so as to receive proppant as discharged from the container through the outlet. The container is a ten foot ISO container. | 01-23-2014 |
| 20140034309 | MICRO PROPPANTS FOR FAR FIELD STIMULATION - A subterranean zone surrounding a well bore is fractured with a fracturing fluid. Micro proppant of 200 mesh or smaller is pumped into far field fractures of the subterranean zone and props the far field fractures open. | 02-06-2014 |
| 20140048262 | Methods for Pillar Placement in Fracturing - Methods for placing proppant aggregates using a diverting fluid comprising a diverting agent and a packing fluid. Proppant aggregates are introduced into a fracture that is fluidically connected to a wellbore through a plurality of perforations. Thereafter, a diverting diverting fluid is introduced into the wellbore to seal some perforations and leave at least one unsealed perforation. Once some perforations are sealed, a packing fluid is introduced into the fracture through the at least one unsealed perforation, thereby forming the proppant aggregates to move together and form a proppant bed within the fracture. | 02-20-2014 |
| 20140054033 | Methods and Compositions for Screenless Completion - Methods are provided that include a method of a) placing a hydrojetting tool into a subterranean formation; b) introducing a jetting fluid that includes an aqueous base fluid, a stabilizing agent, and a cutting agent into the subterranean formation by use of the hydrojetting tool at a rate sufficient to create at least one fracture; c) introducing a slug fluid that includes an aqueous base fluid and a degradable diverting agent into an annulus formed between the hydrojetting tool and the subterranean formation; d) introducing a propping fluid that includes an aqueous base fluid and proppants coated with a consolidating agent into the annulus formed between the hydrojetting tool and the subterranean formation; and e) placing the proppants in the fracture. | 02-27-2014 |
| 20140060826 | Methods of Forming Pillars and Channels in Propped Fractures - Methods of forming highly conductive pillars and channels in propped fractures in a subterranean formation including a) introducing high-density proppants into a fracture within a subterranean formation, wherein the fracture has a lower portion and an upper portion; b) introducing a spacer gel into the fracture; c) introducing low-density proppants into the fracture; d) repeating any sequence of a), b), and c) until a predetermined amount of high-density proppants, spacer gel, and low-density proppants has been introduced into the fracture; e) allowing the high-density proppants to migrate to the lower portion of the fracture and form a high-density proppant pack; and f) allowing the low-density proppants to migrate to the upper portion of the fracture and form a low-density proppant pack. | 03-06-2014 |
| 20140060827 | Methods of Hindering the Settling of Proppant Aggregates - Methods comprising providing a carrier fluid having a density; providing a proppant aggregates having a density higher than that of the carrier fluid; and, providing low-density particulates having a density lower than that of the carrier fluid. Then the carrier fluid, proppant aggregates, and low-density particulates are combined to create a propping fluid. The propping fluid then is placed into a fracture within a subterranean formation wherein the low-density particulates slow the settling of the proppant aggregates within the fracture. | 03-06-2014 |
| 20140060828 | Methods for Hindering Settling of Proppant Aggregates in Subterranean Operations - Methods of treating subterranean formations with treatment fluids comprising foam particulates are provided. One embodiment provides a method of fracturing a subterranean formation comprising introducing a fracturing fluid into the subterranean formation at a pressure sufficient to create or enhance at least one fracture therein; providing proppant aggregates themselves comprising proppant particles coated with a binding fluid and having foamed particulates adhered thereto; and placing the proppant aggregates suspended in gelled treatment fluid into at least a portion of the fracture so as to form a proppant pack therein. | 03-06-2014 |
| 20140060829 | Methods for Forming Highly Conductive Propped Fractures - Methods of propping subterranean fractures using swellable particulates. Some methods alternate the placement into a fracture of proppant and swellable particulates. Other methods alternate the placement into a fracture of proppant-free fluid and swellable particulates. Still other methods combine proppant and swellable particulates into a single fluid and place that fluid into a subterranean fracture. The methods are useful for treatment of low closure stress formations. | 03-06-2014 |
| 20140060830 | Method and Apparatus for Treating a Well - A method for treating a well includes positioning a seat within the well that is capable of catching an obstruction which will prevent flow of fluid downstream of the seat. According to one embodiment of the invention, the seat is formed by expanding a sleeve with a ring positioned around its periphery or as a subsequent step in the process. As the sleeve is expanded over the ring, the seat is formed. Once the seat is formed, an obstruction in the form of a ball or dart is dropped down to the seat. In another embodiment the sleeve acts as a stop for a secondary valve seat which catches the obstruction. The casing uphole of the seat is perforated so that fluid under pressure will enter the formation surrounding the perforations. The process is particularly useful for fracing a formation in a horizontal well where numerous stages are required to complete the stimulation of the well. There is also potential application in vertical wells. | 03-06-2014 |
