Methods for controlling water and sand production in subterranean wells

Abstract

Methods comprising introducing a relative permeability modifier fluid into at least a portion of a subterranean formation to form a treated portion of the subterranean formation; and introducing a consolidating agent into the treated portion of the subterranean formation so as to transform at least a section of the treated portion of the subterranean formation into a consolidated region. In some embodiments, the subterranean formation may have been previously hydraulically fracture-stimulated.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 11 / 183,028 filed on Jul. 15, 2005, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.BACKGROUND [0002] The present invention relates to the stabilization of subterranean formations. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods for stabilizing unconsolidated portions of a subterranean formation and controlling the production of water from those portions. [0003] Hydrocarbon wells are often located in subterranean formations that contain unconsolidated particulates that may migrate out of the subterranean formation with the oil, gas, water, and / or other fluids produced by the wells. The presence of particulates, such as formation sand and even loose proppant, in produced fluids is undesirable in that the particulates may abrade pumping and other producing equipment and reduce the fluid production capabilities of the producing zones. Unconsolida...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

The presence of particulates, such as formation sand and even loose proppant, in produced fluids is undesirable in that the particulates may abrade pumping and other producing equipment and reduce the fluid production capabilities of the producing zones.

Unconsolidated portions of a subterranean formation include those that contain loose particulates and those wherein the bonded particulates have insufficient bond strength to withstand the forces created by the production of fluids through the formation.

The collapse of such sand bridges, however, may occur due to unintentionally high production rates and / or pressure cycling as may occur from repeated shut-ins and start ups of a well.

Such packs may be time consuming and expensive to install.

Due to the time and expense needed, it is sometimes desirable to place a screen without the gravel.

Even in circumstances in which it is practical to place a screen without gravel, it is often difficult to determine an appropriate screen size to use as formation sands tend to have a wide distribution of grain sizes.

When small quantities of sand are allowed to flow through a screen, formation erosion becomes a significant concern.

However, screen erosion and screen plugging are the main disadvantages of expandable screens.

Such resin application may be problematic when, for example, an insufficient amount of spacer fluid is used between the application of the resin and the application of the external catalyst.

When resin is contacted with an external catalyst an exothermic reaction occurs that may result in rapid polymerization, potentially damaging the formation by plugging pore channels, halting pumping when the well bore is plugged with solid material, or resulting in a downhole explosion as a result of the heat of polymerization.

Also, using these conventional processes to treat long intervals of unconsolidated regions is not practical due to the difficulty in determining if the entire interval has been successfully treated with both the resin and the external catalyst.

Further, conventional consolidation techniques have often resulted in limited or inadequate penetration distances of consolidating agent into formations.

The production of water from a subterranean producing zone is disadvantageous due to its effect on mobilizing formation sands, and because water production constitutes a major expense in the recovery of hydrocarbons from subterranean formations, especially in light of the energy expended in producing, separating, and disposing of the water.

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