Methods of well stimulation and completion

Abstract

The present invention relates to improved methods for well stimulation and completion. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods of stimulating and completing well bores while controlling formation sand migration and proppant flowback. One embodiment of the present invention provides a method of stimulating a formation surrounding a well bore comprising the steps of: (a) hydraulically fracturing a formation to create or enhance at least one fracture; (b) placing proppant coated with a tackifying agent into the far-well bore area of the fracture; and, (c) placing an agent capable of controlling particulate flowback into the well bore or near-well bore area of the fracture.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to improved methods for well stimulation and completion. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods of stimulating and completing well bores while controlling formation sand migration and proppant flowback. [0002] A subterranean formation may be treated to increase its permeability by hydraulically fracturing the formation to create or enhance one or more cracks or “fractures.” Such hydraulic fracturing is usually accomplished by injecting a viscous fracturing fluid into the subterranean formation at a rate and pressure sufficient to cause the formation to break down and produce one or more fractures or enhance one or more natural fractures. The fracture or fractures may be horizontal or vertical, with the latter usually predominating, and with the tendency toward vertical fractures increasing with the depth of the formation being fractured. The fracturing fluid is generally a highly viscous gel, emuls...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0001] The present invention relates to improved methods for well stimulation and completion. More particularly, the present inven

Problems solved by technology

Flowback of the proppant or formation fines with formation fluids is undesirable as it may erode metal equipment, plug piping and vessels, and cause damage to valves, instruments, and other production equipment.

While the hydraulic fracturing techniques discussed above are commonly used on vertical well bores, they have not been widely used to stimulate horizontal well bores, particularly those penetrating hard rock formations such as sandstone, due, inter alia, to the fact that such formations usually require high fracturing pressures and result in complex and potentially unstable fracture geometries.

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