| 20140060831 | WELL TREATMENT METHODS AND SYSTEMS - Methods, fluids, equipment and/or systems for treating a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore, which use less water, less energy, less equipment, have a smaller wellsite footprint, a reduced carbon dioxide emission, an improved distribution of proppant among a plurality of flow paths, an improved stimulation of reservoir fluid production, an improved risk management method, or the like, or any combination thereof, relative to comparable conventional treatment methods, fluids, equipment and/or systems such as, for example, hydraulic fracture treatments of subterranean formations using slickwater and/or high-viscosity treatment fluids. | 03-06-2014 |
| 20140076557 | Transverse Well Perforating - In stimulating a subterranean zone surrounding a well bore, a perforation trajectory is identified that is transverse to a predicted direction of primary fracture propagation in the subterranean zone. A perforating gun in the well bore is aimed to perforate in the perforation trajectory, and then operated to perforate the well bore in the perforation trajectory. Thereafter, a fracture treatment is performed on the subterranean zone through the perforations. | 03-20-2014 |
| 20140116697 | OPENING ISOLATION FOR FLUID INJECTION INTO A FORMATION FROM AN EXPANDED CASING - The present invention generally relates to enhanced recovery of petroleum fluids from the subsurface by initiating and propagating vertical permeable inclusions in a plane substantially orthogonal to the borehole axis. These inclusions containing proppant are thus highly permeable and enhance drainage of heavy oil from the formation, and also by steam injection into these planes, enhance oil recovery by heating the oil sand formation, the heavy oil and bitumen, which will drain under gravity and be produced. The present invention generally relates to a method of isolating openings in an expanded casing to provide for fluid injection into the formation in a single longitudinal plane with the wellbore axis. | 05-01-2014 |
| 20140138085 | HETEROGENEOUS PROPPANT PLACEMENT IN A FRACTURE WITH REMOVABLE CHANNELANT FILL - A method of heterogeneous proppant placement in a subterranean fracture is disclosed. The method comprises injecting well treatment fluid including proppant ( | 05-22-2014 |
| 20140144629 | Methods for Hindering the Settling of Proppant in a Subterranean Formation - Methods of treating a subterranean formation including providing a subterranean formation comprising at least one fracture; providing proppant particulates coated with a binding agent and having a gas-generating chemical and a delayed encapsulated activator attached thereto so as to form coated proppant particulates; suspending the coated proppant particulates in a treatment fluid; placing the treatment fluid into the at least one fracture; and reacting the gas-generating chemical and the delayed encapsulated activator so as to produce a gas within the at least one fracture and form a proppant pack therein. | 05-29-2014 |
| 20140190693 | HYDRAULIC FRACTURING - An improvement over known hydraulic fracturing fluids. Boundary layer kinetic mixing material is added to components of fracturing fluid wherein kinetic mixing material is a plurality of particles wherein at least 25% of particles are several types, i.e., having surface characteristics of thin walls, three dimensional wedge-like sharp blades, points, jagged bladelike surfaces, thin blade surfaces, three-dimensional blade shapes that may have shapes similar to a “Y”, “V” or “X” shape or other geometric shape, slightly curved thin walls having a shape similar to an egg shell shape, crushed hollow spheres, sharp bladelike features, 90° corners that are well defined, conglomerated protruding arms in various shapes, such as cylinders, rectangles, Y-shaped particles, X-shaped particles, octagons, pentagon, triangles, and diamonds. The resulting fluid exhibits improved dispersion of additives as well providing stabilization to a hydraulic fracture by reducing incidents of proppant grain column collapse and by reducing proppant flow back. | 07-10-2014 |
| 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 |
