Method of treating a formation using deformable proppants
Inactive Publication Date: 2007-08-23
CANYON TECHN SERVICES
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Benefits of technology
[0021] In further aspect, the present invention provides a method of treating a subterranean formation with a non-metallic deformable proppant, including 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 open a fracture (creating a new fracture or opening an existing fracture) in the formation, 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.
[0029] In a further aspect, the present invention provides a method of treating a formation with a non-metallic deformable proppant, comprising the steps of applying a treatment cycle comprising the steps of i) 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 open a fracture in the formation, ii) placing at least a portion of the deformable proppant in the fracture, the deformable proppant forming substantially a partial monolayer in the fracture, and iii) 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, and then repeating the treatment cycle at least one time.
Problems solved by technology
Kern also teaches that flow capacity may be increased several fold with a sparse distribution of particles, but such flow capacity is limited by both crushing of the propping particles and by embedment of the propping particles in the walls of the formation.
Disadvantages of propping with aluminum include limitations associated with the specific gravity of aluminum which restricts the fluids which may be used to place aluminum proppant particles, and the fluid may require special treatment such as viscosification or emulsification, etc., and in addition, as suggested by Kern, the high cost of aluminum is a factor.
In addition, formations typically fractured today are very susceptible to damage produced by the fracturing fluid itself.
Less viscous fluids and less volume of liquid or foam or gas means less carrying capacity for proppants, which may mean that proppants may not always enter the fracture or many not be distributed along the full length of the fracture.
However, this method relies on causing formation damage to create the desired spalls and teaches only the use of no proppant or sand as a proppant.
However, this blend requires that both materials be blended and sufficiently mixed, and may result in the usual problems with sand type fracturing, such as fines.
Method used
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case # 1
[0048] Case#1
[0049] A sandstone formation in Alberta, Canada was treated with conventional fracturing techniques with initial flow rates being too small to measure (TSTM). A similar treatment on the same formation utilizing 2270 kg of light weight polystyrene divinyl benzene deformable proppant (CBM-LWP) with a specific gravity of 1.05 was placed in stages. Each stage was engineered to place proppant within the fracture at a concentration of 0.0825 kg / m2. Proppant was pumped at a concentration between 25 and 150 kg / m3 of carrier fluid. After initial flow back, the well produced measurable gas and the subsequent pressure build up and analysis showed a stimulated well.
case # 2
[0050] Case#2
[0051] A dry coal (Horse Shoe Canyon Formation) in Alberta, Canada is normally treated with high rate nitrogen fracturing. A well from the field was fractured using 330 kg of light weight polystyrene divinyl benzene deformable proppant (CBM-LWP) in each of two coal seams. Each stage was engineered to place proppant within the fracture at a concentration of 0.0825 kg / m2. Proppant was pumped at a concentration of approximately 13 kg / m3 of carrier fluid. After initial 300 hour flowback, gas rates were higher than surrounding wells.
[0052] As used herein, “crush” means catastrophic failure of the proppant and “deformation” means any change in shape of the proppant.
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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.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of Canadian Application filed Feb. 17, 2006, which is incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates generally to proppants for fracturing operations for subterranean formations. More particularly, the present invention relates to deformable proppants. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] In oil and gas operations, stimulation or treatment of the subterranean formations using a fluid containing suspended particles, referred to as hydraulic fracturing, may be used to improve production. That is, a fluid, referred to in the art as a fracturing fluid, is pumped or injected through a well bore into a subterranean formation to be stimulated at a rate and pressure such that existing fractures are opened and / or new fractures are formed and extended into the subterranean formation. The fracturing fluid carries particles, referred to in the art as proppant particles...
Claims
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Login to View More IPC IPC(8): E21B43/267
CPCC09K8/80Y10T428/2982E21B43/267
InventorFULTON, ROBERT GORDONPESKUNOWICZ, ADOLPH JOSEPH JOHNOLSON, GARNET ROSS
OwnerCANYON TECHN SERVICES