| 20140262262 | Compositions and Methods for the Controlled Release of Active Ingredients - This invention discloses articles, in the form of particles to small granules to macro sized objects, capable of the controlled release of active ingredients (AI) from a mixture as a solid solution, a matrix or an encapsulated system containing AI and one or more of polymers, additives and/or carriers. The invention also covers additional surface coatings on those articles to further reduce the rate of release of AI. Finally, methods for producing these articles and treating the oil field well and other segments of the oil industry, for example piping, storage tank, and refinery locations, are introduced. The claimed articles can be used as is or mixed with other oil filed components or system, for example proppant fluid, in oil field applications. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140262263 | HYDRAULIC FRACTURING WITH PROPPANT PULSING THROUGH CLUSTERED ABRASIVE PERFORATIONS - Well completion techniques are disclosed that combine the creation of perforation clusters created using abrasive-jet perforation techniques with hydraulic fracturing techniques that include proppant pulsing through the clustered abrasive jet perforations. Both the abrasive-jet perforation and hydraulic fracturing with proppant pulsing may be carried out through coiled tubing. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140290943 | Stabilized Fluids In Well Treatment - Proppant pillar placement in a fracture with a stabilized slurry treatment fluid. A method of placing a proppant pack by injecting a well treatment fluid comprising proppant and a stabilized slurry, and a slurry destabilizing system to consolidate solids from the slurry, and placing the proppant in the fracture in a plurality of proppant clusters forming pillars spaced apart by fluid flow channels from the formation through the fracture toward the wellbore. Also, a system for implementing the method, and the propped fracture system obtained as a result of placing the proppant pack into the fracture according to the method. | 10-02-2014 |
| 20140318778 | Methods For Fracturing Subterranean Formations - Methods of fracturing a subterranean formation are described wherein sintered ceramic proppants are used in at least two different stages. Each stage can utilize the same or a different type of proppant relative to one or more of the other stages, and the same or a different type of fracturing fluid relative to one or more of the other stages. At least one of the stages uses a proppant having a monodispersity of 3-sigma distribution or lower. A first stage can be used that exhibits at least one proppant performance property having a first value. A second stage can be used that exhibits the same proppant performance property as the first stage but at a value that differs from the first value by at least 10%. | 10-30-2014 |
| 20140338905 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING SEISMIC PULSES TO MAP SUBTERRANEAN FRACTURES - The methods described are for determining distribution, orientation and dimensions of networks of hydraulically-induced fractures within a subterranean formation containing fluids. Micro-seismic events are generated by particles introduced into the fractures which are capable of explosive or chemical reaction. In one method, treated proppant having a reactive coating is positioned in the formation during fracturing and reactive particles are introduced. In another method, reactive particles having a reactive core and a non-reactive coating are positioned in the fractures and react upon removal of the non-reactive coating, such as by dissolving, and reaction with a reactive particle. The waves generated by the micro-seismic events are used to map fracture space. | 11-20-2014 |
| 20140345863 | ELECTROMAGNETICALLY ACTIVE SLURRIES AND METHODS - Electromagnetically active slurries comprising stabilized fluids and methods of using the stabilized, electromagnetically active slurries in fluid flow control and detection. Also, methods, fluids, equipment and/or systems for treating a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore, relating to treatment fluids based on the stabilized, electromagnetically active slurries. | 11-27-2014 |
| 20140352961 | Concentrated Borate Crosslinking Solutions For Use In Hydraulic Fracturing Operations - Disclosed are treating fluid compositions for use in subterranean hydraulic fracturing operations, wherein the fluid compositions contain a liquid, a crosslinkable organic polymer that is soluble in the liquid, and a concentrated borate solution containing a refined, readily-soluble borate, the borate solution being present as a crosslinking agent to crosslink the organic polymer and increase the viscosity of the composition. The compositions may further include one or more freeze-point depressants, thereby increasing the stability of the compositions over a wide range of environmental temperatures. | 12-04-2014 |
| 20140367100 | Simultaneous Method for Combined Acidizing and Proppant Fracturing - A treatment fluid for use in a combined acidizing and proppant fracturing treatment, the treatment fluid comprising: (A) an emulsion comprising: (i) a continuous oil phase; (ii) an internal aqueous phase comprising: (a) water; and (b) a source of an acid; and (iii) an emulsifier; and (B) a proppant. A method of fracturing a treatment zone of a well, the method comprising the steps of: (I) forming a treatment fluid according to the invention; and (II) introducing the treatment fluid into the zone at a rate and pressure greater than the fracture gradient of the zone. | 12-18-2014 |
| 20140374093 | Methods for Forming Proppant-Free Channels in Proppant Packs in Subterranean Formation Fractures - Methods of treating a fracture in a subterranean formation including providing a proppant-free fluid comprising a first gelling agent; providing a proppant fluid comprising a second gelling agent and proppant aggregates, wherein the proppant-free fluid and the proppant fluid are substantially immiscible; continuously pumping the proppant-free fluid into the subterranean formation; continuously pumping the proppant fluid into the subterranean formation, wherein the proppant-free fluid and the proppant fluid are present simultaneously in a portion of the subterranean formation but remain immiscible; placing the proppant aggregates into a portion of the fracture in the subterranean formation so as to form a proppant pack having proppant-free channels therein. | 12-25-2014 |
| 20140374094 | FRACTURING FLUID COMPOSITION AND METHOD OF USING SAME IN GEOLOGICAL FORMATIONS - A composition and method required for providing a fracturing fluid pumped down a well bore and into a subterranean formation under conditions of pressure that will fracture the subterranean formation is described. More specifically, the composition increases the recovery of hydrocarbons from a geological formation penetrated by a well bore, wherein the composition includes a fracturing fluid that is liquid carbon dioxide (LCO | 12-25-2014 |
| 20150007990 | DRILLING FLUIDS - An improvement over known hydraulic fracturing fluids. Boundary layer kinetic mixing material is added to components of fracturing fluid wherein kinetic mixing material is a plurality of particles wherein at least 25% of particles are several types, i.e., having surface characteristics of thin walls, three dimensional wedge-like sharp blades, points, jagged bladelike surfaces, thin blade surfaces, three-dimensional blade shapes that may have shapes similar to a “Y”, “V” or “X” shape or other geometric shape, slightly curved thin walls having a shape similar to an egg shell shape, crushed hollow spheres, sharp bladelike features, 90° corners that are well defined, conglomerated protruding arms in various shapes, such as cylinders, rectangles, Y-shaped particles, X-shaped particles, octagons, pentagon, triangles, and diamonds. The resulting fluid exhibits improved dispersion of additives as well providing stabilization to a hydraulic fracture by reducing incidents of proppant grain column collapse and by reducing proppant flow back. | 01-08-2015 |
| 20150021023 | ENCAPSULATED MICROENERGETIC MATERIAL - Providing high energy materials that can be placed in previously created fractures and activating them in place to extend or change an existing fracture system. Also detecting the location of fractures or permeable pathways and a means to assess the extent and efficiency of proppant emplacement. | 01-22-2015 |
| 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 |
| 20150060064 | WELL TREATMENT WITH UNTETHERED AND/OR AUTONOMOUS DEVICE - Well treatment with an untethered and/or autonomous device. In situ channelization treatment fluids used in multistage well treatment with an untethered and/or autonomous device is also disclosed. Also disclosed are methods and/or systems for treating a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore, relating to in situ channelization treatment fluids, which may optionally be energized, and untethered and/or autonomous devices. | 03-05-2015 |
| 20150060065 | CONTROL SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR DELIVERY OF A NON-AQUEOUS FRACTURING FLUID - A system is described that provides for proppant to be blended into a liquefied gas fluid stream with an eductor to produce a proppant slurry which is effectively controlled by the use of a control valve system and associated PLC controller. This system ensures allowing for operation of the system at various static pressures and keeps the proppant completely fluidized throughout the fracing operation. | 03-05-2015 |
| 20150060066 | METHOD OF PREPARING POLYMER-WATER EMULSION AND FURTHER SETTLING A STICKY POLYMER MATERIAL IN DOWNHOLE ENVIRONMENT - This invention relates to oil and gas production, more specifically, to the methods of producing polymer emulsion for downhole operations and mixing degradable (hydrolysable) polymer emulsion with the treatment fluid. | 03-05-2015 |
| 20150060067 | GALACTOMANNAN BASED WELL TREATING FLUIDS - A well fracturing fluid is shown which includes an aqueous base fluid, a hydratable polymer, such as a guar gum, and a suitable crosslinking agent for crosslinking the hydratable polymer to form a polymer gel. The hydratable polymer has a higher molecular weight which is achieved by improvements in the processing of the guar split. The higher molecular weight polymer provides improved performance in well fracturing operations. | 03-05-2015 |
| 20150083418 | Well Stimulation Methods and Proppant - A well stimulation method includes using a well formation containing fractures and placing proppant in the fractures. A plurality of individual particles of the proppant includes a core containing a swellable material. The method includes swelling the core and increasing a size of the fractures using the swelling core. A proppant particle includes a core containing a swellable material and a dissolvable layer encapsulating the core. | 03-26-2015 |
| 20150083419 | FRACTURING VALVE AND FRACTURING TOOL STRING - A fracturing valve comprising a tubular mandrel having a through bore continuous with a tubing string, and a frac window through the side of the tubular mandrel. An outer sleeve is radially disposed around the tubular mandrel. The outer sleeve includes a sleeve port in a sidewall. The tubular mandrel slides relative to the sleeve by application and release of set down weight on a coiled tubing string. When the valve is closed, there is no fluid communication from the tubing string out of the frac window. When the valve is open, fluid communication from the tubing string is enabled. The valve may be installed in a downhole tool having a perforation device. The tool string can be used with one sealing element as the tool is pulled up the hole isolating lower perforations, or with two sealing elements to allow pin-point treatments isolating perforations both up and downhole. | 03-26-2015 |
| 20150096749 | METHOD FOR REMOVING CONTAMINANTS FROM WASTEWATER IN HYDRAULIC FRACTURING PROCESS - A borehole is drilled from the surface to an underground shale matrix. A pipe is inserted into the borehole. Openings are created in the pipe in fluid communication with fractures in the shale matrix. The interior surface of at least one section of pipe is coated with a contaminant-capturing substance. Fracturing fluid including water, proppants and chemicals is pumped through the pipe and into the fractures in the shale matrix. The fluid re-enters the pipe from the shale matrix and moves toward the surface through the coated pipe section where contaminants are sequestered by the coating. Natural gas or oil from the fractured shale then enters the pipe and moves to the surface to be collected. The coated pipe section remains in the ground permanently such that the necessity of disposing of the captured contaminants is eliminated. | 04-09-2015 |
| 20150101806 | METHOD FOR PROVIDING STEP CHANGES IN PROPPANT DELIVERY - A method of creating a step-change in proppant concentration in a fracturing fluid at a desired location within the conduit or wellbore of an oil or gas well includes the steps of connecting an in-line mixer at an end of a conveyance, placing the in-line mixer within a conduit proximate to the desired location, providing a flow of a clean fluid from an upper portion of the conduit past the in-line mixer and into a lower portion of the conduit, introducing a proppant slurry into the conveyance, and injecting the proppant slurry into the clean fluid from the in-line mixer to generate a first step-change from the clean fluid to a flow of a mixture of the proppant slurry and the clean fluid within the desired location. | 04-16-2015 |
| 20150101807 | FRACTURING FLUID FOR SECONDARY GAS PRODUCTION - The invention pertains to a process for fracturing a subterranean formation using a mixture of methane (natural gas) and propane/butane (liquefied petroleum gas). The process comprises: a)providing a first fluid (in a gas or liquefied form) comprising at least 50 wt. % of methane: b)providing a second fluid (in a gas or liquefied form) comprising at least 50 wt. % of the combination of propane and butane: c)mixing and, in case of a gas mixture, liquefying said first fluid and said second fluid to obtain a liquefied fluid mixture comprising 15-80 wt. % of methane and 15-80 wt. % of the combination of propane and butane, said liquefied mixture having a temperature and a pressure such that the liquefied fluid stays above the bubble point of the mixture; d)blending a proppant and/or a gellant into the liquefied fluid mixture to produce a 1 fracturing fluid; e)injecting the fracturing fluid into the subterranean formation. | 04-16-2015 |
| 20150107835 | WELL TREATMENT WITH SHAPESHIFTING PARTICLES - Well treatment with shapeshifting particles. Methods, treatment fluids and systems utilizing shapeshifting particles are disclosed. One method relates to the injection of the shapeshifting particles into a fracture, and changing a conformation of the shapeshifting particles to improve conductivity. A treatment fluid comprises the shapeshifting particles dispersed in a carrier fluid, and a system comprises a unit to supply the treatment fluid, a pump system to inject the treatment fluid into the fracture and a triggering system to change the conformation of the shapeshifting particles. | 04-23-2015 |
| 20150107836 | Well System With Annular Space Around Casing For A Treatment Operation - In one aspect, a method for completing a wellbore in a formation is disclosed, that in one non-limiting embodiment includes placing a casing in the wellbore, cementing an annulus between the casing and the wellbore, and forming an annular cavity of a selected length in the cement between the casing and the wellbore. In one aspect, the forming the annular space includes placing a dissolvable material on an outside of the casing before placing the casing in the wellbore, and dissolving the dissolvable material after cementing to form the annular space. | 04-23-2015 |
| 20150114638 | COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR HYDRAULIC FRACTURING OF NATURAL GAS AND OIL - The disclosed compositions and methods provide a system that is effective for hydraulic fracturing, which can be used to extract natural gas and oil from subterranean formations, such as deep shale and coal bed type rack formations. In a first aspect, the invention features a composition for hydraulic fracturing, which includes a low pH product, a surfactant, and a thickening agent, all in an aqueous composition. The composition includes i) from about 0.01 wt % to about 20.0 wt % of a low pH product that includes an ammonium salt (e.g., ammonium bicarbonate, ammonium carbonate, or ammonium hydroxide) and hydrogen chloride (and optionally a carborane). | 04-30-2015 |
| 20150114639 | Re-Fracture Apparatus and Method for Wellbore - Re-treatment of a formation having a wellbore, which can be an open hole or a cased hole lined with casing, involves deploying a tubing string in the casing having tools disposed at intervals thereon. The tools position on the tubing string, and the tubing string with the tools thereon is inserted into the casing. Biasing rings of the tools passively engage with the casing. The annulus is accessed between the tubing string and the casing at the intervals between the tools. For example, sliding sleeves on the tubing string can be opened (selectively), or new plug and perforation operations can be used to create perforations in the tubing string at desired intervals between the tools. With access achieved, retreatment is pumped down the tubing string, out the access to the annulus, and at least partially sealed by the engaged rings in the intervals between the tools. | 04-30-2015 |
| 20150129210 | OILFIELD SURFACE EQUIPMENT COOLING SYSTEM - Systems and methods for cooling process equipment are provided. The system includes a process fluid source, and a heat exchanger fluidly coupled with the process equipment and the process fluid source. The heat exchanger is configured to receive a process fluid from the process fluid source and transfer heat from the process equipment to the process fluid. The system also includes a control system fluidly coupled with the heat exchanger. The control system is configured to vary a temperature of the process fluid heated in the heat exchanger. Further, at least a portion of the process fluid heated in the heat exchanger is delivered into a wellbore at a temperature below a boiling point of the process fluid. | 05-14-2015 |
| 20150129211 | MULTI-STAGE FRACTURE INJECTION PROCESS FOR ENHANCED RESOURCE PRODUCTION FROM SHALES - The invention relates to a method of generating an enhanced fracture network in a rock formation by the sequential stages of: i) injecting a non-slurry aqueous solution into a well extending into the formation at a rate and pressure which is close to the minimum hydraulic fracture initiation pressure and rate of the formation, until the maximum possible stimulated volume of the formation has been substantially attained to generate an outer zone of self-propping fractures; ii) injecting a first slurry of relatively fine grains of proppant to prop fractures generated in stage i within an intermediate zone located within and surrounded by the outer zone generated in stage i; and iii) injecting a second slurry comprising relatively coarse grains of to generate large fractures within an inner zone surrounded by and within the intermediate zone, in communication with the fractures generated in stages i and ii. | 05-14-2015 |
| 20150300142 | Method For Enhanced Fracture Cleanup Using Redox Treatment - A method for improved hydrocarbon recovery from a formation due to cleanup of a residual viscous material is provided. The method comprising the steps of fracturing the formation with a fracturing fluid to generate fractures, the fracturing fluid comprising a viscous fluid component operable to fracture the formation leaving behind residual viscous material in the fractures, the viscous fluid having a viscosity; a proppant component comprising a proppant, the proppant operable to hold open the fractures, wherein the proppant component is carried to the fractures by the viscous fluid component; and a cleanup fluid, the cleanup fluid comprising: an acid precursor operable to trigger an exothermic reaction component, and the exothermic reaction component operable to generate heat, where the generated heat is operable to reduce a viscosity of the residual viscous material to create a reduced viscosity material operable to flow from the formation. | 10-22-2015 |
| 20150300143 | Chemically-Induced Pulsed Fracturing Method - A method of increasing a stimulated reservoir volume in a wellbore in a gas-containing formation includes the steps of mixing an exothermic reaction component to achieve a pre-selected solution pH, the exothermic reaction component is operable to react at a wellbore temperature to generate a pressure pulse, mixing the exothermic reaction component with a viscous fluid component operable to fracture the gas-containing formation to create fractures, and a proppant component, the proppant component carried to the fractures by the viscous fluid, the proppant component comprises a proppant operable to hold open the fractures, to form a fracturing fluid, injecting the fracturing fluid into the wellbore in the gas-containing formation to create fractures, and generating the pressure pulse when the exothermic reaction component reaches the wellbore temperature, the pressure pulse operable to create auxiliary fractures, wherein the auxiliary fractures create a fracture network, the fracture network increases the stimulated reservoir volume. | 10-22-2015 |
| 20150308209 | System and Method for Managed Pressure Wellbore Strengthening - Systems and methods for wellbore strengthening are disclosed. An effective way to strengthen a wellbore and prevent future fractures during drilling operations is to induce fractures having a desired fracture width profile and fracture length. Surface back pressure can be used to accurately induce such fractures. The induced fractures which are then sealed can increase fracture gradient of the wellbore thus mitigating future fractures. | 10-29-2015 |
| 20150344772 | WELL TREATMENT - A method to treat a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore, comprising: providing a treatment slurry comprising a carrying fluid, a solid particulate, an agglomerant and an agglomerant aid; injecting the treatment slurry into a fracture to form a mixture of the solid particulate and the agglomerant; and transforming the mixture into areas that are rich in solid particulate and areas that are substantially free of solid particulate. Also disclosed are a composition comprised of the carrying fluid, solid particulate, agglomerant and agglomerant aid, as well as a method of designing a well treatment therewith and a system to form conductive channels in a fracture. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20150345269 | PROCESS FOR CONTINUOUSLY SUPPLYING A FRACTURING FLUID - The present invention relates to a process of supplying a proppant-containing fracturing fluid to a wellhead, wherein the proppant-containing fracturing fluid can be continuously supplied during the fracture treatment. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20150361777 | SIMULTANEOUS INJECTION OF AN ACIDIC WELL TREATMENT FLUID AND A PROPPANT INTO A SUBTERRANEAN FORMATION - A method of simultaneously injecting a proppant and an acidic well treatment fluid into a subterranean formation is described. The method includes pumping the acidic fluid into the formation at a high rate while simultaneously pumping a slurry containing a high concentration of proppant at a lower rate. Also described is a system for simultaneously pumping the acidic fluid and the proppant slurry into the formation. | 12-17-2015 |
| 20150369024 | METHOD OF COMPLETING A WELL - A method of completing a well includes, pumping treating fluid into a tool string in the well, displacing drilling mud within the tool string with the treating fluid, and treating an earth formation with the treating fluid. | 12-24-2015 |
| 20160069173 | Extended Reach Methods for Multistage Fracturing Systems - A method and system of treating a horizontal wellbore having multiple production zones. A bottom hole assembly connected to coiled tubing is positioned within the horizontal wellbore. The friction between the casing of the horizontal wellbore and bottom hole assembly and coiled tubing may prevent the bottom hole assembly from traversing the entire length of the horizontal wellbore. After treating a zone within the wellbore, a flush fluid with a lubricant may be pumped down the annulus between the coiled tubing and the casing. The lubricant may reduce the coefficient of friction between the casing and the coiled tubing permitting the bottom hole assembly to travel farther into the horizontal wellbore. The bottom hole assembly may include a vibratory device that may be actuated to reduce the coefficient of friction between the casing and the coiled tubing permitting the bottom hole assembly to travel farther into the horizontal wellbore. | 03-10-2016 |
| 20160075942 | Breakers Containing Iron Compounds and their Methods of Use - Methods and well treatment fluids for fracturing a subterranean formation penetrated by a well bore are provided, the method comprising injecting a well treatment fluid into the well bore at a pressure and flow rate sufficient to fracture the subterranean formation, wherein the well treatment fluid comprises an iron-containing breaker compound. The methods can be used to reduce viscosity of well treatment fluids. | 03-17-2016 |
| 20160076349 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ENHANCING THE PRODUCTIVITY OF WELLS - The invention relates to a hydrocarbon production stimulation method which can be used in new reservoirs and in reservoirs that have been previously fractured (e.g., by hydraulic fracturing) or that have naturally occurring fractures. A zone of the wellbore is isolated, a liquid chemical rock splitting agent composition is injected into the isolated zone and then forced into the subterranean formation with an inert compressed gas, the chemical rock splitting agent is permitted to expand and harden, and the agent is then removed from the formation. A proppant may be used to hold fractures open. | 03-17-2016 |
| 20160076352 | CONDUCTIVITY ENHANCEMENT OF COMPLEX FRACTURE NETWORKS IN SUBTERRANEAN FORMATIONS - Some embodiments provide a method comprising a) introducing a delayed-release acid and a gelling agent into a subterranean formation at a rate and pressure sufficient to create or enhance at least one fracture in a first treatment interval; b) contacting the delayed-release acid with a face of the fracture in the first treatment interval so as to etch one or more channels thereon; c) introducing a combination of non-degradable and degradable micro-proppant particulates into the subterranean formation so as to place them into the fracture in the first treatment interval, wherein they at least partially inhibit fluid flow therethrough; d) introducing a combination of non-degradable and degradable proppant particulates into the subterranean formation so as to place them into the fracture in the first treatment interval, wherein they at least partially inhibit fluid flow therethrough; e) repeating (a) through (d) at a second treatment interval. | 03-17-2016 |
| 20160084044 | LOW PRESSURE DIRECT PROPPANT INJECTION - A multi-tank system for preparing fluids for hydraulic fracturing of reservoirs and methods of injecting the prepared fluid upstream from pumping units are disclosed. The multi-tank system allows for a proppant slurry to be continuously formed and mixed with a proppant carrier in staggered phases to form a fracturing fluid. This fracturing fluid can then be injected into the reservoir at normal injection pressures, thus reducing wear and downtime on the blender, and allowing continuous flow of proppant. | 03-24-2016 |
| 20160090830 | SHALE OIL AND GAS FRACTURING METHOD WITH LOW ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT - A method is provided for lowering the migration of a hydraulic fluid additive within a hydrocarbon-bearing formation penetrated by a well when producing hydraulic fracturing. Many chemical agents currently in use with water/sand (or other proppants) mixtures could pose human and animal health risks if these chemicals migrate from the shale beds into the environment contaminating the water table, rivers, streams and lakes. The fracturing fluid chemical additives employed are designed to be retained or anchored in or near the deep shale layers and are prevented, or greatly delayed from upward migration. Specifically, chemical additives required for proper fracturing fluid performance are covalently chemically bonded to inert particulate materials (e.g. silica having a particle size less than 2000 microns). The fracturing fluid chemical additives are thereby able to perform their function in the shale fracturing process, and thereafter become nearly permanently trapped in the shale layers protecting the environment above. | 03-31-2016 |
| 20160122631 | PROPPANT AND PROPPANT DELIVERY SYSTEM - A method of increasing hydrocarbon production, the method including fracturing downhole formation and disposing an expandable proppant into the downhole formation. The method further includes expanding the expandable proppant into contact with the downhole formation and holding open the downhole formation with the expandable proppant. A proppant having an expandable outer shell layer, wherein the expandable outer shell layer is configured to expand outwardly to a size at least 10 percent greater in an open position than in a closed position. A proppant delivery system having a tool body, an expandable injector disposed on the side of the tool body, and an expandable proppant disposed within the tool body. | 05-05-2016 |
| 20160130911 | Wellbore Systems and Methods for Supplying Treatment Fluids Via More Than One Path to a Formation - In one aspect an apparatus for use in a wellbore is disclosed that in one non-limiting embodiment includes an assembly deployable in the wellbore that includes a first fluid flow path for supplying a first fluid from a surface location to a formation zone along the wellbore and a second fluid flow path for supplying a second fluid from a surface location to the formation zone and a flow control device that combines the first fluid and the second fluid before supplying the combined fluid to the zone and may controls the proportions of such fluid to the formation zone. | 05-12-2016 |
| 20160153273 | WELLBORE SERVICING MATERIALS AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING SAME | 06-02-2016 |
| 20160160642 | GENERATING SEISMIC PULSES USING PIEZOELECTRIC DEVICES TO MAP FRACTURES - The methods described are for determining distribution, orientation and dimensions of networks of hydraulically-induced fractures within a subterranean formation containing fluids. Detectable signals are generated by particles introduced into the fractures. In an exemplary method acoustic particles are positioned in the formation during fracturing and allowed to generate a signal during or after fracturing activity. The detectable signals generated by the acoustic particles are used to map fracture space. | 06-09-2016 |
| 20160194944 | CYCLICAL DIVERSION TECHNIQUES IN SUBTERRANEAN FRACTURING OPERATIONS | 07-07-2016 |
| 20160376497 | ENHANCED VISCOSITY OF POLYMER SOLUTIONS IN HIGH SALINITY BRINES - Methods of treating a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore include providing environmental water, admixing a viscosifying amount of a polymer and at least one divalent cation with the environmental water to form an admixture, and pumping the admixture through the wellbore at a rate and pressure sufficient to treat the subterranean formation. The viscosity of the admixture increases after the at least one divalent cation, the viscosifying amount of polymer and the environmental water are admixed. Such viscosity increase may be at least about 5% over at least a 10 minute period after the admixture is prepared. The divalent cation(s) may be selected from the group consisting of barium, calcium, copper(II), iron(II), magnesium, manganese(II), strontium, tin(II), zinc, and mixtures thereof. Further, the divalent cation(s) may be provided in the form of a salt with one or more anions selected from acetate, bicarbonate, nitrate, chloride, bromide, iodide, sulfate ion, and mixtures thereof. | 12-29-2016 |
| 20190145238 | TIME-DEPENDENT SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF PROPPANT EFFECTS IN A DISCRETE FRACTURE NETWORK | 05-16-2019 |
